Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB279 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 72
2		-
3		-	– 1 –
4		-	Chapter 72
5		-	(House Bill 279)
6		-
7		-	AN ACT concerning
8		-
9		-	Veterans Affairs – Office of Communications and Public Affairs
10		-	Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program – Veterans Advocacy and
11		-	Education Act
12		-
13		-	FOR the purpose of altering the name of the Outreach and Advocacy Program in the
14		-	Department of Veterans Affairs to be the Office of Communications and Public
15		-	Affairs Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program; requiring the Office
16		-	Program, in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, to
17		-	actively help veterans and their dependents become aware of and access certain
18		-	benefits; altering certain responsibilities of the director of the Office Program;
19		-	repealing a certain requirement that the Department develop and maintain a certain
20		-	database of veterans in the State; altering certain responsibilities of the Department;
21		-	altering certain responsibilities of the Office Program; and generally relating to the
22		-	Office of Communications and Public Affairs Communications, Outreach, and
23		-	Advocacy Program.
24		-
25		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
26		-	Article – State Government
27		-	Section 9–940 through 9–940 and 9–942 through 9–944 to be under the amended
28		-	part “Part V. Office of Communications and Public Affairs Communications,
29		-	Outreach, and Advocacy Program”; and 9–946
30		-	Annotated Code of Maryland
31		-	(2021 Replacement Volume)
32		-
33		-	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
34		-	Article – State Government
35		-	Section 9–941
36		-	Annotated Code of Maryland
37		-	(2021 Replacement Volume)
38		-
39		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
40		-	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
41		-
42		-	Article – State Government
43		-
44		-	Part V. [Outreach COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and Advocacy Program] OFFICE
45		-	OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
46		-
47		-	9–940.
48		-	Ch. 72 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
49		-
50		-	– 2 –
51		-	(a) In this part, [“Program”] “OFFICE” means PART, “PROGRAM” MEANS the
52		-	[Outreach COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and Advocacy Program] OFFICE OF
53		-	COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
54		-
55		-	(b) There is an A [Outreach COMMUNICATIONS, OUTREACH, and Advocacy
56		-	Program] OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS in the Department.
57		-
58		-	(c) The purpose of the [Program] OFFICE is to ensure that:
59		-
60		-	(1) veterans are informed of the services, benefits, and assistance available
61		-	to them from the State and federal government AND COMMUNITY ORGANI ZATIONS; and
62		-
63		-	(2) general issues relating to veterans needs are brought to the attention
64		-	of the Governor and the General Assembly in order for them to be addressed.
65		-
66		-	9–941.
67		-
68		-	(a) The Secretary shall appoint a director for the [Program] OFFICE.
69		-
70		-	(b) The director is entitled to the salary provided in the State budget.
71		-
72		-	(c) The director shall administer and coordinate the [Program] OFFICE.
73		-
74		-	9–942.
75		-
76		-	(a) The [Outreach and Advocacy Program] OFFICE shall actively help veterans
77		-	and their dependents become aware of and access any service or benefit to which they are
78		-	entitled including:
79		-
80		-	(1) tax benefits;
81		-
82		-	(2) health care benefits;
83		-
84		-	(3) disability benefits; AND
85		-
86		-	(4) pension benefits[; and
87		-
88		-	(5) education].
89		-
90		-	(B) THE OFFICE PROGRAM, IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE MARYLAND
91		-	HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, SHALL ACTIVELY HELP VETERANS AND THEIR
92		-	DEPENDENTS BECOME AW ARE OF AND ACCE SS EDUCATION AND TRA INING BENEFITS
93		-	TO WHICH THEY ARE EN TITLED.
94		-
95		-	[(b)] (C) The director of the [Program] OFFICE shall: LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 72
96		-
97		-	– 3 –
98		-
99		-	(1) support veterans and their dependents through the service or benefit
100		-	process; and
101		-
102		-	[(2) keep in contact with the appropriate governmental unit as to the status
103		-	of each claim of a veteran, a veteran’s dependent, or a veteran’s survivor.]
