MD
Maryland House Bill HB431

Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB431 Compare Versions

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1- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 12
21
3-– 1 –
4-Chapter 12
5-(House Bill 431)
62
7-AN ACT concerning
3+EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4+ [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5+ Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6+ Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7+amendment.
8+ *hb0431*
89
9-Department of Veterans Affairs – Renaming and Deputy Secretary of Military
10-Family Policy and Programs
10+HOUSE BILL 431
11+P1 4lr0434
12+ CF SB 411
13+By: Delegates Pruski, Boafo, Chang, Fennell, Forbes, Guyton, Henson, A. Johnson,
14+D. Jones, Kaufman, Lehman, J. Long, Pasteur, Patterson, Rogers, Schmidt,
15+Taveras, and Taylor
16+Introduced and read first time: January 18, 2024
17+Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
18+Committee Report: Favorable
19+House action: Adopted
20+Read second time: March 4, 2024
1121
12-FOR the purpose of renaming the Department of Veterans Affairs to be the Department of
13-Veterans and Military Families; renaming the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be
14-the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families; requiring the Secretary to appoint
15-a Deputy Secretary of Military Family Policy and Programs; providing that the
16-Department of Veterans and Military Families is the successor of the Department of
17-Veterans Affairs; requiring the publisher of the Annotated Code of Maryland, in
18-consultation with the Department of Legislative Services, to correct cross–references
19-and terminology in the Code that are rendered incorrect by this Act; and generally
20-relating to the renaming of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of
21-Veterans Affairs.
22+CHAPTER ______
2223
23-BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
24- Article – State Government
25-Section 8–201(b)(21); and 9–901, 9–902(a) and (b), 9–908(b), 9–914(b)(1), 9–933,
26-9–934(a)(2), 9–943(b)(1), and 9–951(a)(1) to be under the amended subtitle
27-“Subtitle 9. Department of Veterans and Military Families”
28- Annotated Code of Maryland
29- (2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
24+AN ACT concerning 1
3025
31-BY adding to
32- Article – State Government
33-Section 9–902.1
34- Annotated Code of Maryland
35- (2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement)
26+Department of Veterans Affairs – Renaming and Deputy Secretary of Military 2
27+Family Policy and Programs 3
3628
37- SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENE RAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
38-That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
29+FOR the purpose of renaming the Department of Veterans Affairs to be the Department of 4
30+Veterans and Military Families; renaming the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to be 5
31+the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families; requiring the Secretary to appoint 6
32+a Deputy Secretary of Military Family Policy and Programs; providing that the 7
33+Department of Veterans and Military Families is the successor of the Department of 8
34+Veterans Affairs; requiring the publisher of the Annotated Code of Maryland, in 9
35+consultation with the Department of Legislative Services, to correct cross–references 10
36+and terminology in the Code that are rendered incorrect by this Act; and generally 11
37+relating to the renaming of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 12
38+Veterans Affairs. 13
3939
40-Article – State Government
40+BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
41+ Article – State Government 15
42+Section 8–201(b)(21); and 9–901, 9–902(a) and (b), 9–908(b), 9–914(b)(1), 9–933, 16
43+9–934(a)(2), 9–943(b)(1), and 9–951(a)(1) to be under the amended subtitle 17
44+“Subtitle 9. Department of Veterans and Military Families” 18
45+ Annotated Code of Maryland 19
46+ (2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 20
4147
42-8–201.
48+BY adding to 21 2 HOUSE BILL 431
4349
44- (b) The principal departments of the Executive Branch of the State government
45-are:
4650
47- (21) Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY FAMILIES.
48- Ch. 12 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
51+ Article – State Government 1
52+Section 9–902.1 2
53+ Annotated Code of Maryland 3
54+ (2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 4
4955
50-– 2 –
51-Subtitle 9. Department of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY FAMILIES.
56+ SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 5
57+That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 6
5258
53-9–901.
59+Article – State Government 7
5460
55- (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
61+8–201. 8
5662
57- (b) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust.
63+ (b) The principal departments of the Executive Branch of the State government 9
64+are: 10
5865
59- (c) “Department” means the Department of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY
60-FAMILIES.
66+ (21) Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY FAMILIES. 11
6167
62- (d) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY
63-FAMILIES.
68+Subtitle 9. Department of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY FAMILIES. 12
6469
65- (e) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust.
70+9–901. 13
6671
67- (f) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, “veteran” means an individual
68-who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than for training,
69-and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
72+ (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 14
7073
71-9–902.
74+ (b) “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Veterans Trust. 15
7275
73- (a) There is a Department of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY FAMILIES,
74-established as a principal department of the State government.
