The commissioner must prepare budgets and reports, develop and coordinate veterans services, maintain records, share information, and help veterans obtain benefits.
(a) The commissioner shall submit an annual budget to the board of all funds appropriated by the Legislature to the department for the specific purposes for which they are appropriated and also a budget of any federal funds that may be allotted to the state by the federal government for the purposes of the department according to the regulations of the federal authorities. The commissioner shall publish annually a full report of the operations and administration of the department and submit the report to the board. (b) The commissioner shall do all of the following: (1) Prepare detailed plans for, and fully develop, a comprehensive statewide veterans assistance program. (2) Cooperate with all other heads of the state departments in coordinating the plans and programs of state agencies that may properly be utilized in the administration of various aspects of the challenges faced by veterans and dependents of veterans. (3) Provide a central contact between federal agencies dealing with the administration of veterans’ services and benefits. (4) Maintain central case records of all veterans seeking services or benefits to create a clearinghouse of information and facilitate the interchange of information and case histories among state administrative agencies and the federal agencies. (5) Become acquainted, and acquaint department associates and employees, with the federal, state, and local laws enacted for the benefit of members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families and dependents. (6) Collect data and information about available facilities and services and cooperate with information or service agencies throughout the state to inform members of the armed forces, veterans, their families and dependents, and military and civil authorities regarding the existence or availability of all of the following: a. Educational training and retraining facilities. b. Health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing services and facilities. c. Employment and reemployment services. d. Provisions of federal, state, and local laws affording rights, privileges, and benefits to members of the armed forces, veterans, and their families and dependents. e. Other matters of similar, relative, or appropriate natures. (7) Assist all resident veterans and their relatives, beneficiaries, and dependents in receiving from the United States and this state all compensation, pensions, hospitalization, insurance, education, employment, loan guarantees, or any other aid or benefit to which they may be or may become entitled under existing laws of the United States or of this state. (8) Cooperate and negotiate with the federal government and all national, state, and local governmental or private agencies to secure additional services or benefits for veterans, their families, and their dependents who are residents of this state.