SB132 — modify provisions related to the South Dakota Veterans Council.
What changed between bill versions as it moved through the Legislature.
The amendment converts the Veterans Council from a flexible membership model that could add any congressionally chartered veterans organization by unanimous vote into a fixed seven-member council with one representative each from specific named organizations, which NARROWS the council's composition and removes the ability to expand membership.
The amendment changes the Department of Veterans Affairs' consultation frequency from quarterly to biannual and restructures the Veterans Council membership from six specific named organizations to a clearer list of seven organization categories, now including a new position for National American Indian Veterans representation. This BROADENS the council's composition to ensure more diverse veteran representation while reducing consultation frequency.
The enrolled version changed "may consult" to "shall consult," making consultations with the Veterans Council mandatory rather than optional, and restructured the council membership from naming six specific organizations to listing seven categories of representatives (adding "National American Indian Veterans" as a new member category). This strengthens the bill by making departmental consultation with veterans' voices a requirement and expanding representation to include Native American veterans.