76+ (c) “Department” means the Department of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY 16
77+FAMILIES. 17
7578
76- (b) The head of the Department is the Secretary of Veterans [Affairs] AND
77-MILITARY FAMILIES who shall be:
79+ (d) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY 18
80+FAMILIES. 19
7881
79- (1) a veteran who has an honorable discharge from active service with a
80-uniformed service of the United States; and
82+ (e) “Trust” means the Maryland Veterans Trust. 20
8183
82- (2) appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.
84+ (f) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, “veteran” means an individual 21
85+who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than for training, 22
86+and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. 23
8387
84-9–902.1.
88+9–902. 24
8589
86- (A) THE SECRETARY SHALL APPOI NT A DEPUTY SECRETARY OF MILITARY
87-FAMILY POLICY AND PROGRAMS.
90+ (a) There is a Department of Veterans [Affairs] AND MILITARY FAMILIES, 25
91+established as a principal department of the State government. 26
8892
89- (B) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE
90-SECRETARY.
93+ (b) The head of the Department is the Secretary of Veterans [Affairs] AND 27
94+MILITARY FAMILIES who shall be: 28
9195
92- (C) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY IS ENTITLED TO THE SALARY PROVID ED IN
93-THE STATE BUDGET .
94- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 12
96+ (1) a veteran who has an honorable discharge from active service with a 29 HOUSE BILL 431 3
9597
96-– 3 –
97- (D) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SHALL DIREC T POLICY AND PROGRAM S
98-RELATED TO MILITARY FAMILIES.
9998
100-9–908.
99+uniformed service of the United States; and 1
101100
102- (b) There is a Veterans’ Memorials and Monuments Program administered by the
103-Department [of Veterans Affairs].
101+ (2) appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. 2
104102
105-9–914.
103+9–902.1. 3
106104
107- (b) The Board of Trustees shall consist of the following 11 members:
105+ (A) THE SECRETARY SHALL APPOI NT A DEPUTY SECRETARY OF MILITARY 4
106+FAMILY POLICY AND PROGRAMS. 5
108107
109- (1) the Secretary [of Veterans Affairs], ex officio, or the Secretary’s
110-designee, who shall serve as the chair;
108+ (B) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF T HE 6
109+SECRETARY. 7
111110
112-9–933.
111+ (C) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY IS ENTITLED TO THE SALARY PROVID ED IN 8
112+THE STATE BUDGET. 9
113113
114- There is a War Memorial Commission in the Department [of Veterans Affairs].
114+ (D) THE DEPUTY SECRETARY SHALL DIREC T POLICY AND PROGRAM S 10
115+RELATED TO MILITARY FAMILIES. 11
115116
116-9–934.
117+9–908. 12
117118
118- (a) (2) Of the 10 Commission members:
119+ (b) There is a Veterans’ Memorials and Monuments Program administered by the 13
120+Department [of Veterans Affairs]. 14
119121
120- (i) 5 shall be appointed by the Secretary [of Veterans Affairs], with
121-the approval of the Governor; and
122+9–914. 15
122123
123- (ii) 5 shall be appointed by the Mayor of Baltimore City.
124+ (b) The Board of Trustees shall consist of the following 11 members: 16
124125
125-9–943.
126+ (1) the Secretary [of Veterans Affairs], ex officio, or the Secretary’s 17
127+designee, who shall serve as the chair; 18
126128
127- (b) (1) The director shall develop mechanisms for outreach to be disseminated
128-by direct mail and through community–based veterans organizations, the Department [of
129-Veterans Affairs], the Department of Human Services, the Maryland Department of
130-Health, and any other State agency or unit the director considers appropriate.
129+9–933. 19
131130
132-9–951.
131+ There is a War Memorial Commission in the Department [of Veterans Affairs]. 20
133132
134- (a) The Commission consists of the following members:
133+9–934. 21
135134
136- (1) the designee of the Secretary [of Veterans Affairs];
135+ (a) (2) Of the 10 Commission members: 22
137136
138- SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, as provided in this Act:
137+ (i) 5 shall be appointed by the Secretary [of Veterans Affairs], with 23
138+the approval of the Governor; and 24
139139
140- (a) The Department of Veterans and Military Families is the successor of the
141-Department of Veterans Affairs.
142- Ch. 12 2024 LAWS OF MARYLAND
140+ (ii) 5 shall be appointed by the Mayor of Baltimore City. 25
143141
144-– 4 –
145- (b) In every law, executive order, rule, regulation, policy, or document created by
146-an official, an employee, or a unit of this State, the names and titles of those agencies and
147-officials mean the names and titles of the successor agency or official.
142+9–943. 26
148143
149- SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That nothing in this Act affects the
150-term of office of an appointed or elected member of any commission, office, department,
151-agency, or other unit. An individual who is a member of a unit on the effective date of this
152-Act shall remain for the balance of the term to which appointed or elected, unless the
153-member sooner dies, resigns, or is removed under provisions of law.
