75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Bill 2178
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
Presession filed (at the request of Governor Theodore R.
Kulongoski for Department of Veterans' Affairs)
CHAPTER ................
AN ACT
Relating to veterans' service officers; creating new provisions;
amending ORS 406.452; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) As used in this section, 'community college
' has the meaning given that term in ORS 341.005.
(2) There is created in the Department of Veterans' Affairs the
Campus Veterans' Service Officers Program.
(3) The purpose of the program is to provide educational
outreach to veterans to help ensure that they obtain maximum
state and federal benefits.
(4) The department shall appoint a sufficient number of campus
veterans' service officers to ensure that each Oregon community
college and each institution in the Oregon University System, as
described in ORS 352.002, is provided veterans' services.
(5) Each community college and institution in the Oregon
University System shall provide office space that may be used for
the provision of veterans' services.
(6) The department may adopt rules to implement the Campus
Veterans' Service Officers Program. + }
SECTION 2. ORS 406.452 is amended to read:
406.452. The Director of Veterans' Affairs may establish by
rule a state certification program for veterans' service officers
appointed under ORS 408.410 { + or section 1 of this 2009
Act + } and other individuals providing similar services to
ensure their competency. The program curriculum shall provide the
training and education necessary to allow veterans' service
officers and other individuals to assist veterans, spouses and
dependents of veterans or survivors of veterans in applying for
all federal and state veterans' benefits and aid to which
veterans, spouses and dependents of veterans or survivors of
veterans may be entitled and in appealing any denial of veterans'
benefits or aid. The curriculum shall include, but need not be
limited to, training and education in the following areas:
(1) Applicable federal, state and local laws providing benefits
or aid for veterans, spouses and dependents of veterans or
survivors of veterans and other benefits or aid for which
veterans, spouses or dependents of veterans or survivors of
veterans may be eligible;
(2) Skills necessary to provide quality representation and
advocacy on behalf of veterans, spouses or dependents of veterans
Enrolled House Bill 2178 (HB 2178-A) Page 1
or survivors of veterans, including case preparation and handling
of administrative hearings and appeals;
(3) Effective communication skills;
(4) Health care, human services and referral resources; and
(5) Claims management.
SECTION 3. { + This 2009 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2009 Act takes effect on its
passage. + }
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Passed by House June 11, 2009
...........................................................
Chief Clerk of House
...........................................................
Speaker of House
Passed by Senate June 23, 2009
...........................................................
President of Senate
Enrolled House Bill 2178 (HB 2178-A) Page 2
Received by Governor:
......M.,............., 2009
Approved:
......M.,............., 2009
...........................................................
Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
......M.,............., 2009
...........................................................
Secretary of State
Enrolled House Bill 2178 (HB 2178-A) Page 3