SB356 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Wendell Mitchell

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Veterans' Affairs, State Department of, veterans organizations making nominations, Alabama Alliance of the Military Officers Association of America, Inc., added to nominating organizations, Sec. 31-5-3 am'd.; Act 2009-788, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Summary

SB356 adds the Alabama Alliance of the Military Officers Association of America, Inc. to the organizations that can nominate members to the State Board of Veterans' Affairs.

What This Bill Does

The governor still appoints members to the State Board of Veterans' Affairs from nominations submitted by veterans organizations. This bill adds AMVOA Alabama Alliance of the Military Officers Association of America, Inc. as a nominating organization. For each board seat an organization is entitled to, its executive committees must nominate three veterans who belong to that organization, with nominations reflecting proportionate representation from different wars. The board must reflect statewide diversity and determine representation based on membership counts as of July 1, and it may include WWII veterans with a national charter if allowed; the board also has authority to adopt regulations for the department.

Who It Affects

• Members and leadership of the Alabama Alliance of the Military Officers Association of America, Inc., who will participate in nominating three veterans for each board seat allotted to their organization.
• Other veteran organizations listed in the statute (e.g., American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, etc.), whose nomination processes remain in place and whose seats are allocated based on membership counts.
• All Alabama veterans, because the board’s composition must reflect diversity across race, gender, geography, urban/rural status, and economic background.
• The Governor and the State Board of Veterans' Affairs, as the nomination and appointment process and board governance are affected.

Key Provisions

• Adds the Alabama Alliance of the Military Officers Association of America, Inc. to the list of organizations eligible to nominate representatives to the State Board of Veterans' Affairs.
• For each board seat an organization is entitled to, its executive committees must nominate three veterans who are members of that organization.
• Nominations must include veterans from every war represented in the organizations’ membership, and the board may grant representation to WWII veterans’ groups with a national charter.
• Seat allocation is based on the organization’s state membership as of July 1, with one representative for the first 7,500 members (or fraction) and one additional representative for each additional 7,500 members (or fraction).
• The board’s membership must reflect diversity in race, gender, geography, urban vs. rural status, and economic background.
• The board has rule-making power over the department, can establish eligibility lists, and rules have the force of law.
• The act becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Veterans' Affairs, State Department of