History: L. 1945, ch. 302, §§ 1 to 6; Repealed, L. 1951, ch. 433, § 8; July 1.
History: L. 1951, ch. 433, § 1; L. 1953, ch. 361, § 1; L. 1997, ch. 118, § 11; Jan. 1, 1998.
History: L. 1951, ch. 433, § 2; Repealed, L. 1953, ch. 361, § 29; July 1.
Subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 1992 Supp. 75-4315c, the governor shall appoint one member from each congressional district and the remainder from the state at large. Not more than three members shall be members of the same political party; and not more than two members shall represent the same veterans' organization.
Persons appointed as successors to all members of the commission shall be appointed for terms of four years. The governor may remove a member of the commission for good cause. Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the commission for any cause shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term in the same manner that original appointments are made. Members of the commission attending meetings of the commission, or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by the commission, shall be paid compensation, subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1953, ch. 361, § 2; L. 1967, ch. 412, § 1; L. 1974, ch. 348, § 43; L. 1982, ch. 347, § 29; L. 1986, ch. 278, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 262, § 8; July 1.
History: L. 1953, ch. 361, § 3; L. 1997, ch. 118, § 12; L. 1998, ch. 126, § 1; July 1.
The compensation and expenses of the members of the commission and the executive director of the commission, and the salaries and expenses of officers and employees of the commission, who are employed to carry out the provisions of article 12 of chapter 73 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, and other expenses of administering article 12, shall be paid in accordance with appropriation acts upon vouchers approved by the executive director or by a person or persons designated by the executive director.
History: L. 1953, ch. 361, § 4; L. 1961, ch. 409, § 12; L. 1965, ch. 458, § 4; L. 1967, ch. 412, § 2; L. 1976, ch. 370, § 83; L. 1985, ch. 292, § 18; L. 1986, ch. 278, § 2; July 1.
(1) Collect data and information as to the facilities, benefits and services now or hereafter available to veterans and their relatives and dependents, and furnish such information to veterans and their relatives and dependents and local service officers of veterans' organizations.
(2) Prepare plans for a comprehensive statewide veterans' service program.
(3) Coordinate the program of state agencies which may properly be utilized in the administration of various aspects of the problems of veterans, and relatives and dependents of veterans, such as the department of social and rehabilitation services, the department of labor, the state board of education, the board of regents and any other state office, department, board or commission furnishing service to veterans or their relatives or dependents.
(4) Provide a central contact between federal and state agencies dealing with the problems of veterans and their relatives and dependents.
(5) Maintain records of cases handled by the executive director which shall show at least the following information: (a) the name of the veteran; (b) claim or case number of the veteran; and (c) amount of monthly benefit received by the veteran, so as to facilitate the necessary interchange of case histories among state administrative agencies and provide a clearinghouse of information.
(6) Provide such services to veterans and their relatives and dependents as are not otherwise offered by federal agencies.
(7) Provide a central agency to which veterans and their relatives and dependents may turn for information and assistance.
(8) Provide and maintain such field services as shall be necessary to properly care for the needs of veterans and their relatives and dependents which shall not be operated in connection with the social and rehabilitation services.
History: L. 1951, ch. 433, § 3; L. 1953, ch. 361, § 5; L. 1976, ch. 370, § 84; L. 2004, ch. 179, § 96; July 1.
History: L. 1951, ch. 433, § 4; Repealed, L. 1953, ch. 361, § 29; July 1.
(b) Upon the commencement of the interview process, every candidate for a position in a Kansas commission on veterans affairs office that interviews claimants and provides information advice and counseling to veterans, surviving spouses, their dependents concerning compensation, pension, education, vocational rehabilitation, insurance, hospitalization, outpatient care, home loans, housing, tax exemptions, burial benefits and other benefits to which they may be entitled, or any other sensitive position, as determined by the executive director shall be given a written notice that a criminal history records check is required. The Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall require such candidates to be fingerprinted and submit to a state and national criminal history record check. The fingerprints shall be used to identify the candidate and to determine whether the candidate has a record of criminal history in this state or another jurisdiction. The Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall submit the fingerprints to the Kansas bureau of investigation and the federal bureau of investigation for a state and national criminal history record check. Local and state law enforcement officers and agencies shall assist the Kansas commission on veterans affairs in taking and processing of fingerprints of candidates. If the criminal history record information reveals any conviction of crimes of dishonesty, or violence such conviction may be used to disqualify a candidate for any position within the Kansas commission on veterans affairs. If the criminal history record information is used to disqualify a candidate, the candidate shall be informed in writing of that decision.
