On Thursday, Governor Kay Ivey signed Senate Bill 70, officially establishing the Alabama Veterans Resource Center. This initiative aims to provide comprehensive support services to Alabama’s more than 400,000 veterans and their families as they transition to civilian life.
“Alabama’s more than 400,000 veterans deserve our very best, and I look forward to the Alabama Veterans Resource Center being one more tool for those who have served,” Governor Ivey stated. “This legislation, along with Senate Bill 67 to restructure the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, will help Alabama be the number one state for veterans. As I said during my state of the state address, our veterans have taken care of us, so now, we must take care of them.”
Senate Bill 70 outlines the creation of the Alabama Veterans Resource Center as a public corporation governed by an 11-member board of directors. The center is tasked with offering a range of services, including assistance with accessing benefits, employment support, and mental health resources. The legislation also establishes the Alabama Veterans Resource Center Fund within the State Treasury to finance the center’s operations. This fund is authorized to receive appropriations from the Legislature, as well as loans, gifts, and grants from various entities.
In conjunction with SB70, Governor Ivey highlighted the importance of SB67, which seeks to restructure the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. This bill proposes elevating the ADVA Commissioner to a Cabinet-level position, granting the Commissioner direct oversight of the department’s daily operations. The restructuring has garnered support from major veterans service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, and the American Veterans. In a joint statement, these organizations emphasized that the legislation “elevates the ADVA Commissioner to a Cabinet-level position, granting the Commissioner direct oversight of the department’s daily operations.”
The establishment of the Alabama Veterans Resource Center, alongside the proposed restructuring of the ADVA, reflects a concerted effort by state leadership to enhance support for Alabama’s veteran community. These legislative measures aim to streamline services and ensure that veterans receive the assistance they need as they transition to civilian life.
