Guam Veterans Commission

(a)Commission Membership. There is hereby established a Guam Veterans Commission which shall, at a minimum, be composed of a total of six approved Veteran organizations whose representatives to the Commission are Veterans who have been nominated by their respective organizations and approved by I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan. The members shall include, but are not limited to the following representation:

(1)A member, each of whom shall be representative of a veterans or retirees association for each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to consist of:

(A)U.S. Army;

(B)U.S. Marine Corps;

(C)U.S. Navy;

(D)U.S. Air Force;

(E)U.S. Space Force;

(F)U.S. Coast Guard.

(2)A member from the officially chartered Guam chapters of multi-service Veteran Service Organization include but are not limited to: the American Legion (AL), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA).

(3)Approved Veteran Organizations. Organizations to be represented on the Guam Veterans Commission, pertaining to Subsections

(1)and (2), are required to be duly registered as a non-profit organization with the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation, in accordance with Title 18 of Guam Code Annotated. The organizations shall furnish the Guam Veterans Affairs Office

(GOVA)a TITLE 10 HEALTH AND SAFETY CH. 67 OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS copy of official documentation reflecting their non-profit status, a current certificate of Good Standing, and a copy of the organization’s By-Laws. GOVA shall maintain a file of each organization represented on the Commission; and

(4)Ex-Officio Members. With the recommendation of the Guam Veterans Commission, I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan may appoint as an ex-officio, non-voting member a veteran of a foreign country who has fought alongside U.S. armed forces members as allies in combat, who is representative of an established allied veterans organization on Guam which is compliant with §67107(a)(3), and is a resident of Guam. Said veteran shall serve for a term of three years from the date of appointment.

(b)Commission Membership Terms and Conduct of Business.

(1)Veteran Organization Nominations. The Commander, or designee, of a Veteran Service Organization shall present in writing to the Chairman of the Commission the names of two individuals, to be transmitted to the I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan for approval to the Commission to represent their respective veteran organization, which shall be subject to the aforementioned provisions. The nominating Organization shall designate each nominee as the Primary and Alternate representative, respectively.

(2)Terms of Commission Representatives. Every representative to the Commission shall serve for a term of three years, to commence on the date of approval by I Maga’håga/Maga’låhi.

(A)Should the approved primary Commission representative terminate his/her term prior to the conclusion of the three years, the approved Alternate shall assume the Primary representative position. In the event both approved representatives terminate, the nominating Veteran Service Organization shall nominate a successor to serve for the balance of the three

(3)year term, which shall commence upon the date of approval by I Maga’håga/Maga’låhi.

(B)Said nomination shall be in writing and presented to the Chairman of the Guam Veterans Commission for transmittal to I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan, with a copy to be furnished to the Veterans Affairs Officer of the Office of Veterans Affairs.

(3)Quorum Requirements. The presence of fifty percent (50%) plus one of the appointed primary or alternate members shall be required to establish quorum. For the official conduct of business, a majority of the members present, following the constituting of a quorum, shall be required to conduct official business.

(4)Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least once every quarter. However, nothing herein prevents the convening of additional meetings to deliberate on emergent issues.

(5)Conduct of meetings. The Commission shall conduct its meetings in accordance with the Open Government Law, 5 GCA Chapter 8.

(6)Use of Video Teleconferencing. Commission members may participate in regular meetings via video teleconferencing and in accordance with 5 GCA § 43121. Participation of a member via teleconferencing may be counted towards quorum requirements. The Commission shall broadcast regular meetings in accordance with 5 GCA § 43122.

(7)Removal from Commission for Unexcused Absences. The unexcused absences of a member from three

(3)consecutive regular meetings of the Commission shall constitute a cause for removal of the member from the Commission, I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan may thereupon remove the member from the Commission. The determination of whether a member’s absence is excused or unexcused shall be made by the Commission. TITLE 10 HEALTH AND SAFETY CH. 67 OFFICE OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

(8)Veteran Community Participation. The Commission shall provide veterans and their families the opportunity to present grievances and concerns for the purpose of effecting corrective action or change to existing policies that affect the delivery of benefits and services to Guam’s veteran population.

(9)Administrative Support. The Guam Veterans Office

(VAO)through the direction of the Veterans Affairs Officer, shall provide administrative support to the Guam Veterans Commission in the conduct of its meetings.

(10)Ethics Training. Commission representatives shall complete an ethics training within six months from the date of approval.

(11)Commission Duties and Responsibilities. The Commission shall have the authority to:

(A)Develop appropriate policies to address the concerns of all veterans;

(B)Recommend any legislation including budgetary requirements which may be necessary for the implementation, operation and maintenance of the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs;

(C)Develop and adopt internal rules and procedures to govern the conduct of the Commission and to facilitate coordination with the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs;

(D)Perform all functions necessary to carry out the provisions of this Chapter; and

(E)Submit a written report no later than May 1st of each year to I Maga’hågan/Maga’låhen Guåhan and the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan summarizing the Commission’s activities, accomplishments, challenges, and plans to support the Guam Office of the Veterans Affairs. The report shall also include information regarding costs and agreements related to veterans’ claims data. All veterans’ claims data shall be consistent with federal-data sharing and privacy regulations.

(F)The Guam Office of Veterans Affairs is authorized to provide resource and/or administrative support to fulfill the Commission’s expanded reporting and oversight responsibilities.