(A) For the purpose of this section, "veteran" means a person who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and who was honorably discharged or released from such service due to a service-connected disability.
(B) Subject to the recommendation of a majority of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county, the secretary shall appoint a county veterans' affairs officer for each county in the State, whose term of office shall begin July first of each odd-numbered year and shall continue for a term of two years and until a successor shall be appointed. Qualifications shall be determined by the county legislative delegation upon a majority vote of the Senators representing the county and a majority of the House members representing the county. A county veterans' affairs officer is an at-will employee of the department, subject to removal for cause at any time by the secretary, a majority of the Senators representing the county, and a majority of the House members representing the county.
(C) All county veterans' affairs officers must successfully complete a comprehensive course of training and be issued accreditation within one year following initial appointment, either through the department or through an accredited national veterans' service organization. A training council from the South Carolina Association of County Veterans' Affairs Officers, in conjunction with the department or through an accredited national veterans' service organization, shall develop the training criteria. Training and accreditation must be provided by the department or through an accredited national veterans' service organization. A county veterans' affairs officer who does not complete the required training and receives accreditation within the first year following appointment is ineligible for reappointment by the county legislative delegation. Additionally, in order to maintain accreditation, refresher training is required yearly.
(D) In Dorchester County, appointments made pursuant to this section are governed by the provisions of Act 512 of 1996.
HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 44-604; 1952 Code Section 44-604; 1942 Code Section 2968; 1932 Code Section 2968; 1927 (35) 158; 1945 (44) 90; 1967 (55) 585; 1971 (57) 73; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 486; 2000 Act No. 228, Section 1; 2019 Act No. 26 (H.3438), Section 3, eff July 1, 2019.
Editor's Note
By a Ordinance No. 96-5-15, dated October 2, 1996, the Berkeley County Council has notified the Code Commissioner that it accepts the responsibility and authority for making the appointments provided in Act 159 of 1995 which were formerly made by the Berkeley County Legislative Delegation pursuant to the authority of this section.
By Resolution 96-07, dated July 15, 1996, the Dorchester County Council has notified the Code Commissioner that it accepts the responsibility and authority for making the appointments provided in Act 512 of 1996 which were formerly made by the Dorchester County Legislative Delegation pursuant to the authority of this section.
By a resolution dated August 13, 1996, the Georgetown County Council has notified the Code Commissioner that it accepts the responsibility and authority for making the appointments provided in Act 515 of 1996 which were formerly made by the Georgetown County Legislative Delegation pursuant to the authority of this section.
2019 Act No. 26, Section 4, provides as follows:
"SECTION 4. (A) All classified or unclassified personnel employed by these offices on the effective date of this act, either by contract or by employment at will, shall become employees of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, with the same compensation, classification, and grade level, as applicable. The Department of Administration shall cause all necessary actions to be taken to accomplish this transfer in accordance with state laws and regulations.
"(B) Regulations promulgated by the Division of Veterans' Affairs as it formerly existed under the Department of Administration are continued and are considered to be promulgated by the newly created Department of Veterans' Affairs.
"(C) The Code Commissioner is directed to change or correct all references to Division of Veterans' Affairs within the Department of Administration in the 1976 Code, to reflect the transfer of it to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. References to the Division of Veterans' Affairs in the 1976 Code or other provisions of law are considered to be and must be construed to mean appropriate reference to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. This authority shall not be construed to remove any authority from the Department of Administration for approval of statewide policies, procedures, regulations, rates and fees, or specific actions requiring Department of Administration approval."
2019 Act No. 26, Section 5, provides as follows:
"SECTION 5. This act takes effect July 1, 2019. County veterans' affairs officers serving on or before the effective date of Section 25-11-40(B), as amended by this act, are not subject to the revised qualifications provided in this section."
Effect of Amendment
2019 Act No. 26, Section 3, rewrote the section.