(a)    In this section, “specialist” means an employee designated by a governmental unit who is responsible for responding to and assisting veterans who are employed by the unit or who contact the unit for assistance.

(b)    Each governmental unit shall:

(1)    designate an employee of the unit, who to the extent practicable is a veteran, as a veterans’ services specialist for the unit and whose duties include the coordination of veterans’ services with the Department;

(2)    provide the Department with any nonprotected or nonprivate information about services the unit provides to veterans; and

(3)    post on the unit’s Web site:

(i)    all services available for veterans from the unit;

(ii)    the contact information for the unit’s veterans’ services specialist; and

(iii)    a link to the Department with the contact information for the director of the Outreach and Advocacy Program in the Department.

(c)    The veterans’ services specialist shall:

(1)    coordinate the provision of veterans’ services available through the unit with the Department; and

(2)    attend annual training that the Department provides concerning the coordination of veterans’ services.

(d)    On request for services by a veteran, a governmental unit that does not provide services to veterans shall direct the veteran to contact the Department and provide the veteran with the Department contact information.

(e)    The Department shall:

(1)    coordinate a meeting each quarter, or as otherwise necessary, with governmental units to discuss and receive information concerning the implementation of the requirements of this section; and

(2)    on or before January 15 each year, report on the implementation of the requirements of this section to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of this article, the General Assembly.