An Act To Establish the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee

Sec. 1. Establishment. The Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee is established as a nonprofit, nonpartisan and nonsectarian organization for the purpose of serving the State's congressional delegation, the Legislature, local governments and the general public as a clearinghouse of information and suggested legislation regarding veterans' issues at local, state and federal levels.

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used in this Act, the following terms have the following meanings unless otherwise indicated.

1. "Committee" means the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee.

2. "Member organization" means any veterans' organization, including any auxiliary unit or society of or trust or foundation for a veterans' organization, in the State qualifying as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(19) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Sec. 3. Composition. The committee is composed of:

1. Five delegates from each member organization participating in the committee. Each member organization shall appoint an alternate for each delegate;

2. The Director of the Bureau of Veterans' Services within the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management or a designee; and

3. The administrator of the Maine Veterans' Home or a designee.

The committee may invite the participation of the Center Director at VA Maine Healthcare System within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

The commander, president or senior officer of a member organization who is present may appoint an acting delegate to replace an absent delegate if an alternate is not present at any meeting of the committee.

Sec. 4. Duties. The committee shall:

1. Adopt bylaws to govern its doings, including bylaws concerning member organization dues and voting;

2. Appoint officers, including a chair, a first vice-chair, a 2nd vice-chair, a secretary, a treasurer, a chaplain, a judge advocate and directors, and appoint members to standing committees, which must include an executive board and a budget committee. Officers and members of standing committees serve 2-year terms and must be appointed in October on even-numbered years;

3. Meet monthly from October through June; and

4. Serve as a clearinghouse of information and suggested legislation regarding veterans' issues at local, state and federal levels.

SUMMARY

This bill establishes the Maine Veterans Coordinating Committee to serve as a clearinghouse of information and suggested legislation regarding veterans' issues at the local, state and federal levels.