(c) Persons employed by the Kansas soldiers home and Kansas veterans home shall be excluded from the provisions of subsection (b). No person who has been employed by the Kansas commission on veterans affairs for five consecutive years immediately prior to the effective date of this act shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (b) while employed by the Kansas commission on veterans affairs.
(d) All such subordinate officers and employees shall be within the classified service under the Kansas civil service act, shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Kansas commission on veterans affairs and the executive director of the commission may prescribe and such duties and powers as are designated by law, and shall act for and exercise the powers of the commission and the executive director to the extent authority to do so is delegated by such commission or director.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by law, and subject to the Kansas civil service act, the executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall appoint such subordinate officers and employees, subject to the approval of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs, as shall be necessary to enable the commission to exercise or perform its functions, powers and duties pursuant to the provisions of article 19 of chapter 76 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto. All such subordinate officers and employees shall be within the classified service under the Kansas civil service act, shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the commission, the executive director of the commission, the superintendent of the Kansas soldiers' home and the superintendent of the Kansas veterans' home may prescribe and such duties and powers as are designated by law, and shall act for and exercise the powers of the commission, the executive director of the commission, the superintendent of the Kansas soldiers' home and the superintendent of the Kansas veterans' home to the extent authority to do so is delegated by such commission, executive director or superintendent.
(f) Any veterans service representative appointed by the executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall be an honorably discharged veteran or retired from the United States armed forces.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect the status, rights or benefits of any officer or employee of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs employed by such commission on the effective date of this act.
For the purpose of this subsection, "veterans service representative" means any officer or employee appointed pursuant to this section whose primary duties include:
(1) Assisting and representing veterans and their dependents in securing benefits from the federal government and the state of Kansas.
(2) Providing information and assistance to veterans and dependents in obtaining special services and benefits based on knowledge of federal and state laws, policies and regulations pertaining to veterans benefits and services.
(g) Nothing in this act shall be construed to affect the status, rights or benefits of any officer or employee of the Kansas veterans' commission employed by such commission on the effective date of this act.
History: L. 1986, ch. 278, § 5; L. 1997, ch. 28, § 1; L. 1998, ch. 150, § 1; L. 2007, ch. 43, § 1; July 1.
History: L. 1986, ch. 278, § 5; L. 1997, ch. 118, § 13; Repealed, L. 1998, ch. 150, § 2; July 1.
History: L. 1951, ch. 433, § 5; L. 1953, ch. 361, § 6; July 1.
History: L. 1951, ch. 433, §§ 6, 7; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 370, § 104; July 1.
History: L. 1953, ch. 361, §§ 7, 8; Repealed, L. 1976, ch. 370, § 104; July 1.
(b) "Dependent" shall mean any child born before or during the period of time such child's father served as a prisoner of war or was declared to be a person missing in action, or any child legally adopted or in the legal custody of any person prior to and during the time such person served as a prisoner of war or was declared to be a person missing in action.
History: L. 1972, ch. 279, § 1; April 1.
History: L. 1972, ch. 279, § 2; L. 1975, ch. 275, § 3; L. 1976, ch. 326, § 1; L. 2005, ch. 120, § 3; July 1.
"Dependent" as used in this act shall mean any child born to, legally adopted by, or in the legal custody of a person who was a resident of the state of Kansas at the time such person entered service of the United States armed forces and who, while serving in said U. S. armed forces in the geographical area of the Vietnam conflict, has been declared to be a person who died as the result of a service-connected disability suffered during the Vietnam conflict as a result of such conflict.
History: L. 1976, ch. 324, § 1; L. 1977, ch. 262, § 1; July 1.
(b) The Kansas commission on veterans affairs created by K.S.A. 73-1208a, and amendments thereto, is hereby specifically continued in existence. Persons who are members of the Kansas veterans' commission on July 1, 1986, shall continue to hold such offices under the conditions and limitations provided in K.S.A. 73-1208a and amendments thereto. Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, the powers, duties and functions vested in or exercised or performed by the commission pursuant to law immediately prior to July 1, 1986, shall remain the lawful powers, duties and functions of such commission.
(c) All rules and regulations and all orders or directives of the Kansas veterans' commission, or of any persons authorized by the commission to issue orders or directives, in existence on July 1, 1986, shall continue to be effective and shall be deemed to be the rules and regulations and orders or directives of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs until revised, amended, revoked or nullified pursuant to law. Nothing in this act shall affect the authority of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs to adopt or promulgate rules and regulations or to issue orders or directives as authorized by law.
