Section 37-18.1-03 - Powers and duties of committee - Creation of subcommittee and governing boardThe committee is responsible for organization, policy, and general administration of all veterans' affairs in the state of North Dakota. It has the following powers and duties:
1. The chairman and secretary of the committee, acting jointly, shall appoint a seven-member governing board for administration of the veterans' home, from within or outside the committee, subject to ratification of a majority vote of the committee, and shall establish term lengths for service on the governing board. The governing board has all ordinary powers required of a governing board, including the power to establish qualifications for and selection of an administrator and to establish an appropriate salary structure, subject to limitations of legislative appropriation. The administrator serves at the pleasure of the governing board.2. The chairman and secretary of the committee jointly shall appoint a subcommittee to be responsible for supervision and government of the department of veterans' affairs. Once appointed, a subcommittee member may continue to serve as long as the member remains a voting member of the committee, unless removed from the subcommittee by joint action of the committee chairman and secretary. A member of the subcommittee may not serve on the governing board of the veterans' home. Each nominating organization listed in section 37-18.1-01 must have at least one voting member nominated by the organization serving on the subcommittee. The subcommittee shall select by majority vote of the members a chairman to preside for the term of one year.3. The committee shall appoint the commissioner of the department of veterans' affairs. The commissioner must be a bona fide resident of the state, and must qualify as a veteran as defined in section 37-01-40. The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the committee. The committee shall determine the salary paid to the commissioner of the department of veterans' affairs within the limits of legislative appropriation. The commissioner of veterans' affairs shall serve as the executive secretary for the subcommittee. The commissioner has no vote in the affairs of the subcommittee.4. The committee, under recommendation from the board or the subcommittee, shall present any matters needing attention and action to the appropriate board, commission, agency, or department of the state, and the North Dakota veterans' legislative council.5. The committee shall assure compliance with applicable federal and state laws in the administration of both the department of veterans' affairs and the North Dakota veterans' home and shall exercise its responsibilities in all things necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter in regard to organization, policy, and general administration of the agencies served and involved in the conduct of veterans' affairs. The board governing the veterans' home and the subcommittee governing the department of veterans' affairs shall conduct an annual performance evaluation of the administrator and commissioner, respectively, with the evaluation presented to the committee. The board and subcommittee shall create and implement a strategic plan for the veterans' home and the department of veterans' affairs, respectively. The board and the subcommittee annually shall report as to the status of the respective strategic plan to the committee. After receiving a report, the committee shall submit the report to the governor.Amended by S.L. 2019, ch. 297 (HB 1054),§ 1, eff. 8/1/2019.