104		-
105		-	(2) REFER VETERANS , VETERANS’ DEPENDENTS , AND VETERANS ’
106		-	SURVIVORS TO THE APP ROPRIATE GOVERNMENTA L UNIT FOR CLAIM ASS ISTANCE.
107		-
108		-	9–943.
109		-
110		-	(a) (1) For the purposes of reaching any veteran, veteran’s dependent, or
111		-	veteran’s survivor in need of assistance in obtaining services or benefits granted by the law,
112		-	the director shall develop and implement [an outreach] A COMMUNICATIONS AND
113		-	PUBLIC AFFAIRS OUTREACH plan.
114		-
115		-	(2) In order to carry out the director’s responsibilities under paragraph (1)
116		-	of this subsection, the director may:
117		-
118		-	(i) enter into contracts; and
119		-
120		-	(ii) work with governmental units and community –based
121		-	organizations, including the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Aging,
122		-	faith–based groups, veterans groups, senior centers, adult day care centers, institutions of
123		-	higher education, and other entities the director considers appropriate.
124		-
125		-	(b) (1) The director shall develop mechanisms for outreach to be disseminated
126		-	by direct mail and through community–based veterans organizations, the Department of
127		-	Veterans Affairs, the Department of Human Services, the Maryland Department of Health,
128		-	and any other State agency or unit the director considers appropriate.
129		-
130		-	(2) [The mechanisms for outreach] COMMUNICATION MECHANI SMS
131		-	shall include:
132		-
133		-	(i) [the development of a pamphlet] DESIGNING MARKETING
134		-	MATERIALS describing the services provided by the [Outreach and Advocacy Program]
135		-	DEPARTMENT;
136		-
137		-	(ii) a regular ELECTRONIC newsletter;
138		-
139		-	(iii) brochures describing various benefits or any other issue or
140		-	benefit of interest to veterans or their dependents; and
141		-
142		-	(iv) other measures the director considers appropriate.
143		-	Ch. 72 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
144		-
145		-	– 4 –
146		-	(c) The Department shall [develop and maintain a database of veterans in the
147		-	State] COMMUNICATE WELCOME HOME INFORMATION TO VETERANS RETURNING T O
148		-	THE STATE.
149		-
150		-	(d) The Department, in conjunction with the types of community –based
151		-	organizations listed in subsection (a)(2) of this section, shall develop [a survey]
152		-	COMMUNICATION TOOLS to assist in identifying veterans and dependents who may be
153		-	eligible for [pension programs] BENEFITS AND PROGRAM S OFFERED BY THE
154		-	DEPARTMENT .
155		-
156		-	(e) The [Program] OFFICE shall:
157		-
158		-	(1) [in conjunction with other governmental units and community–based
159		-	groups, seek out veterans and their dependents who may be eligible for pension program
160		-	benefits; and] MANAGE THE MARYLAND VETERANS SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM AND
161		-	FUND ESTABLISHED UNDE R PART VIII OF THIS SUBTITLE;
162		-
163		-	(2) [provide wounded or disabled veterans with information on available
164		-	services and benefits and support in obtaining these services and benefits] COORDINATE
165		-	THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF VETERANS’ SERVICES SPECIALISTS DESIGNATED UNDER
166		-	§ 9–944 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND
167		-
168		-	(3) MANAGE DEPARTMENT MEDIA RELA TIONS, WEB CONTENT ,
169		-	SOCIAL MEDIA, INTERNAL AND EXTERNA L COMMUNICATIONS , CUSTOMER SERVICE
170		-	TRAINING, AND INTERGOVERNMENTA L RELATIONS.
171		-
172		-	(F) THE DIRECTOR SHALL SE RVE, AS NECESSARY , AS THE SECRETARY’S
173		-	DESIGNEE TO APPROPRI ATE COMMISSIONS , WORKGROUPS , AND COUNCILS .
174		-
175		-	9–944.