History: L. 1986, ch. 278, § 4; L. 2004, ch. 179, § 97; July 1.
(b) On July 1, 1986, except as otherwise provided in this act, all of the powers, duties and functions of the existing executive director of the Kansas veterans' commission are hereby transferred to and conferred and imposed upon the executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs provided for by K.S.A. 73-1208c, and amendments thereto.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this act, the executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs provided for by this act shall be the successor in every way to the powers, duties and functions of the executive director of the Kansas veterans' commission abolished by this act in which the same were vested prior to July 1, 1986. Every act performed in the exercise of such powers, duties and functions by or under the authority of the executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs provided for by this act shall be deemed to have the same force and effect as if performed by the executive director of the Kansas veterans' commission abolished by this act in which the authority to perform such act was vested prior to July 1, 1986. The executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs provided for by this act shall be a continuation of the director of the Kansas veterans' commission abolished by this act.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this act, on and after July 1, 1986, whenever the executive director of the Kansas veterans' commission, or words of like effect, is referred to or designated by a statute, contract or other document such reference or designation shall be deemed to mean and apply to the executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs provided for by this act.
History: L. 1986, ch. 278, § 3; July 1.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 1; July 1.
(a) "Birth defect" means any physical or mental abnormality or condition, including any susceptibility to any illness or condition other than normal childhood illnesses or conditions.
(b) "Board" means the Persian Gulf War veterans health initiative board established by K.S.A. 73-1223, and amendments thereto.
(c) "Commission" means the Kansas commission on veterans affairs.
(d) "Director" means the executive director of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs.
(e) "Gulf War syndrome" means the wide range of physical and mental conditions, problems and illnesses that are connected with service in the armed forces of the United States during and in the area of operations of the Persian Gulf War.
(f) "Veteran" means a person who is a resident of Kansas who was a member of the armed forces of the United States of America and who served in such armed forces in the area of operations of the Persian Gulf War during the Persian Gulf War or thereafter regardless of whether such person is still actively serving in the armed forces or reserve.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 2; July 1.
(b) The board shall consist of nine members appointed as follows:
(1) At least three members shall be veterans. The director shall notify the state level unit of the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the American Legion and request a list of three nominations of veterans from each such veterans' organization. The governor shall appoint one veteran as a member from each list.
(2) One member shall be qualified from each of the medical specializations of epidemiology, toxicology and genetics. One member shall be qualified in one of the behavioral sciences in the speciality area of family dynamics. The director shall notify one or more professional societies or associations which represent the medical or behavioral science specialty area required and request a list of three nominations from that specialty area. The commission shall appoint one member of the board from each list.
(3) Two legislators, one from each house, shall be appointed to the board with the speaker of the house of representatives and president of the senate each appointing a member. One legislator shall be a member of the democratic party and one legislator shall be a member of the republican party.
(c) Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the governor, the commission, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall appoint the initial members of the board. Of the initial appointments to the board by the governor, one shall be for a term of one year, one shall be for a term of two years and one shall be for a term ending three years after the date of the initial appointment. Of the initial appointments to the board by the commission, two shall be for a term of one year, one shall be for a term of two years and one shall be for a term ending three years after the date of the initial appointment. After the initial appointments, terms [of] office of the members appointed by the governor or the commission shall be for three years but no person shall be appointed for more than two successive three-year terms. The term of office of each member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives or the president of the senate shall end on the first day of the regular session of the legislature which commences in the first odd-numbered year occurring after the year such member was appointed.
(d) Each member of the board shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the board for any reason other than the expiration of a member's term of office, the governor, the commission, speaker of the house of representatives or president of the senate shall appoint a successor of like qualifications to fill the unexpired term in accordance with this section. In the case of any vacancy occurring in the position of a board member who was appointed from a list of nominations submitted by a veterans' organization, the governor shall notify that veterans' organization of the vacant position and request a list of three nominations of veterans from which the governor shall appoint a successor to the board. In the case of any vacancy occurring in the position of a board member who is qualified in one of the speciality areas listed in subsection (b)(3) after the initial appointments, the director shall notify one or more professional societies or associations which represent the medical or behavioral science speciality required for the vacant position and request a list of three nominations from that speciality area from which the commission shall appoint a successor to the board.
(e) Annually, the board shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary from among its members and shall meet at least four times each year at the call of the chairperson.
(f) The members of the board attending meetings of the board or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by the board shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be paid subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d) of K.S.A. 75-3223, and amendments thereto.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 3; July 1.
