House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs committee advances multiple military and veterans bills; one oversight amendment fails

The House Medical, Military, Public and Municipal Affairs Committee on Monday reported favorably on several military and veterans measures, advancing bills that expand redevelopment options for former federal installations, allow state involvement in some juvenile cases that occur on bases, and reconstitute a military affairs advisory body. A proposed amendment to give the Legislature pre-approval power over admissions and discharge policies at veterans homes failed.

Representative Bobby Cox, vice chair of the committee, said the first bill discussed, H.3333, "expands projects that can be undertaken in the redevelopment of former federal military installations to include workforce housing projects." He said the change is intended to give Department of Defense entities and municipalities more flexibility to convert older buildings for both military and community uses; he also said the bill had received letters of support from the governor, Colonel Freeman of Joint Base Charleston, and Mayor Burgess of North Charleston. The committee gave H.3333 a favorable report; committee members recorded that "all but one" were in favor and one member…