176		-
177		-	(a) In this section, “specialist” means an employee designated by a governmental
178		-	unit who is responsible for responding to and assisting veterans who are employed by the
179		-	unit or who contact the unit for assistance.
180		-
181		-	(b) Each governmental unit shall:
182		-
183		-	(1) designate an employee of the unit, who to the extent practicable is a
184		-	veteran, as a veterans’ services specialist for the unit and whose duties include the
185		-	coordination of veterans’ services with the Department;
186		-
187		-	(2) provide the Department with any nonprotected or nonprivate
188		-	information about services the unit provides to veterans; and
189		-	LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 72
190		-
191		-	– 5 –
192		-	(3) post on the unit’s website:
193		-
194		-	(i) all services available for veterans from the unit;
195		-
196		-	(ii) the contact information for the unit’s veterans’ services
197		-	specialist; and
198		-
199		-	(iii) a link to the Department with the contact information for the
200		-	director of the [Outreach and Advocacy Program in the Department] OFFICE.
201		-
202		-	(c) The veterans’ services specialist shall:
203		-
204		-	(1) coordinate the provision of veterans’ services available through the unit
205		-	with the Department; and
206		-
207		-	(2) attend annual training that the Department provides concerning the
208		-	coordination of veterans’ services.
209		-
210		-	(d) On request for services by a veteran, a governmental unit that does not
211		-	provide services to veterans shall direct the veteran to contact the Department and provide
212		-	the veteran with the Department contact information.
213		-
214		-	(e) The Department shall:
215		-
216		-	(1) coordinate a meeting each quarter, or as otherwise necessary, with
217		-	governmental units to discuss and receive information concerning the implementation of
218		-	the requirements of this section; and
219		-
220		-	(2) on or before January 15 each year, report on the implementation of the
221		-	requirements of this section to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article,
222		-	the General Assembly.
223		-
224		-	Part VI. Reporting.
225		-
226		-	9–946.
227		-
228		-	The Secretary shall submit a report by December 31 of each year to the Governor
229		-	and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, the General Assembly, that includes:
230		-
231		-	(1) the number of:
232		-
233		-	(i) requests for help in obtaining benefits; [and]
234		-
235		-	(ii) [veterans, veterans’ dependents, and veterans’ survivors helped]
236		-	PUBLIC CONTACTS MADE by the [Outreach and Advocacy Program by category] OFFICE Ch. 72 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
237		-
238		-	– 6 –
239		-	OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS BY THE COMMUNICATIONS ,
240		-	OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM;
241		-
242		-	[(2) the benefits obtained through the Outreach and Advocacy Program by
243		-	category;
244		-
245		-	(3) the average length of time it takes to process benefit requests and for a
246		-	recipient to access health benefits;]
247		-
248		-	(III) VETERANS ENROLLED IN THE UNITED STATES VETERANS
249		-	HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ; AND
250		-
251		-	(IV) VETERANS RECEIVING B ENEFITS;
252		-
253		-	[(4)] (2) the average amount of disability and pension benefits received
254		-	by qualified individuals in this State compared to individuals in other states;
255		-
256		-	[(5) a detailed description of the outreach plan in the Outreach and
257		-	Advocacy Program;]
258		-
259		-	[(6)] (3) an account of the costs of operating the [Outreach
260		-	COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and Advocacy Program ] OFFICE OF
261		-	COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS;
262		-
263		-	[(7)] (4) a status of the accomplishments for, efficacy of, efficiency of, and
264		-	level of resources available for each of the following programs:
265		-
266		-	(i) cemetery;
267		-
268		-	(ii) memorial;
269		-
270		-	(iii) service;
271		-
272		-	(iv) veterans homes; [and]
273		-
274		-	[(v) outreach COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and advocacy;]
275		-
276		-	(V) OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS;
277		-
278		-	(VI) MARYLAND VETERANS SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM AND
279		-	FUND; AND
280		-
281		-	(VII) VETERANS’ SERVICES SPECIALISTS ;
282		-	LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 72
283		-
284		-	– 7 –
285		-	[(8)] (5) a general assessment of the status of veterans in the State;
286		-
287		-	[(9)] (6) the estimated impact current military operations are likely to
288		-	have on the needs of veterans in the future;
289		-
290		-	[(10)] (7) the status of federal veterans programs as they relate to
291		-	Maryland veterans; and
292		-
293		-	[(11)] (8) any other issues concerning veterans that the Secretary
294		-	considers appropriate.
