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Senate concurs to HB 81, moving Veterans Affairs supervision to the adjutant general; committee vote 36‑14
Summary
House Bill 81, which would move supervision of the Veterans Affairs Division administrator from the Board of Veterans Affairs to the adjutant general, cleared the committee with a 36‑14 vote after lawmakers described the change as an efficiency measure requested by the Department of Military Affairs.
House Bill 81 would change the supervisory chain for the Veterans Affairs Division administrator by moving supervision from the Board of Veterans Affairs to the Adjutant General in the Department of Military Affairs.
Senator McKinney, carrying the bill, said it was a simple, administrative measure requested by the Department of Military Affairs and that it passed the State Administration Committee 9‑0 before arriving in the committee of the whole. He told the panel the change is intended to provide more direct oversight and "direct access and direct responsibility to the head instead of putting it to a secondary and then having to go to the head," and that no additional funding is required.
Senator Vinton asked whether the adjutant general was the same official who had opposed a prior bill; McKinney answered in the affirmative. Senator Noland asked why the change was needed; McKinney explained it was an efficiency measure and that the department could make the change within existing funds.
Senator McCamey moved that the committee recommend concurrence in HB 81. The committee recorded a vote of 36 senators aye and 14 senators nay; the committee recommended the bill be concurred in and forwarded it to the Senate floor.
Ending: With the committee's recommendation, HB 81 moves to the floor for further action as part of the concurrent review between the two chambers.
