Women Veterans Advisory Board

Intro. Res. No. 1406-2019                                                     Laid on Table 5/14/2019

Introduced by Legislators Berland, Hahn, Sunderman, Gonzalez, Anker, Fleming, Spencer, Gregory, Kennedy, Lindsay, Krupski, Muratore, McCaffrey and Calarco

RESOLUTION NO. 643-2019, ADOPTING LOCAL LAW NO. 27 -2019, A LOCAL LAW TO CREATE A WOMEN VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD

WHEREAS, there was duly presented and introduced to this County Legislature at a meeting held on May 14, 2019 a proposed local law entitled, "A LOCAL LAW TO CREATE A WOMEN VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD"; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that said local law be enacted in form as follows:

LOCAL LAW NO. 27 -2019, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

A LOCAL LAW TO CREATE A WOMEN VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, as follows:

Section 1.  Legislative Intent.

This Legislature hereby finds and determines that a substantial number of women veterans reside within Suffolk County.

This Legislature also finds and determines that it is often difficult for women veterans to congregate and voice their opinions, which leaves them underrepresented in the development of policies and programs that may benefit them.

This Legislature further finds and determines that providing elected officials with vital input from this component of our County’s veterans population is crucial to ensure that the County is meeting the needs of this group of brave service women.

This Legislature further finds and determines that in order to fully represent the needs of the County’s women veteran community, a Women Veterans Advisory Board should be created to provide this underserved group with a platform to advocate for the best interest of their community.

Therefore, the purpose of this law is to create a Women Veterans Advisory Board that gives a voice to the underrepresented community of women veterans residing within Suffolk County.

Section 2. Establishment of Board.

The Suffolk County Women Veterans Advisory Board is hereby created to discuss issues of importance and relevance to the women veterans community and to make recommendations regarding proposed legislation, policies, and programming to the Suffolk County Legislature and to the Suffolk County Executive in connection with the following:

1. To advocate on behalf of the women veterans community in Suffolk County;
2. To encourage civic participation at all levels of government by women veterans;
3. To promote governmental interaction with women veterans and to provide information necessary for women veterans to enable them to have equal access and opportunity to be heard in Suffolk County; and
4. To improve understandings between women veterans, Suffolk County government, and Suffolk County residents.

Section 3. Membership.

A.  The Suffolk County Women Veterans Advisory Board shall consist of eleven (11) members, to be selected as follows:

1. One female veteran representative to be appointed by the Presiding Officer of the County Legislature, said representative to serve an initial term of two (2) years;
2. One female veteran representative to be appointed by the Chairperson of the Veterans Committee of the County Legislature, said representative to serve an initial term of two (2) years;
3. One female veteran representative to be appointed by the Minority Leader of the County Legislature, said representative to serve an initial term of two (2) years;
4. One female veteran representative to be appointed by the Director of the Veterans Service Agency, said representative to serve an initial term of two (2) years;
5. One female veteran representative to be appointed by the County Executive, said representative to serve an initial term of two (2) years;
6. One female veteran from each of the five different service branches, to be selected by the County Legislature, said representatives to each serve initial terms of three (3) years.

B.  The Chairperson of the Veterans Committee of the County Legislature, or his or her designee, will maintain one non-voting ex-officio position on the Board and shall not count towards quorum.

Section 4. Terms of Office.

The initial terms of office shall commence upon appointment and all subsequent appointments shall be for a term of three years. 

Section 5.  Compensation; Expenditures; Provision of Services.

1. The members of the Women Veterans Advisory Board shall serve without compensation.
2. Clerical services involving the month-to-month operation of this Board, as well as supplies and postage as necessary, will be provided by the staff of the Veterans Service Agency.

Section 6. Initial Meeting.

The Board shall hold its first meeting no later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of this law, which meeting shall be convened by the Chairperson of the Veterans Committee of the County Legislature, to serve as interim Chairperson, for the purpose of organization and the appointment of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary. For the purposes of this section, the Chairperson shall be selected by a majority of the members of the Board.

Section 7. Meetings; Quorum.

1. The Board shall hold at least quarterly meetings, keep a record of all its proceedings and determine the rules of its own proceedings, with special meetings to be called by the Chairperson upon her own initiative or upon receipt of a written request therefor signed by at least three members of the Board. Written notice of the time and place of such special meetings shall be given by the Secretary to each member at least four days before the date fixed by the notice for such special meeting.
2. Six (6) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum to transact the business of the Board at both regular and special meetings.

Section 8. Conduct of Informal Hearings and Meetings.

1. The Board may conduct such informal hearings and meetings at any place or places within the County of Suffolk for the purpose of obtaining necessary information or other data to assist it in the proper performance of its duties and functions as it deems necessary.
2. The Board may delegate to any member of the Board the power and authority to conduct such hearings and meetings.

Section 9. Cooperation with Other Committees.

The Board shall cooperate with the legislative committees of the County Legislature and make available for each committee's use, upon request, any records and other data it may accumulate or obtain.

Section 10. Annual Report.

The Board shall submit a written annual report of its findings and determinations together with its recommendations for action, if any, to the County Executive, the Clerk of the County Legislature, and each member of the County Legislature no later than January 31 of each year, for the prior calendar year activities, for consideration, review and appropriate action, if necessary, by the entire County Legislature.

Section 11. Authorization Required for Outside Consultant.

None of the work contemplated by this chapter shall be performed by any outside consultant or consulting firm unless explicit approval and authorization for such consultant or consulting firm is granted pursuant to a duly enacted resolution of the County Legislature.

Section 12.  Applicability.

This law shall apply to actions occurring on or after the effective date of this law.

Section 13.  Severability.

If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part of this law or the application thereof to any person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity, or circumstance shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unconstitutional, such order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part of this law, or in its application to the person, individual, corporation, firm, partnership, entity, or circumstance directly involved in the controversy in which such order or judgment shall be rendered.

Section 14.  SEQRA Determination.

This Legislature, being the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) lead agency, hereby finds and determines that this law constitutes a Type II action pursuant to Section 617.5(c)(26) of Title 6 of the NEW YORK CODE OF RULES AND REGULATIONS (6 NYCRR) and within the meaning of Section 8-0109(2) of the NEW YORK ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW as routine or continuing administration and management not including new programs or major reordering of priorities that may affect the environment.  The Suffolk County Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is hereby directed to circulate any appropriate SEQRA notices of determination of non-applicability or non-significance in accordance with this law.

Section 15.  Effective Date.

This law shall take effect immediately upon filing in the office of the Secretary of State.

DATED: June 18, 2019

APPROVED BY:

/s/ Dennis M. Cohen

Chief Deputy County Executive of Suffolk County 

Date: July 3, 2019

After a public hearing duly held on July 3, 2019

Filed with the Secretary of State on July 17, 2019