295		-
296		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
297		-	1, 2022.
298	1
299	2
300		-	Approved by the Governor, April 12, 2022.
	3	+	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
	4	+	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
	5	+	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
	6	+	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
	7	+	amendment.
	8	+	Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
	9	+	hb0279
	10	+
	11	+	HOUSE BILL 279
	12	+	P1 (2lr1252)
	13	+	ENROLLED BILL
	14	+	— Health and Government Operations/Education, Health, and Environmental
	15	+	Affairs —
	16	+	Introduced by Delegates Rogers, Bartlett, Charles, Crosby, Henson, Hill, R. Jones,
	17	+	Kaiser, Kerr, Kipke, Love, Patterson, Saab, Sample –Hughes, Szeliga, and
	18	+	Williams Williams, Bagnall, Belcastro, Bhandari, Carr, Chisholm, Cullison,
	19	+	Johnson, Kelly, Krebs, Landis, R. Lewis, Morgan, Pena–Melnyk, Reilly,
	20	+	Rosenberg, and K. Young
	21	+
	22	+	Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
	23	+
	24	+	_______________________________________________
	25	+	Proofreader.
	26	+	_______________________________________________
	27	+	Proofreader.
	28	+
	29	+	Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
	30	+
	31	+	_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
	32	+
	33	+	______________________________________________
	34	+	Speaker.
	35	+
	36	+	CHAPTER ______
	37	+
	38	+	AN ACT concerning 1
	39	+
	40	+	Veterans Affairs – Office of Communications and Public Affairs 2
	41	+	Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program – Veterans Advocacy and 3
	42	+	Education Act 4
	43	+
	44	+	FOR the purpose of altering the name of the Outreach and Advocacy Program in the 5
	45	+	Department of Veterans Affairs to be the Office of Communications and Public 6
	46	+	Affairs Communications, Outreach, and Advocacy Program; requiring the Office 7
	47	+	Program, in collaboration with the Maryland Higher Education Commission, to 8
	48	+	actively help veterans and their dependents become aware of and access certain 9
	49	+	benefits; altering certain responsibilities of the director of the Office Program; 10 2 HOUSE BILL 279
	50	+
	51	+
	52	+	repealing a certain requirement that the Department develop and maintain a certain 1
	53	+	database of veterans in the State; altering certain responsibilities of the Department; 2
	54	+	altering certain responsibilities of the Office Program; and generally relating to the 3
	55	+	Office of Communications and Public Affairs Communications, Outreach, and 4
	56	+	Advocacy Program. 5
	57	+
	58	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
	59	+	Article – State Government 7
	60	+	Section 9–940 through 9–940 and 9–942 through 9–944 to be under the amended 8
	61	+	part “Part V. Office of Communications and Public Affairs Communications, 9
	62	+	Outreach, and Advocacy Program”; and 9–946 10
	63	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 11
	64	+	(2021 Replacement Volume) 12
	65	+
	66	+	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 13
	67	+	Article – State Government 14
	68	+	Section 9–941 15
	69	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 16
	70	+	(2021 Replacement Volume) 17
	71	+
	72	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
	73	+	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 19
	74	+
	75	+	Article – State Government 20
	76	+
	77	+	Part V. [Outreach COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and Advocacy Program] OFFICE 21
	78	+	OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 22
	79	+
	80	+	9–940. 23
	81	+
	82	+	(a) In this part, [“Program”] “OFFICE” means PART, “PROGRAM” MEANS the 24
