ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
department of
veterans’ services
Makes a variety of changes to the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) statutes relating to special plate revenues, Veterans’ Home debt collection and surplus property sales, the Veterans’ Advisory Commission membership and approval of veterans’ organizations that wish to solicit money in Arizona.
The Motor Vehicle Division issues a veterans’ special plate and several honored military license plates for a special fee ranging from $15 to $25. These monies have historically been transmitted to the state home for veterans trust fund, subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature, for the sole purpose of operating and maintaining state operated nursing homes for Arizona veterans. This legislation diverts these revenues to the veterans’ donations fund which is used at the discretion of the Director of DVS for the benefit of Arizona veterans and is continuously appropriated. According to DVS, revenues generated by license plates for the state home veterans trust fund have been approximately $93,000 in FY 1998-1999 and $121,000 in FY 1999-2000.
This legislation also requires DVS to forward non-collectable debts to the Attorney General for collection. According to the Attorney General, no new revenues will be necessary because the Attorney General retains a portion of collected revenues to offset their costs.
While H.B. 2339 has no direct fiscal impact to the state general fund, additional costs may accrue stemming from reimbursement of potential travel expenses of the two new Veterans’ Advisory Commission members and advisory committee members.
Special Plate Revenues
1. Diverts revenues from the following special license plate fees from the state home for veterans trust fund to the veteran’s donations fund:
a. veteran special license plate.
b. former prisoner of war license plate.
c. Purple Heart Medal recipient license plate.
d. Pearl Harbor survivor plate.
Arizona Veterans’ Service
Advisory Commission
2. Increases membership of the commission from seven to nine members.
3. Eliminates requirement that the list of commission nominee names submitted by each veterans’ organization in Arizona contain three names.
Department of Veterans’ Services’ Powers
4. Requires DVS to approve or disapprove veterans’ organizations seeking to solicit monies or support in Arizona in the name of Arizona veterans’. Removes requirement that DVS register such veterans’ organizations.
5. Prohibits persons from soliciting monies in the name of American veterans’ unless the veterans’ organization for which the person is soliciting has been approved rather than registered by DVS.
6. Allows DVS to acquire property for and establish and operate veterans’ cemeteries.
Veterans’ Home Debt Collection
7. Allows DVS to settle debts owed to the home by collecting at least 75 percent of the account balance.
8. Requires DVS to refer those debts owed to the home of which DVS is unable to collect at least 75 percent to the Attorney General for collection.
Veterans’ Home Surplus Property Sales
9. Allows DVS to dispose of surplus property at the Veterans’ Home by sale to persons and corporations.
10. Requires surplus property sale revenues to be deposited in the state home for veterans’ trust fund.
11. Expands the exemption from the procurement code for contracts for tangible personal property from that for use by the Veterans’ Home to that used by DVS in general.
12. Exempts DVS from the procurement code for:
a. purchasing supplies and items for resale such as food, gift items, souvenirs and similar items.
b. contracting for services relating to the gift shop and vending machines located in the Veterans’ Home.
13. Allows the Director of DVS to appoint advisory committees as the director deems necessary.
14. Authorizes members of advisory committees for reimbursement for expenses. Stipulates that members are not entitled to compensation.
15. Makes technical and conforming changes.
MVAA 2/1/01 DP 10-0-0-0-0
APPROP 2/13/01 DP 15-0-0-1-1
3rd Read 3/5/01 50-0-10-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 23, 2001