(a) Effective July 1, 2011, the West Virginia Division of Veterans' Affairs is redesignated the Department of Veterans' Assistance. (b) The purpose of the department is to aid, assist, counsel and advise, and to encourage competition among counties and municipalities to develop, improve and enhance veteran-friendly services, benefits and assistance to, veterans who have served […]
The secretary is the executive and administrative head of the department and has the power and duty, subject to the provisions of section four of this article, to: (a) Supervise and put into effect the purposes and provisions of this article and the rules for the government of the department; (b) Prescribe methods pertaining to […]
(a) There is continued in the State Treasury a special revenue fund to be designated and known as the Veterans Facilities Support Fund which shall be administered by the secretary. (b) All interest or other returns earned on the investment of the moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. (c) Funds paid […]
There is hereby created in the state Treasury a special revenue fund to be designated and known as the Veterans Cemetery Fund which shall consist of excess revenues derived from the veterans instant lottery scratch-off game as appropriated to the fund by the Legislature and all interest or other returns earned from investment of the […]
The Attorney General of the state and his or her assistants, and the prosecuting attorneys of the various counties, shall render to the Veterans' Council or secretary, such legal services as may be required in the discharge of the provisions of this article.
(a) A West Virginia veterans service decoration may be awarded to any resident of West Virginia who served in any of the federally recognized military services for a period at a time during which there was armed conflict. (b) A West Virginia Service Cross and ribbon bar, along with a certificate signed by the Governor, […]
(a) The Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Assistance is the chief executive officer of the department. Subject to the requirements for the qualification and appointment of the secretary provided in section four of this article, the Governor shall appoint the secretary, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the term […]
(a) The secretary controls and supervises the department and is responsible for the work of each department employee. (b) The secretary has the power and authority specified in this article, in article two, chapter five-f of this code and as otherwise specified in this chapter. (c) The secretary may employ staff, assistants and employees as […]
The secretary shall report annually to the Governor concerning the conduct of the department and make other reports as the Governor may require.
Any governmental entity may appeal to the Governor for review upon a showing that application of the secretary's authority may interfere with the successful functioning of that entity. The Governor's decision controls on appeal.
(a) There is continued the Veterans Council consisting of 11 members who must be citizens and residents of this state and who have served in and been honorably discharged or separated under honorable conditions from the Armed Forces of the United States, and whose service was within a time of war as defined by the […]
The term of office of the members of the veterans' council is six years, and members must be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate: Provided, That upon the expansion of the council from seven to nine members, the Governor shall initially appoint one new member for a […]
(a) It is the duty and function of The Veterans' Council to advise the secretary on the general administrative policies of the department, to select, at their first meeting in each fiscal year commencing on July 1, a chairperson to serve one year, to advise the secretary on rules as may be necessary, to advise […]
(a) The secretary shall receive an annual salary as provided in section two-a, article seven, chapter six of this code and necessary traveling expenses incident to the performance of his or her duties. (b) The members of the Veterans' Council shall receive no salary, but each member shall receive the same compensation and expense reimbursement […]
The members of the Veterans' Council, the secretary and the officers of the department shall take and subscribe to the oath prescribed by article four, section five of the state Constitution before entering on their duties. Their oaths shall be filed with the Secretary of State.
(a) The word, "veterans," shall be construed to mean any person who shall have served in the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in section one of this article. (b) The term, "federal agency," shall mean any agency, department or bureau created and established by the act of Congress, or executive order of […]
(a) The offices of the secretary shall be located at the state capitol or other place provided in the capital city. The secretary shall keep his or her offices open at all reasonable times for the transaction of business. (b) The offices and meeting place of the Veterans' Council shall be in the offices of […]
The department of veterans' assistance shall: (1) Assist veterans, their widows, widowers, dependents and orphans within the state, in properly presenting their claims before the United States Veterans' Administration, its administrator, or any federal agency, the State of West Virginia, or any of the several states of the United States, when the claims arise out […]
