The department must support veterans by providing information regarding available veterans services. Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for the specific purposes provided in this section, the department must:
(1) Contact veterans within 90 days of receipt of a discharge notice from the department of defense and provide information about veterans benefits and services; and
(2) Beginning December 1, 2028, and every two years thereafter, report to the governor and the appropriate standing committees of the legislature regarding veterans services. The report must include, at a minimum:
(a) The number of veterans residing in each county;
(b) The number and type of veterans services available in each county;
(c) The number of veterans served in the reporting period by the department, veterans service officer program, and counties contracting with the department for veterans services, including the number of veterans served who reside in an adjacent county;
(d) The number of claims filed in the reporting period by veterans service organizations contracting with the department;
(e) The percentage of veterans served in the reporting period who received service-related disability and nonservice-connected veterans' pensions; and
(f) Identification of:
(i) Each county where the percentage of the veteran population receiving service-related disability and nonservice-connected veterans' pensions is below the national average; and
(ii) Each county that does not provide access to a veterans service officer through the veterans' assistance program defined in RCW 73.08.005, through a contract with the department, through the veterans service officer program described in RCW 43.60A.230, or directly through the department.