Committee advances SB 67; SB 59 moves to letter report; other bills carried or pending

The Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety Committee took formal action on multiple bills during its meeting. SB 67, a bill to restructure the state Department of Veterans Affairs and elevate its head to a cabinet-level post while reducing and reconstituting the advisory board, was advanced by committee vote. SB 59, which would allow active-duty military medical records to be used in lieu of state immunization cards for school enrollment, passed the committee 8-0 and was sent to the letter report.

SB 67: SB 67, introduced by Senator Jones and referenced by the chairman as the measure the governor mentioned in the State of the State address, would elevate the head of Alabama's veterans agency to a cabinet-level position and reduce the advisory board from 17 members to nine, with remaining members serving in an advisory role similar to other state boards.

The committee held discussion on the…