Ala. Admin. Code r. 920-X-1-.01

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 920-X-1-.01 - The Board Of Veterans Affairs

(1) The Board of Veterans' Affairs shall consist of the Governor, as chair, and representatives who shall serve for a term of four years from the date of their respective appointments. These representatives shall be selected from the memberships of the Alabama Department of the American Legion, the United Spanish American War Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of WWI of the USA, Incorporated, the Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and American Ex-Prisoners of War, Incorporated as prescribed by Ala. Code § 31-5-3.

(2) The Board, in conjunction with the State Service Commissioner, shall be responsible for the formulation and adoption of policies, rules, and regulations for the administration and operation of the Board and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

(3) The Board, subject to Ala. Code § 31-5-6, shall exercise all rule-making authority of the department and may make, alter or amend regulations not inconsistent with state law and which are necessary for performing its mission.

(4) The Board shall have the power, and it shall be its duty, to fix the salaries and minimum standards of service and to define the job responsibilities for all service commissioners. The state service commissioner, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board, will fix salaries and minimum standards of service and define the job responsibilities for all other employees.

(5) The Board shall meet four times a year. The meetings will be held on the first Friday in each of the following months: January, April, July and October. In the event a meeting date falls on a legal holiday, then such meeting shall be held as determined by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman. Unless otherwise specified in the call, all meetings shall be held in Montgomery, Alabama, at the headquarters of the Department.

(a) The Board Secretary will mail notices of regular meetings to all Board members at least one week prior to meeting date. The notice will include an agenda of known items to come before the Board.

(b) Regularly scheduled meetings may not be changed from the above dates unless a majority of the Board approves the change. Members desiring to change a meeting date must contact the Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Vice-Chairman will poll the Board members by the most expedient means possible to determine if a majority approves the change and will notify the Board Secretary if a change is approved.

(c) Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, or upon request of a minimum of five members of the Board. The time and place of the meeting shall be designated in the call. A notice from the Board secretary conveyed in writing, (including facsimile or E-mail), or by telephone stating the reasons for the meeting will be provided at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the scheduled time of the special meeting.

(d) In the absence of the Chairman from a meeting of the Board, the Vice-Chairman shall preside. The Vice-Chairman shall be elected from the current members by a majority vote of the Board for a term of four (4) years, or until the expiration of his term as a representative to the Board. The Board shall also elect, by majority vote, a Deputy Vice-Chairman to preside at Board meetings in the event that both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman are absent.

(e) The Vice-Chairman may be removed from his elected position prior to the expiration of the four year term for good cause shown, as determined by a three-fourths vote of the Board. In the event of the death of the Vice-Chairman, or upon his incapacitation (as determined by the Board), or upon his failure to appear and answer the roll call for three consecutive Board meetings, the Deputy Vice-Chairman shall immediately assume the duties of the position and serve in that capacity until the expiration of the elected Vice-Chairman's term. Thereafter, at the next regularly scheduled meeting, another Board member shall be elected by majority vote to the position of Deputy Vice-Chairman.

(f) All meetings of the Board shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order (as amended).

(6) The presence of a majority of the members at a regular or special meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.

(7) Members of the Board shall be entitled to a per diem, not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25) per day, to be fixed by the board, and the amount of their travel and other necessary expenses actually paid while in attendance at the meetings of the state board or while on the business of the state department.

Author: Frank Wilkes

Ala. Admin. Code r. 920-X-1-.01

New Rule: Filed January 4, 2001; effective February 8, 2001.

Statutory Authority:' Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 31-5-3, 31-5-4.