144+ (b) (1) The director shall develop mechanisms for outreach to be disseminated 27 4 HOUSE BILL 431
154145
155- SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That any transaction or
156-employment status affected by or flowing from any change of nomenclature or any statute
157-amended by this Act and validly entered into or existing before the effective date of this Act
158-and every right, duty, or interest flowing from a statute amended by this Act remains valid
159-after the effective date of this Act and may be terminated, completed, consummated, or
160-enforced as required or allowed by any statute amended by this Act as though the
161-amendment had not occurred. If a change in nomenclature involves a change in name or
162-designation of any State unit, the successor unit shall be considered in all respects as
163-having the powers and obligations granted the former unit.
164146
165- SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:
147+by direct mail and through community–based veterans organizations, the Department [of 1
148+Veterans Affairs], the Department of Human Services, the Maryland Department of 2
149+Health, and any other State agency or unit the director considers appropriate. 3
166150
167- (a) The continuity of every commission, office, department, agency, or other unit
168-is retained.
151+9–951. 4
169152
170- (b) The personnel, records, files, furniture, fixtures, and other properties and all
171-appropriations, credits, assets, liabilities, and obligations of each retained unit are
172-continued as the personnel, records, files, furniture, fixtures, properties, appropriations,
173-credits, assets, liabilities, and obligations of the unit under the laws enacted by this Act.
153+ (a) The Commission consists of the following members: 5
174154
175- SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That letterhead, business cards,
176-and other documents reflecting the renaming of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be
177-the Department of Veterans and Military Families may not be used until all letterhead,
178-business cards, and other documents already in print and reflecting the name of the
179-Department before the effective date of this Act have been used.
155+ (1) the designee of the Secretary [of Veterans Affairs]; 6
180156
181- SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the publisher of the
182-Annotated Code of Maryland, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the
183-Department of Legislative Services, shall correct, with no further action required by the
184-General Assembly, cross–references and terminology rendered incorrect by this Act. The
185-publisher shall adequately describe any correction that is made in an editor’s note following
186-the section affected.
157+ SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, as provided in this Act: 7
187158
188- SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
189-1, 2024.
190- WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 12
159+ (a) The Department of Veterans and Military Families is the successor of the 8
160+Department of Veterans Affairs. 9
191161
192-– 5 –
193-Approved by the Governor, April 9, 2024.
162+ (b) In every law, executive order, rule, regulation, policy, or document created by 10
163+an official, an employee, or a unit of this State, the names and titles of those agencies and 11
164+officials mean the names and titles of the successor agency or official. 12
165+
166+ SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That nothing in this Act affects the 13
167+term of office of an appointed or elected member of any commission, office, department, 14
168+agency, or other unit. An individual who is a member of a unit on the effective date of this 15
169+Act shall remain for the balance of the term to which appointed or elected, unless the 16
170+member sooner dies, resigns, or is removed under provisions of law. 17
171+
172+ SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That any transaction or 18
173+employment status affected by or flowing from any change of nomenclature or any statute 19
174+amended by this Act and validly entered into or existing before the effective date of this Act 20
175+and every right, duty, or interest flowing from a statute amended by this Act remains valid 21
176+after the effective date of this Act and may be terminated, completed, consummated, or 22
177+enforced as required or allowed by any statute amended by this Act as though the 23
178+amendment had not occurred. If a change in nomenclature involves a change in name or 24
179+designation of any State unit, the successor unit shall be considered in all respects as 25
180+having the powers and obligations granted the former unit. 26
181+
182+ SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 27
183+
184+ (a) The continuity of every commission, office, department, agency, or other unit 28
185+is retained. 29
186+
187+ (b) The personnel, records, files, furniture, fixtures, and other properties and all 30
188+appropriations, credits, assets, liabilities, and obligations of each retained unit are 31
189+continued as the personnel, records, files, furniture, fixtures, properties, appropriations, 32
190+credits, assets, liabilities, and obligations of the unit under the laws enacted by this Act. 33
191+
192+ SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTH ER ENACTED, That letterhead, business cards, 34
193+and other documents reflecting the renaming of the Department of Veterans Affairs to be 35 HOUSE BILL 431 5
194+
195+
196+the Department of Veterans and Military Families may not be used until all letterhead, 1
197+business cards, and other documents already in print and reflecting the name of the 2
198+Department before the effective date of this Act have been used. 3
199+
200+ SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the publisher of the 4
201+Annotated Code of Maryland, in consultation with and subject to the approval of the 5
202+Department of Legislative Services, shall correct, with no further action required by the 6
203+General Assembly, cross–references and terminology rendered incorrect by this Act. The 7
204+publisher shall adequately describe any correction that is made in an editor’s note following 8
205+the section affected. 9
206+
207+ SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 10
208+1, 2024. 11
209+
210+
211+
212+Approved:
213+________________________________________________________________________________
214+ Governor.
215+________________________________________________________________________________
216+ Speaker of the House of Delegates.
217+________________________________________________________________________________
218+ President of the Senate.