November 14, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Kolb, Bieda and Zelenko and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security.
A bill to create a veterans advocacy program within the
department of military and veterans affairs; and to prescribe
duties for certain state officials.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"veteran advocacy act".
Sec. 2. A veterans advocacy program is created within the
veterans affairs directorate of the department of military and
veterans affairs. Under the program, the directorate may do all of
the following:
(a) Coordinate with the county department of veterans affairs
in each county that has a county department of veterans affairs and
coordinate with the appropriate county officials in each county
that does not have a county department of veterans affairs to
assure that all veterans in this state are receiving all of the
federal, state, and local benefits to which they are entitled.
(b) Encourage all veterans statewide to apply for and receive
all of the federal, state, and local benefits to which they are
entitled.
(c) Create ways to disseminate information, including printed
and electronic forms of information, to educate veterans of this
state about benefits to which they are entitled.
(d) Distribute and disseminate the information identified in
subdivision (c) to veterans of this state.
(e) Update and evaluate the information and the distribution
of the information at least annually.
Sec. 3. The director of the veterans affairs directorate shall
annually report to the committees of the house of representatives
and the senate having jurisdiction over veterans affairs on the
implementation and effectiveness of the program.