EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0088*
SENATE BILL 88
P1 4lr0646
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 55
By: Senators Gile, Beidle, Carozza, Klausmeier, Simonaire, and Smith
Requested: September 15, 2023
Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Commission on Veterans and Military Families 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Commission on Veterans and Military 3
Families to study developing and implementing a strategic plan to make Maryland 4
the best state for veterans and military families; and generally relating to the 5
Maryland Commission on Veterans and Military Families. 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8
(a) There is a Commission on Veterans and Military Families. 9
(b) The Commission consists of the following members: 10
(1) the following members, appointed by the President of the Senate: 11
(i) a member of the Senate of Maryland who is also a member of the 12
Maryland Senate Veterans Caucus; 13
(ii) a former member of the Senate of Maryland who is also a former 14
member of the Maryland Senate Veterans Caucus; and 15
(iii) a representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of 16
veterans and military families; 17
(2) the following members, appointed by the Speaker of the House: 18
(i) a member of the House of Delegates who is also a member of the 19
Maryland House Veterans Caucus; 20
2 SENATE BILL 88
(ii) a former member of the House of Delegates who is also a former 1
member of the Maryland House Veterans Caucus; and 2
(iii) a representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of 3
veterans and military families; 4
(3) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Secretary’s designee; 5
(4) the Adjutant General, or the Adjutant General’s designee; 6
(5) the chair of the Maryland Veterans Commission, or the chair’s 7
designee; 8
(6) the chair of the Maryland Veterans’ Home Commission, or the chair’s 9
designee; 10
(7) the chair of the Maryland College Collaboration for Student Veterans 11
Commission, or the chair’s designee; and 12
(8) the following members, appointed by the Governor: 13
(i) a representative of an organization that advocates on behalf of 14
woman veterans; and 15
(ii) a representative of the reserve component of any branch of the 16
armed forces of the United States, not including the National Guard. 17
(c) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the Secretary’s designee, shall serve as 18
chair of the Commission. 19
(d) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall provide staff for the Commission. 20
(e) A member of the Commission: 21
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 22
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 23
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 24
(f) The Commission shall: 25
(1) study and make recommendations for developing and implementing a 26
statewide strategic plan to make Maryland the best state for veterans and military families, 27
including legislative and budgetary recommendations; and 28
SENATE BILL 88 3
(2) identify key performance indicators that can be compared to those of 1
other states in order to assess the quality of life for veterans and military families in 2
Maryland relative to other states. 3
(g) On or before December 1, 2024, the Commission shall report its findings and 4
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 5
Government Article, the General Assembly. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 7
1, 2024. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 1 month and, at the end of June 8
30, 2025, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 9
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 10