SB132

The amendment changes the Department of Veterans Affairs' consulting obligation from discretionary ("may") to mandatory ("shall"), and restructures the Veterans Council membership from a flexible model that could add any congressionally chartered veterans organization by unanimous vote to a fixed list of seven specific organizations. This STRENGTHENS the bill by making consultation mandatory and NARROWS the council's membership to prevent expansion beyond the designated groups.

The amendment changes the Department of Veterans Affairs' consultation frequency with the South Dakota Veterans Council from quarterly to biannual (twice per year), and restructures the council's membership from naming specific organizations to listing seven categories of organizations (adding National American Indian Veterans and clarifying the representative structure). This WEAKENS the bill's original purpose by reducing consultation frequency and BROADENS membership eligibility by formally including Native American veterans organizations.

The amendment changes the Veterans Council membership structure from naming specific organizations (including two particular Vietnam Veterans of America chapters) to requiring one representative each from seven defined veteran organizations, while also strengthening the Department of Veterans Affairs' consultation requirement from "may" to "shall." This NARROWS and CLARIFIES the council's composition while making consultation with the council mandatory rather than optional.