(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established within the department an advisory commission to be known as the State Veterans' Commission.

(b) Composition.--The commission shall be composed of:

(1) The Adjutant General, ex officio, or his designee.

(2) The State commander, commandant or head, or his designee, of each of the following named veterans' organizations:

(i) The American Legion.

(ii) AMVETS.

(iii) Blinded Veterans Association.

(iv) Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America.

(v) Disabled American Veterans.

(vi) Jewish War Veterans of the United States.

(vii) Marine Corps League.

(viii) Military Order of the Purple Heart.

(ix) State Association of County Directors of Veterans' Affairs.

(x) Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

(xi) (Deleted by amendment).

(xii) Italian-American War Veterans of the United States, Inc.

(xiii) The Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.

(xiv) American Ex-Prisoners of War.

(xv) Keystone Paralyzed Veterans Association.

(xvi) Military Officers Association of America.

(xvii) The Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.

(3) Four members at large appointed by the Governor from a list provided by the Adjutant General, each of whom shall be a veteran and a member in good and regular standing of a Pennsylvania branch, post, lodge or club of a recognized national veterans' organization active in this Commonwealth. At least one member shall be a female veteran, and at least one member shall be a veteran of the Vietnam era. Members at large shall serve a term of four years and until a successor has been appointed.

(4) The State Adjutants of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Executive Director of AMVETS as nonvoting members.

(c) Officers.--The commission shall annually elect a chairman and vice chairman at the first meeting of the commission after October 1. The Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans' Affairs shall serve as the executive secretary to the commission.

(d) Compensation and expenses.--Members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall receive reimbursement for their necessary and proper expenses for attendance at meetings.

(e) Meetings and quorum.--The commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman or the Adjutant General. Nine members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

(f) Declared vacancies.--The Governor, upon recommendation of the Adjutant General, shall declare a vacancy to exist whenever any member at large fails to attend three consecutive meetings without good cause. Any declared vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.

(June 25, 1999, P.L.233, No.33, eff. imd.; Nov. 22, 2000, P.L.670, No.90, eff. imd.; May 12, 2010, P.L.200, No.28, eff. imd.; June 13, 2016, P.L.335, No.42, eff. 60 days)

2016 Amendment. Act 42 amended subsec. (b)(2).

2000 Amendment. Act 90 amended subsec. (b).

Cross References. Section 1702 is referred to in sections 1711, 1731, 8501, 8701, 8901, 9304 of this title.