Veterans Affairs

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 1-30-10, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE GOVERNMENT, SO AS TO INCLUDE THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; BY ADDING SECTION 1-30-130 SO AS TO ENUMERATE THE ASSETS, RIGHTS, AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE FORMER DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS TRANSFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; TO AMEND CHAPTER 11, TITLE 25, RELATING TO THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, SO AS TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, REDESIGNATE THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AS THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; TO ESTABLISH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT A SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE, AND TO ENUMERATE THE SECRETARY'S POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS; TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF "VETERAN" FOR PURPOSES OF APPOINTING COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICERS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT A COUNTY VETERANS' AFFAIRS OFFICER IS AN AT-WILL EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT WHO MAY BE REMOVED FOR CAUSE AT ANY TIME BY THE DEPARTMENT SECRETARY, A MAJORITY OF THE SENATORS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, AND A MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY; TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE CHAPTER; TO ESTABLISH THE SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY BASE TASK FORCE, AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE TASK FORCE'S COMPOSITION, POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES; AND TO PROVIDE COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO THE REDESIGNATION OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AS THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS. - ratified title