(b) The commission shall develop or adopt the surveys within the first four months after the effective date of this act. The commission shall administer the surveys and review the completed surveys with the board. The commission shall compile the results of the surveys and develop recommendations for the legislature based thereon. The director shall report the results to appropriate federal agencies and shall request additional assistance for veterans commensurate with the director's duties under K.S.A. 73-1209, and amendments thereto.
(c) The aggregate amount expended for the development and administration of surveys and studies set out under this section and for board expenses, including the position established by K.S.A. 73-1225, and amendments thereto, shall not exceed $100,000 per fiscal year.
(d) The commission shall request the different media, including radio, television and newspaper, to make public service announcements publicizing information on the Persian Gulf War surveys and inform Kansans of the health problems identified and where help is available. The public service announcements should be published no less than four times a year.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 4; July 1.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 5; July 1.
(b) The commission shall determine the appropriate health programs and the confidential mechanisms that shall be utilized to ask participants in such programs whether they are Persian Gulf War veterans, and if so, offer the veterans voluntary participation in the survey under K.S.A. 73-1224, and amendments thereto.
(c) The commission shall establish and maintain a state Persian Gulf War registry containing the names of veterans, their spouses, family members and other persons in Kansas who have been affected by Gulf War syndrome.
(d) The commission shall inform veterans of any state and federal programs available to meet the veterans' needs.
(e) Any person who in good faith provides information to the commission under the provisions of this section shall be immune from civil or criminal liability therefor.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 6; July 1.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 7; July 1.
(a) No person can be identified in the information to be disclosed and the disclosure is for statistical purposes;
(b) all persons who are identifiable in the information to be disclosed consent in writing to its disclosure;
(c) the disclosure is necessary, and only to the extent necessary, to protect the public health;
(d) a medical emergency exists and the disclosure is to medical personnel qualified to treat infectious or contagious diseases, except that any information disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall be disclosed only to the extent necessary to protect the health or life of a named party; or
(e) the information to be disclosed is required in a court proceeding involving child abuse and the information is disclosed in camera.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 8; July 1.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 9; July 1.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 10; July 1.
History: L. 1997, ch. 39, § 11; L. 2001, ch. 5, § 296; July 1.
(b) The commission shall not enter into any contracts pursuant to subsection (a) after the effective date of this act for the purpose of establishing and maintaining the system of veterans cemeteries unless funds in an amount equal to 100% of the costs of constructing the cemeteries in such system is provided by the federal government.
(c) No more than three applications shall be submitted to the veterans administration for the state veterans cemetery program grant after the effective date of this act. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as applying to grants submitted prior to the effective date of this act.
History: L. 1999, ch. 93, § 1; Apr. 22.
(b) In accordance with this section, the Kansas commission on veterans affairs may initiate and conduct capital improvement projects to construct, reconstruct or repair or to maintain memorials for veterans. Each memorial for veterans shall be located at an institution, building or facility on state-owned property of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs and shall become the property of Kansas upon completion and acceptance of the project by the secretary of administration and the Kansas commission on veterans affairs. Except as otherwise provided by law or rules and regulations adopted under this section, each such capital improvement project for any such memorial for veterans shall be totally financed from private moneys received by the Kansas commission on veterans affairs for such purpose. Prior to initiating a capital improvement project for any such memorial for veterans, the plans and specifications for the project shall be reviewed and shall receive prior approval by the secretary of administration. No such capital improvement project for any such memorial for veterans shall be approved or initiated by the Kansas commission on veterans affairs without having first advised and consulted with the joint committee on state building construction.
(c) In accordance with the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations adopted thereunder, the Kansas commission on veterans affairs may apply for, accept and receive any private donation, gift, grant or bequest made to establish, modify or maintain memorials for veterans. The Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall administer and expend any such private donation, gift, grant or bequest in accordance with the terms or conditions imposed by the donor.
