(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 website:
(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 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.