(A) For the purpose of carrying on this work the Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, a secretary of the department, who is charged with the duty of assisting all veterans, regardless of the wars in which their service may have been rendered, in filing, presenting, and prosecuting to final determination all claims which they have for money compensation, hospitalization, training, and insurance benefits under the terms of federal legislation.

(B) The secretary must be a veteran, as defined in § 25-11-40, who is well versed in federal legislation relating to these matters and the rules, regulations, and practice of the Veterans Administration as created by Congress.

(C) Before the appointment, the Governor shall receive a recommendation from (1) the executive committee of the American Legion, Department of South Carolina, (2) the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of South Carolina, and (3) the Disabled American Veterans. The Governor is not required to appoint the person recommended. The secretary is subject to removal by the Governor pursuant to the provisions of § 1-3-240(B).

(D) The secretary’s duties shall include:

(1) working with federal officials to obtain additional federal resources and coordinate veterans policy development and information exchange;

(2) coordinating with appropriate state agencies to ensure that available federal and state resources are directed toward assisting veterans and addressing all issues of mutual concern to the State and the armed forces of the Unites States, including quality of life issues unique to South Carolina’s military personnel and their families, quality of educational opportunities for military children, transportation needs, substance abuse, and social service needs;

(3) monitoring and enhancing efforts to provide assistance and support for veterans living in South Carolina and members of the South Carolina National Guard and South Carolina residents in the armed forces reserves not in active federal service in the areas of medical care, mental health and rehabilitative services, housing, homelessness prevention, job creation, and education;

(4) settling claims, actions, causes of action, and legal proceedings brought against the department or its employees acting within the scope of their employment;

(5) accepting donations and gifts of property or grants of money on behalf of the department in compliance with the law;

(6) initiating the promulgation of regulations;

(7) performing other such functions as may be necessary to supervise, direct, conduct, and administer the daily duties of the department as authorized by law or by rules and policies; and

(8) submitting an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly, pursuant to § 25-11-10(D).