	83	+	[Outreach COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and Advocacy Program] OFFICE OF 25
	84	+	COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 26
	85	+
	86	+	(b) There is an A [Outreach COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and Advocacy 27
	87	+	Program] OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS in the Department. 28
	88	+
	89	+	(c) The purpose of the [Program] OFFICE is to ensure that: 29
	90	+
	91	+	(1) veterans are informed of the services, benefits, and assistance available 30
	92	+	to them from the State and federal government AND COMMUNITY ORGANI ZATIONS; and 31
	93	+
	94	+	(2) general issues relating to veterans needs are brought to the attention 32
	95	+	of the Governor and the General Assembly in order for them to be addressed. 33
	96	+
	97	+	9–941. 34 HOUSE BILL 279 3
	98	+
	99	+
	100	+
	101	+	(a) The Secretary shall appoint a director for the [Program] OFFICE. 1
	102	+
	103	+	(b) The director is entitled to the salary provided in the State budget. 2
	104	+
	105	+	(c) The director shall administer and coordinate the [Program] OFFICE. 3
	106	+
	107	+	9–942. 4
	108	+
	109	+	(a) The [Outreach and Advocacy Program] OFFICE shall actively help veterans 5
	110	+	and their dependents become aware of and access any service or benefit to which they are 6
	111	+	entitled including: 7
	112	+
	113	+	(1) tax benefits; 8
	114	+
	115	+	(2) health care benefits; 9
	116	+
	117	+	(3) disability benefits; AND 10
	118	+
	119	+	(4) pension benefits[; and 11
	120	+
	121	+	(5) education]. 12
	122	+
	123	+	(B) THE OFFICE PROGRAM, IN COLLABORATION WIT H THE MARYLAND 13
	124	+	HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, SHALL ACTIVELY HELP VETERANS AND THEIR 14
	125	+	DEPENDENTS BECOME AW ARE OF AND ACCESS ED UCATION AND TRAINING BENEFITS 15
	126	+	TO WHICH THEY ARE EN TITLED. 16
	127	+
	128	+	[(b)] (C) The director of the [Program] OFFICE shall: 17
	129	+
	130	+	(1) support veterans and their dependents through the service or benefit 18
	131	+	process; and 19
	132	+
	133	+	[(2) keep in contact with the appropriate governmental unit as to the status 20
	134	+	of each claim of a veteran, a veteran’s dependent, or a veteran’s survivor.] 21
	135	+
	136	+	(2) REFER VETERANS , VETERANS’ DEPENDENTS , AND VETERANS ’ 22
	137	+	SURVIVORS TO THE APP ROPRIATE GOVERNMENTA L UNIT FOR CLAIM ASSISTANCE . 23
	138	+
	139	+	9–943. 24
	140	+
	141	+	(a) (1) For the purposes of reaching any veteran, veteran’s dependent, or 25
	142	+	veteran’s survivor in need of assistance in obtaining services or benefits granted by the law, 26
	143	+	the director shall develop and implement [an outreach] A COMMUNICATIONS AND 27
	144	+	PUBLIC AFFAIRS OUTREACH plan. 28 4 HOUSE BILL 279
	145	+
	146	+
	147	+
	148	+	(2) In order to carry out the director’s responsibilities under paragraph (1) 1
	149	+	of this subsection, the director may: 2
	150	+
	151	+	(i) enter into contracts; and 3
	152	+
	153	+	(ii) work with governmental units and community –based 4
	154	+	organizations, including the Maryland Department of Health, the Department of Aging, 5
	155	+	faith–based groups, veterans groups, senior centers, adult day care centers, institutions of 6
	156	+	higher education, and other entities the director considers appropriate. 7
	157	+
	158	+	(b) (1) The director shall develop mechanisms for outreach to be disseminated 8
	159	+	by direct mail and through community–based veterans organizations, the Department of 9
	160	+	Veterans Affairs, the Department of Human Services, the Maryland Department of Health, 10
	161	+	and any other State agency or unit the director considers appropriate. 11
	162	+