(d) The Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall develop and adopt rules and regulations prescribing guidelines, limitations and procedures for the approval of proposed memorials for veterans and for the acceptance of private donations, gifts, grants and bequests made for memorials for veterans. The rules and regulations prescribing such guidelines and procedures shall include:
(1) Procedures for the appointment by the commission of an advisory committee to advise the commission regarding memorials for veterans, which committee shall include one or more members of the legislature representing each area where a memorial may be located pursuant to this section and such other persons selected by the commission;
(2) guidelines for memorials for veterans to assure that each memorial for veterans is an appropriate tribute to Kansas veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States of America, is nonpartisan in nature and is in accord with nondiscrimination principles;
(3) guidelines and procedures to provide that the prior, express approval of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs has been obtained before (A) the name of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs or the name of the Kansas soldiers' home, the Kansas veterans' home or any other institution, building or facility under the jurisdiction of the commission, or (B) the name of any member of the commission or of any officer or employee of the commission or of any such institution, building or facility, is used in connection with any fund-raising for any memorial for veterans;
(4) guidelines for appropriate recognition of donors for memorials for veterans, except that no memorial for veterans shall be named for any donor;
(5) procedures to provide that the design, plans and specifications for memorials for veterans are reviewed and approved by the secretary of administration to assure conformance with the requirements and guidelines applicable to state capital improvement projects; and
(6) limitations and other guidelines for the expenditure of moneys in benefit funds established under K.S.A. 75-3728e et seq., and amendments thereto, for the Kansas soldiers' home or the Kansas veterans' home for the establishment or maintenance of memorials for veterans.
(e) Members of the advisory committee established under this section shall receive no compensation or reimbursement for expenses incurred for their service on such advisory committees.
(f) There is hereby established in the state treasury the Kansas veterans memorials fund which shall be administered by the Kansas commission on veterans affairs. All moneys received from any private donation, gift, grant or bequest made for memorials for Kansas veterans who served in the armed forces of the United States of America shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the Kansas veterans memorials fund. All expenditures from the Kansas veterans memorials fund shall be for the purpose of financing capital improvement projects for the construction, reconstruction or repair or for the maintenance of memorials for veterans and shall be made in accordance with appropriation acts upon warrants of the director of accounts and reports issued pursuant to vouchers approved by the Kansas commission on veterans affairs or the commission's designee.
(g) On or before the 10th of each month, the director of accounts and reports shall transfer from the state general fund to the Kansas veterans memorials fund interest earnings based on:
(1) The average daily balance of moneys in the Kansas veterans memorials fund for the preceding month; and
(2) the net earnings rate for the pooled money investment portfolio for the preceding month.
History: L. 2005, ch. 82, § 1; Apr. 14.
(b) The veterans claims assistance program shall be implemented and administered through annual service grants to eligible veterans service organizations pursuant to grant agreements entered into with the Kansas commission on veterans affairs in accordance with this section. All service grants and grant agreements shall be subject to the provisions of appropriation acts.
(c) The Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall adopt rules and regulations to implement and administer the veterans claims assistance program and the service grant program. The rules and regulations shall include: (1) The detailed requirements of the veterans claims assistance program and grant agreements; (2) the responsibilities of all parties to the grant agreements; (3) the duration of the grants; (4) any insurance or bonding requirements; (5) the format and frequency of progress and final reports; (6) the initial and continuing training requirements for veterans claims assistance representatives; (7) the provisions of a quality assurance program for the veterans claims assistance program and the services performed by veterans service organizations receiving grants under this section; and (8) any other information or requirements deemed necessary or appropriate by the commission.
(d) All moneys provided to veterans service organizations through service grants shall be used only for salaries, wages, related employer contributions and personnel costs, and operating and capital outlay expenditures for training and equipment for veterans claims assistance representatives and necessary support and managerial staff.
(e) Training activities for veterans claims assistance representatives shall be the responsibility of the veterans service organization employing the veterans claims assistance representatives and shall be conducted by qualified veterans claims assistance representatives.
