§ 2 — Office of the veteran advocate

Section 2. There shall be an office of the veteran advocate, which shall be independent of any supervision or control by any executive agency. The office shall: (i) ensure that veterans in the care of the commonwealth or receiving services under the supervision of an executive agency in any public or private facility receive humane and dignified treatment at all times, with full respect for the veterans' personal dignity and right to privacy; (ii) ensure that veterans in the care of the commonwealth or receiving services under the supervision of an executive agency in any public or private facility receive timely, safe and effective services; (iii) aid and coordinate with local veterans service officers to ensure veterans receive all available state and federal benefits; (iv) examine, on a system-wide basis, the care and services that executive agencies provide veterans; (v) advise the public and those at the highest levels of state government about how the commonwealth may improve its services to and for veterans and their families; (vi) develop internal procedures appropriate for the effective performance of the office's duties; (vii) act as a liaison to all state agencies providing services to veterans to ensure each veteran receives necessary services and care; (viii) assist in developing procedures for the executive agencies to best serve the veteran community; (ix) act as a liaison to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and all other relevant federal agencies to advocate on behalf of the veterans of the commonwealth; and (x) investigate incidents where a veteran suffered a fatality, near fatality or serious bodily or emotional injury while receiving services from an executive agency, or circumstances which result in a reasonable belief that an executive agency or a constituent agency failed in its duty to care for a veteran and, as a result, the veteran was at imminent risk of, or suffered serious bodily or emotional injury or death.