HLS 17RS-1010 ENGROSSED
2017 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 401
BY REPRESENTATIVE GISCLAIR
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
VETERANS: Provides relative to the membership of the Veterans' Affairs Commission
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 29:253(A)(1)(b), (2)(a), and (3), relative to the Veterans' Affairs
3 Commission; to provide for the appointment and removal of commission members;
4 and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 29:253(A)(1)(b), (2)(a), and (3) are hereby amended and reenacted
7to read as follows:
8 ยง253. Veterans' Affairs Commission
9 A. The Veterans' Affairs Commission shall be composed of nine members
10 who are honorably discharged veterans, citizens of the United States of America and
11 of this state, and qualified voters.
12 (1) The membership of the commission shall be determined as follows:
13 * * *
14 (b) The governor shall, from such nominees, make the necessary six
15 appointments. However, the governor shall not appoint more than two members to
16 serve on the commission from one eligible veterans organization. and one member
17 appointed by the The governor shall appoint three additional members who need not
18 be from any eligible veterans organization, but such member members shall have the
19 qualifications provided in the introductory paragraph of this Subsection A of this
20 Section.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 17RS-1010 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 401
1 (2)(a) Each member shall serve a six-year term, except the members initially
2 appointed as provided in Section 2 of Act 285 of the 2003 Regular Session shall be
3 appointed for terms as provided in that Act. Each member shall serve at the pleasure
4 of the governor and may be removed without cause prior to the expiration of his term
5 upon written request by the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans
6 Affairs.
7 * * *
8 (3) If required, nominations for appointment to fill vacancies occurring
9 because of the death, resignation, removal, or incapacity of a member shall be made
10 within thirty days of the date of vacancy, and the governor shall make the
11 appointment within thirty days after receiving the nominations. If nominations are
12 not required, the governor shall make the appointment within thirty days after
13 receiving notice of the vacancy. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be made for the
14 remainder of the unexpired term.
15 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 401 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Gisclair
Abstract: Provides for the appointment and removal of members of the Veterans' Affairs
Commission.
Present law provides for the composition of the Veterans' Affairs Commission, to be made
up of nine members. Requires the governor to make appointments from nominations by
certain veterans organizations operating in this state and participating in the Dept. of
Veterans Affairs.
Proposed law requires the governor to make six appointments from the nominees submitted,
and increases from one to three the number of members appointed by the governor who are
not required to be a member of an eligible veterans organization. Further provides that all
members serve at the pleasure of the governor and may be removed without cause prior to
the expiration of the term upon written notice by the secretary of the La. Dept. of Veterans
Affairs. Proposed law also removes obsolete language regarding the terms of the initial
appointments.
(Amends R.S. 29:253(A)(1)(b), (2)(a), and (3))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.