Alabama Senate delays vote on restructuring state veterans affairs board
The Alabama Senate Tuesday heavily amended and then delayed a bill that would have restructured the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs board.
Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, the sponsor of SB 67, asked to have the legislation carried over after it was amended nine times.
'We've heard a lot from our veteran's communities about what's important to them. I think it's best that we give folks some time to marinate on this, look at it, understand it,' Jones said.
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The bill came after Gov. Kay Ivey fired former Commissioner Kent Davis over a dispute regarding Davis' alleged handling of federal grants offered through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. Davis initially refused to step down after Ivey demanded his resignation, but he offered his resignation after meeting with the governor. The Board of Veterans Affairs then asked Davis to withdraw his resignation and voted to keep him, saying they found no wrongdoing, which led to his firing. An attorney for Davis has suggested he is considering pursue legal action.
Jones said during the debate the main purpose of the bill would be elevating Veterans Affairs to a cabinet-level position.
'A lot of folks are still hung up on the sort of personality conflict that happened a few months ago,' he said. 'That's not in this bill at all. The main focus is focusing on veterans (and) meeting their needs.'
The State Board of Veterans Affairs currently has 17 members. Jones' legislation would have initially shrunk it to nine, but after amendments, it was brought up to 15. The governor would appoint nine members, but two must be affiliated with the Alabama National Guard, one must be a woman and one must be a wartime veteran.
The Speaker of the House would have an appointment that would be selected from a list of three names nominated by the largest veteran organization in Alabama and the Pro Tempore of the Senate would have an appointment that would be selected by the second largest veteran organization in the state. Another amendment was added to include two appointments by the lieutenant governor, one at-large and one from a list of three names nominated by the third largest organization. The organizations were not named.
An amendment would require that at least five board members be veterans who served on active duty for a period of 60 days or more and have been honorably discharged.
An appointing authority would have to give veteran organizations notice and would not be allowed to make an appointment without notice of 30 days. The organization would be able to provide three recommendations for consideration.
Another amendment would allow the board to recommend up to three individuals to the governor for appointment as commissioner, though it doesn't have to be considered. It would also provide the commissioner's salary is set by the governor.
Jones said he expects the bill to come back to the Senate floor next week.
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