WHEREAS, Section 1 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 vests the executive power of the state of Michigan in the Governor; and

    WHEREAS, Section 2 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 empowers the Governor to make changes in the organization of the Executive Branch or in the assignment of functions among its units that he considers necessary for efficient administration; and

    WHEREAS, there is a continued need to increase collaboration, optimize service delivery and ensure efficient administration; and

    WHEREAS, Michigan's citizens include more than 650,000 veterans of the armed forces, making the state home to the 11th largest population of veterans among the states; and

    WHEREAS, veterans have unique needs and an array of specific services and benefits are available to them; and

    WHEREAS, veterans require dedicated strategic outreach, collaboration between many departments and partners at the federal, state and local level; and

    WHEREAS, Michigan's current service delivery model is not structured to provide coordinated, high-quality services to help veterans recognize and access the benefits and services for which they are eligible; and

    WHEREAS, such high-quality services can be best provided if a single entity coordinates the many efforts the state of Michigan makes to serve this population;

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, Richard D. Snyder, Governor of the state of Michigan, by virtue of the powers and authority vested in the Governor by the Michigan Constitution of 1963 and Michigan law, order the following:

    I. DEFINITIONS

    As used in this Order:

    A. "Agency" means the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency created under Section II of this order.

    B. "Department of Military and Veterans Affairs" means the principal department of state government created as the Department of Military Affairs by 1965 P.A. 380, MCL 16.225, and renamed the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs by Executive Order 1997-7, MCL 32.91.

    C. "Director" means the director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency created by Section II of this Order.

    II. CREATION OF THE MICHIGAN VETERANS AFFAIRS AGENCY

    A. The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is created as an agency within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

    B. The Agency shall be headed by a Director who shall be appointed by the Governor and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

    C. The Director shall be the chief advisor to the Governor, the Adjutant General and the directors of state departments regarding the development of policies, programs and procedures for services to veterans.

    D. The Director shall report to the head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

    E. The Director shall be a member of the Executive Cabinet and regularly attend and fully participate in Cabinet meetings and functions.

    III. FUNCTIONS OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS AGENCY

    A. The Agency shall perform the following functions:

    i. Review, investigate, evaluate, and assess all programs within the executive branch of government related to services and benefits for veterans, including but not limited to programs involving health care, education, employment assistance, and quality of life.

    ii. Serve as the coordinating office for all agencies of the executive branch of government that are responsible for programs related to services for veterans.

    iii. Analyze and make recommendations to the Governor on proposed programs and policies relating to veterans, and on the elimination of duplication in existing state programs in these areas.

    iv. Provide information and assistance to all departments and agencies of the executive branch of government, both directly and by functioning as a clearinghouse for information received from such agencies, other branches of government, other states, and the federal government.

    v. Serve as the Governor's liaison with the Secretary of State, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Michigan Strategic Fund, and with all other departments and agencies of the executive branch of government with respect to programs, services, or benefits for veterans.

    vi. The Agency may request advice and assistance to re-engineer business processes and establish inter-agency and intra-agency data sharing requirements, policies, procedures and standards to improve services to veterans in Michigan. All executive branch departments and agencies shall cooperate fully with the new Agency in the performance of these responsibilities.

    vii. The Agency may make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the proper exercise of its functions.

    B. The Agency shall administer the Veterans Speakers Program created under the Veterans Speakers Program Act, 2000 P.A. 81, MCL 32.281 to 283. The powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, records, and personnel necessary for such administration shall be transferred to the Agency from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

    C. The Department shall transfer to the Agency all duties, responsibilities, and powers to provide assistance to the State Veterans Home Board of Managers in the administration of all facilities governed by the Michigan Veterans' Facility Act, 1885 PA 152, MCL Section 36.1 to 12, including but not limited to the Grand Rapids Veterans Home and the D.J. Jacobetti Veterans Home. The powers, duties, functions, responsibilities, records, and personnel necessary for such administration shall be transferred to the Agency from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

    V. IMPLEMENTATION OF TRANSFERS

    A. The Director shall provide executive direction and supervision for the implementation of all transfers of authority under this Order in consultation with the head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

    B. The Director shall establish the internal organization of the Agency and allocate and reallocate duties and functions to promote economic and efficient administration and operation of the Agency. The Director shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Agency.

    VI. MISCELLANEOUS

    A. All records, personnel, and property used, held, employed, or to be made available to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs for the activities, powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities transferred by this Order are hereby transferred to the Agency.

    B. All rules, orders, contracts, plans, and agreements relating to the functions transferred to the Agency by this Order lawfully adopted prior to the effective date of this Order shall continue to be effective until revised, amended, or rescinded.

    C. Any suit, action, or other proceeding lawfully commenced by, against, or before any entity transferred by this Order shall not abate by reason of the taking effect of this Order. Any lawfully commenced suit, action, or other proceeding may be maintained by, against, or before the appropriate successor of any entity affected by this Order.

    D. The invalidity of any portion of this Order shall not affect the validity of the remainder of the Order, which may be given effect without any invalid portion. Any portion of this Order found invalid by a court or other entity with proper jurisdiction shall be severable from the remaining portions of this Order.

    In fulfillment of the requirements of Section 2 of Article V of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, the provisions of this Order shall be effective March 20, 2013.