	163	+	(2) [The mechanisms for outreach] COMMUNICATION MECHANI SMS 12
	164	+	shall include: 13
	165	+
	166	+	(i) [the development of a pamphlet] DESIGNING MARKETING 14
	167	+	MATERIALS describing the services provided by the [Outreach and Advocacy Program] 15
	168	+	DEPARTMENT ; 16
	169	+
	170	+	(ii) a regular ELECTRONIC newsletter; 17
	171	+
	172	+	(iii) brochures describing various benefits or any other issue or 18
	173	+	benefit of interest to veterans or their dependents; and 19
	174	+
	175	+	(iv) other measures the director considers appropriate. 20
	176	+
	177	+	(c) The Department shall [develop and maintain a database of veterans in the 21
	178	+	State] COMMUNICATE WELCOME HOME INFORMATION TO VETERANS RETURNING T O 22
	179	+	THE STATE. 23
	180	+
	181	+	(d) The Department, in conjunction with the types of community –based 24
	182	+	organizations listed in subsection (a)(2) of this section, shall develop [a survey] 25
	183	+	COMMUNICATION TOOLS to assist in identifying veterans and dependents who may be 26
	184	+	eligible for [pension programs] BENEFITS AND PROGRAM S OFFERED BY THE 27
	185	+	DEPARTMENT . 28
	186	+
	187	+	(e) The [Program] OFFICE shall: 29
	188	+
	189	+	(1) [in conjunction with other governmental units and community–based 30
	190	+	groups, seek out veterans and their dependents who may be eligible for pension program 31 HOUSE BILL 279 5
	191	+
	192	+
	193	+	benefits; and] MANAGE THE MARYLAND VETERANS SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM AND 1
	194	+	FUND ESTABL ISHED UNDER PART VIII OF THIS SUBTITLE; 2
	195	+
	196	+	(2) [provide wounded or disabled veterans with information on available 3
	197	+	services and benefits and support in obtaining these services and benefits] COORDINATE 4
	198	+	THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF VETERANS’ SERVICES SPECIALISTS DESIGNAT ED UNDER 5
	199	+	§ 9–944 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 6
	200	+
	201	+	(3) MANAGE DEPARTMENT MEDIA RELA TIONS, WEB CONTENT , 7
	202	+	SOCIAL MEDIA, INTERNAL AND EXTERNA L COMMUNICATIONS , CUSTOMER SERVICE 8
	203	+	TRAINING, AND INTERGOVERNMENTA L RELATIONS. 9
	204	+
	205	+	(F) THE DIRECTOR SHALL SE RVE, AS NECESSARY , AS THE SECRETARY’S 10
	206	+	DESIGNEE TO APPROPRI ATE COMMISSIONS , WORKGROUPS , AND COUNCILS . 11
	207	+
	208	+	9–944. 12
	209	+
	210	+	(a) In this section, “specialist” means an employee designated by a governmental 13
	211	+	unit who is responsible for responding to and assisting veterans who are employed by the 14
	212	+	unit or who contact the unit for assistance. 15
	213	+
	214	+	(b) Each governmental unit shall: 16
	215	+
	216	+	(1) designate an employee of the unit, who to the extent practicable is a 17
	217	+	veteran, as a veterans’ services specialist for the unit and whose duties include the 18
	218	+	coordination of veterans’ services with the Department; 19
	219	+
	220	+	(2) provide the Department with any nonprotected or nonprivate 20
	221	+	information about services the unit provides to veterans; and 21
	222	+
	223	+	(3) post on the unit’s website: 22
	224	+
	225	+	(i) all services available for veterans from the unit; 23
	226	+
	227	+	(ii) the contact information for the unit’s veterans’ services 24
	228	+	specialist; and 25
	229	+
	230	+	(iii) a link to the Department with the contact information for the 26
	231	+	director of the [Outreach and Advocacy Program in the Department] OFFICE. 27
	232	+
	233	+	(c) The veterans’ services specialist shall: 28
	234	+
	235	+	(1) coordinate the provision of veterans’ services available through the unit 29
	236	+	with the Department; and 30
	237	+	6 HOUSE BILL 279
	238	+
	239	+
	240	+	(2) attend annual training that the Department provides concerning the 1
