(a) The Arkansas Veterans' Commission is established to:

(1) Serve as the advisory body for the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs;

(2) Serve as a liaison between the Department of Veterans Affairs and a chartered nonprofit veterans organization in this state, including without limitation the:

(A) American Legion;

(B) Department of Arkansas Veterans of Foreign Wars;

(C) Disabled American Veterans; and

(D) Arkansas Veterans Coalition;

(3) Promote and advance the interests of Arkansas veterans by meeting and acting as an advisory board to the General Assembly on all matters affecting Arkansas veterans, their dependents, and survivors, including without limitation by meeting with the members of the House Legislative, Military and Veterans Affairs Permanent Subcommittee of the House Committee on Aging, Children and Youth, Legislative and Military Affairs; and

(4) Gather information and data to help improve the operation and efficiency of the Veterans' Home established under § 20-81-105 and a state veterans' cemetery established under § 20-81-112 by consulting with and coordinating with veterans' commissions in other states.

(b)

(1) The Arkansas Veterans' Commission shall be composed of fifteen (15) members, who shall be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

(2) Members of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission shall serve for five-year overlapping terms.

(3) The Arkansas Veterans' Commission shall annually elect its chair from among its membership.

(4)

(A) Members of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with § 25-16-901 et seq.

(B)

(i) Members of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission are also authorized to attend conventions, conferences, or meetings of recognized veterans' organizations, herein defined as veterans' organizations listed in the current United States Department of Veterans Affairs Directory of Veterans Service Organizations as meeting the criteria of 38 C.F.R § 14.628, and are entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in attending those conventions, conferences, or meetings in accordance with procedures and limits prescribed by law or regulation for state employees.

(ii) However, a member of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission shall not be entitled to reimbursement of the expenses authorized in subdivision (b)(4)(B)(i) of this section unless the reimbursement is approved in advance by the Chair of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission and the director.

(C) (i) A member of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission shall not receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) during any fiscal year for stipends and reimbursement of expenses incurred as a member of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission unless:

(a) Another member of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission claims less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) in stipends and reimbursement of expenses during the fiscal year; and

(b) The chair, subject to the approval of the director, authorizes the transfer of the unclaimed funds authorized by subdivision (b)(4)(C)(i)(a) of this section to another member of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission to be used for stipends and reimbursement expenses incurred over the authorized one thousand dollars ($1,000).

(ii) However, a member of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission shall not receive more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) in stipends and reimbursement of expenses in any fiscal year.

(c) The Arkansas Veterans' Commission shall make recommendations to the director for the operation and improvement of the efficiency of the Veterans' Home established under § 20-81-105 and a state veterans' cemetery established under § 20-81-112.

(d) Quarterly meetings of the Arkansas Veterans' Commission are authorized at the call of the chair.