                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY (§ 2.2-231)

Unless the Governor expressly reserves such power to himself, the Secretary
shall:

1. Serve as the Governor&#8217;s liaison for veterans affairs and provide active
outreach to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the veterans service
organizations, and the veterans community in Virginia to support and assist
Virginia&#8217;s veterans in identifying and obtaining the services, assistance,
and support to which they are entitled.

2. Work with federal officials to obtain additional federal resources and
coordinate veterans policy development and information exchange.

3. Work with and through appropriate members of the Governor&#8217;s Cabinet to
coordinate working relationships between state agencies and take all actions
necessary to ensure that available federal and state resources are directed
toward assisting veterans and addressing all issues of mutual concern to the
Commonwealth and the armed forces of the United States, including quality of
life issues unique to Virginia&#8217;s active duty military personnel and their
families, the quality of educational opportunities for military children, the
future of federal impact aid, preparedness, public safety and security concerns,
transportation needs, alcoholic beverage law enforcement, substance abuse,
social service needs, possible expansion and growth of military facilities in
the Commonwealth, and intergovernmental support agreements with state and local
governments under the provisions of 10 U.S.C. &#xA7; 2336.

4. Educate the public on veterans and defense issues in coordination with
applicable state agencies.

5. Serve as chairman of the Virginia Military Advisory Council to establish a
working relationship with Virginia&#8217;s active duty military bases.

6. Monitor and enhance efforts to provide assistance and support for veterans
living in Virginia and members of the Virginia National Guard and Virginia
residents in the Armed Forces Reserves not in active federal service in the
areas of (i) medical care, (ii) mental health and rehabilitative services, (iii)
housing, (iv) homelessness prevention, (v) job creation, and (vi) education.

7. Seek additional federal resources to support veterans services.

8. Monitor efforts to provide services to veterans, those members of the
Virginia National Guard, and Virginia residents in the Armed Forces Reserves who
qualify for veteran status, and their immediate family members, including the
dissemination of relevant materials and the rendering of technical or other
advice.

9. Serve as the Governor&#8217;s liaison and provide active outreach to
localities of the Commonwealth and veterans support organizations in the
development, implementation, and review of local veterans services programs as
part of the state program.

10. Serve as the Governor&#8217;s defense liaison and provide active outreach to
the U.S. Department of Defense and the defense establishment in Virginia to
support the military installations and activities in the Commonwealth to
continue to enhance Virginia&#8217;s current military-friendly environment, and
foster and promote business, technology, transportation, education, economic
development, and other efforts in support of the mission, execution, and
transformation of the United States government military and national defense
activities located in the Commonwealth.

11. Promote the industrial and economic development of localities included in or
adjacent to United States government military and other national defense
activities and those of the Commonwealth because the success of such activities
depends on cooperation between the localities, the Commonwealth, and the United
States military and national defense activities.

12. Provide technical assistance and coordination between the Commonwealth, its
political subdivisions, and the United States government military and national
defense activities located within the Commonwealth.

13. Employ, as needed, consultants, attorneys, architects, engineers,
accountants, financial experts, investment bankers, superintendents, managers,
and such other employees and agents as may be necessary, and to fix their
compensation to be payable from funds made available for that purpose.

14. Receive and accept from any federal or private agency, foundation,
corporation, association, or person grants, donations of money, real property,
or personal property for the benefit of the Commonwealth and receive and accept
from the Commonwealth or any state, any municipality, county, or other political
subdivision thereof, and from any other source, aid or contributions of money,
property, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied for the
purposes for which such grants and contributions may be made.

15. Receive and accept from any source aid, grants, and contributions of money,
property, labor, or other things of value to be held, used, and applied to carry
out these requirements subject to the conditions upon which the aid, grants, or
contributions are made.

16. Make grants to local governments, state and federal agencies, and private
entities with any funds of the Secretary available for such purpose.

17. Take any actions necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers
granted or reasonably implied to this Secretary and not otherwise inconsistent
with the law of the Commonwealth.

18. Work with veterans services organizations and counterparts in other states
to monitor and encourage the timely and accurate processing of veterans benefit
requests by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including requests for
services connected to health care, mental health care, and disability payments.

19. In conjunction with subdivision 6, coordinate with federal, state, local,
and private partners to assist homeless veterans in obtaining a state-issued
identification card, in order to enable these veterans to access the available
federal, state, local, and other resources they need to attain financial
stability or address other issues that have adversely affected their lives.

20. Develop a grant application, procedures, and guidelines for and oversee the
implementation and administration of the Virginia Military Community
Infrastructure Grant Program and Fund.

HISTORY: 2011, cc. 780, 858; 2013, c. 151; 2014, cc. 115, 490; 2016, c. 689;
2022, cc. 345, 346.