	241	+	coordination of veterans’ services. 2
	242	+
	243	+	(d) On request for services by a veteran, a governmental unit that does not 3
	244	+	provide services to veterans shall direct the veteran to contact the Department and provide 4
	245	+	the veteran with the Department contact information. 5
	246	+
	247	+	(e) The Department shall: 6
	248	+
	249	+	(1) coordinate a meeting each quarter, or as otherwise necessary, with 7
	250	+	governmental units to discuss and receive information concerning the implementation of 8
	251	+	the requirements of this section; and 9
	252	+
	253	+	(2) on or before January 15 each year, report on the implementation of the 10
	254	+	requirements of this section to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, 11
	255	+	the General Assembly. 12
	256	+
	257	+	Part VI. Reporting. 13
	258	+
	259	+	9–946. 14
	260	+
	261	+	The Secretary shall submit a report by December 31 of each year to the Governor 15
	262	+	and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, the General Assembly, that includes: 16
	263	+
	264	+	(1) the number of: 17
	265	+
	266	+	(i) requests for help in obtaining benefits; [and] 18
	267	+
	268	+	(ii) [veterans, veterans’ dependents, and veterans’ survivors helped] 19
	269	+	PUBLIC CONTACTS MADE by the [Outreach and Advocacy Program by category] OFFICE 20
	270	+	OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS BY THE COMMUNICATIONS , 21
	271	+	OUTREACH, AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM; 22
	272	+
	273	+	[(2) the benefits obtained through the Outreach and Advocacy Program by 23
	274	+	category; 24
	275	+
	276	+	(3) the average length of time it takes to process benefit requests and for a 25
	277	+	recipient to access health benefits;] 26
	278	+
	279	+	(III) VETERANS ENROLLED IN THE UNITED STATES VETERANS 27
	280	+	HEALTH ADMINISTRATION ; AND 28
	281	+
	282	+	(IV) VETERANS RECEIVING B ENEFITS; 29
	283	+
	284	+	[(4)] (2) the average amount of disability and pension benefits received 30
	285	+	by qualified individuals in this State compared to individuals in other states; 31 HOUSE BILL 279 7
	286	+
	287	+
	288	+
	289	+	[(5) a detailed description of the outreach plan in the Outreach and 1
	290	+	Advocacy Program;] 2
	291	+
	292	+	[(6)] (3) an account of the costs of operating the [Outreach 3
	293	+	COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and Advocacy Program ] OFFICE OF 4
	294	+	COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS; 5
	295	+
	296	+	[(7)] (4) a status of the accomplishments for, efficacy of, efficiency of, and 6
	297	+	level of resources available for each of the following programs: 7
	298	+
	299	+	(i) cemetery; 8
	300	+
	301	+	(ii) memorial; 9
	302	+
	303	+	(iii) service; 10
	304	+
	305	+	(iv) veterans homes; [and] 11
	306	+
	307	+	[(v) outreach COMMUNICATIONS , OUTREACH, and advocacy;] 12
	308	+
	309	+	(V) OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS; 13
	310	+
	311	+	(VI) MARYLAND VETERANS SERVICE ANIMAL PROGRAM AND 14
	312	+	FUND; AND 15
	313	+
	314	+	(VII) VETERANS’ SERVICES SPECIALISTS ; 16
	315	+
	316	+	[(8)] (5) a general assessment of the status of veterans in the State; 17
	317	+
	318	+	[(9)] (6) the estimated impact current military operations are likely to 18
	319	+	have on the needs of veterans in the future; 19
	320	+
	321	+	[(10)] (7) the status of federal veterans programs as they relate to 20
	322	+	Maryland veterans; and 21
	323	+
	324	+	[(11)] (8) any other issues concerning veterans that the Secretary 22
	325	+	considers appropriate. 23
	326	+
	327	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 24
	328	+	1, 2022. 25
	329	+
	330	+
	331	+