There is hereby created, within the executive branch of the state government, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, headed by a secretary appointed by the Governor pursuant to Section 25-11-20. The employees, funds, authorized appropriations, property, assets, liabilities, and all contractual rights and obligations associated with the Division of Veterans' Affairs of the Department of Administration established by Section 25-11-10, et seq. prior to July 1, 2019, are hereby transferred to and incorporated in and shall be administered as part of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

HISTORY: 2019 Act No. 26 (H.3438), Section 2, eff July 1, 2019.

Editor's Note

2019 Act No. 26, Section 4, provides as follows:

"SECTION 4. (A) All classified or unclassified personnel employed by these offices on the effective date of this act, either by contract or by employment at will, shall become employees of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, with the same compensation, classification, and grade level, as applicable. The Department of Administration shall cause all necessary actions to be taken to accomplish this transfer in accordance with state laws and regulations.

"(B) Regulations promulgated by the Division of Veterans' Affairs as it formerly existed under the Department of Administration are continued and are considered to be promulgated by the newly created Department of Veterans' Affairs.

"(C) The Code Commissioner is directed to change or correct all references to Division of Veterans' Affairs within the Department of Administration in the 1976 Code, to reflect the transfer of it to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. References to the Division of Veterans' Affairs in the 1976 Code or other provisions of law are considered to be and must be construed to mean appropriate reference to the Department of Veterans' Affairs. This authority shall not be construed to remove any authority from the Department of Administration for approval of statewide policies, procedures, regulations, rates and fees, or specific actions requiring Department of Administration approval."