MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives Rules Committee approved a special order calendar for Thursday's meeting featuring the controversial bill restructuring the State Board of Veterans Affairs (SBVA).
The bill to restructure the SBVA and graft the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) commissioner into the governor's cabinet has proven to be one of the most contentious of this session.
The legislation has been a priority for Gov. Kay Ivey, and she even went out of her way to promote it during her brief appearance at Montgomery's Riverwalk Stadium for the annual Battle of Goat Hill softball game between the House and the Senate on Wednesday evening.
Senate Bill 67 (SB67) shifts the ADVA commissioner's hiring and firing responsibility to the governor. The role currently answers to the SBVA. The bill also turns the SBVA into an "oversight" board, bearing no real authority.
After passing a House committee last week, the bill's House sponsor, State Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville), pledged to attendees that he would "continue to negotiate as we go forward."
It is still unclear if the bill will be further amended in the House. Oliver, House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee Vice-Chair Kenneth Paschal (R-Pelham), and House Majority Whip Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) did not respond to requests for comment from 1819 News.
The bill's future seemed questionable after the House failed to address it when they gaveled in at the beginning of the week. However, the House Rules Committee approved SB67 for Thursday's calendar Wednesday afternoon.
The vote is still a question mark for House lawmakers. According to House Clerk John Treadwell, at least one House member, State Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs), requested a House journal notation to say that he was removing his name as a cosponsor from the bill's House version.
Senate lawmakers heavily amended the bill during debate, resulting in an eventual substitute encompassing multiple changes, many of which were requested by the state's veterans service organizations (VSOs).
Under the new law, the governor would still appoint SBVA members based on suggested appointees from the following nine organizations: The Alabama Department of the American Legion (DAL), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), AMVETS, the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Alabama Alliance of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Marine Corps League (MCL).
Since the amendments, three of the state's largest VSOs have supported the bill, while the remaining have opposed it.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