(f) To receive a service grant under this section to perform services under the veterans claims assistance program, a veterans service organization shall satisfy the following eligibility requirements: (1) The veterans service organization shall be congressionally chartered by the United States Congress; (2) the veterans service organization shall agree to cross-accredit the officers and employees of the Kansas commission on veterans affairs and veterans claims assistance representatives of other veterans service organizations who are performing services under the veterans claims assistance program, subject to the following: (A) The person to be cross-accredited shall provide proof to the veterans service organization that the person has successfully completed the national association of county veterans service officers training and that such person shall maintain the continuing education requirements of the cross-accrediting veterans service organization; and (B) the cross-accrediting veterans service organization is [has] reserved the right to terminate the cross-accrediting if the person fails to meet the continuing education requirement of the veterans service organization; (3) agree to participate in one-stop veterans service centers at each federal veterans administration medical center in Kansas; (4) demonstrate the receipt of monetary or service support from its own organization for the veterans claims assistance program; (5) demonstrate the ability to comply with the requirements prescribed by this section or adopted by the Kansas commission on veterans affairs under this statute for accounting, service work activity and other satisfactory performance requirements and measures; (6) have established state headquarters in Kansas; (7) have staff present in the three United States department of veterans affairs medical centers located in Topeka, Leavenworth and Wichita; (8) have membership residency in at least 50% of the Kansas counties; (9) have had an established office presence in the United States department of veterans affairs regional office in Kansas for at least the three most recent state fiscal years; (10) have assisted in filing a minimum of 300 claims for veterans for which the veterans service organization has power of attorney in the past 12-month period; (11) agree to make no reference to membership eligibility on claims documentation and not solicit membership due to information received on claim forms; (12) agree to cross-accredit service officers participating in the service grant program to include service officers of partnered veterans service organizations and Kansas commission on veterans affairs staff located in the United States department of veterans affairs medical centers in Leavenworth, Topeka and Wichita; (13) agree that grant funding will not replace the monetary support currently provided by the veterans service organization to offices in the United States department of veterans affairs medical centers in Leavenworth, Topeka and Wichita for veterans claims assistance but will supplement the veterans service organization's monetary support currently in place; and (14) agree that the veterans service organization's monetary support currently provided for veterans claims assistance in the United States department of veterans affairs medical centers in Leavenworth, Topeka and Wichita will be equal to or greater than the monetary support that the veterans service organization provided in the previous year.
(g) Each veterans service organization receiving a service grant under this section shall file with the Kansas commission on veterans affairs, within 90 days after the end of the veterans service organization's fiscal year, a detailed statement prepared by a certified public accountant which sets forth an accounting of all expenditures of moneys received under the service grant. Each veterans service organization receiving a service grant under this section shall apply for the grant funding on an annual basis, shall demonstrate satisfactory performance based on completion of minimum requirements during the preceding annual period and shall certify that all veterans service representatives funded with service grant moneys meet minimum training requirements to provide for core competencies.
(h) The Kansas commission on veterans affairs shall develop and maintain a central database registry regarding claims outcome data received from veterans claims assistance representatives under the veterans claims assistance program.
History: L. 2006, ch. 153, § 1; L. 2007, ch. 151, § 1; July 1.
(b) The advisory board shall consist of six members as follows:
(1) The director of the veterans claims assistance program, who shall be a permanent member of the advisory board and shall serve as the chairperson of the advisory board.
(2) Three members of the advisory board shall be veterans representing veterans service organizations. The director shall notify the state level unit of each national veterans service organization which has an office in the federal department of veteran affairs regional office in Wichita, Kansas, and request written confirmation of the intent of the veterans service organization to participate in the veterans claims assistance program and to request an annual service grant. Each such veterans service organization submitting such confirmation shall prepare and submit a list of three nominations of veterans from such veterans service organization. The governor shall appoint one veteran as a member of the advisory board from each list.
(3) Two legislators, one from each house, shall be appointed to the advisory board with the speaker of the house of representatives and president of the senate each appointing a member. One legislator shall be a member of the democratic party and one legislator shall be a member of the republican party.
(c) Within 90 days of the effective date of this act, the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate shall appoint the initial members of the advisory board. Of the initial appointments to the advisory board by the governor, one shall be for a term of one year, one shall be for a term of two years and one shall be for a term ending three years after the date of the initial appointment. After the initial appointments, terms of office of the members appointed by the governor shall be for three years. The term of office of each member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives or the president of the senate shall end on the first day of the regular session of the legislature which commences in the first odd-numbered year occurring after the year such member was appointed.
(d) Each member of the advisory board, other than the director of the veterans claims assistance program, shall serve until a successor is appointed and qualified. Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the advisory board for any reason other than the expiration of a member's term of office, the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives or president of the senate shall appoint a successor of like qualifications to fill the unexpired term in accordance with this section. In the case of any vacancy occurring in the position of an advisory board member who was appointed from a list of nominations submitted by a veterans service organization, the governor shall notify that veterans service organization of the vacant position and request a list of three nominations of veterans from which the governor shall appoint a successor to the advisory board.
(e) Annually, the advisory board shall elect a vice-chairperson and secretary from among its members and shall meet at least four times each year at the call of the chairperson.
(f) The members of the advisory board attending meetings of the advisory board or attending a subcommittee meeting thereof authorized by the advisory board shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be paid subsistence allowances, mileage and other expenses as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d) of K.S.A. 75-3223 and amendments thereto.
History: L. 2006, ch. 153, § 2; April 27.
History: L. 2006, ch. 153, § 3; April 27.
History: L. 2007, ch. 151, § 2; July 1.