The department of veterans affairs shall be the administrative body responsible for all duties and functions delegated to it by state law. Additionally, within budgetary limitations, it will initiate and maintain program control of:

(1) State veterans institutions.

(2) A system of veterans services, for veterans and their beneficiaries in various locations throughout the state, to provide claims and referral activities.

(3) Fiduciary services for eligible incompetent veterans and their beneficiaries.

(1) The Washington soldiers home and colony, the Washington veterans home, the eastern Washington veterans home, and the Walla Walla veterans home shall have, respectively, a chief executive officer to be called an administrator. The administrator shall be directly responsible to the director or designee, of the department of veterans affairs.

(2) The administrator shall be a licensed nursing home administrator in the state of Washington.

Field services for veterans and their beneficiaries shall be administered from the department of veterans affairs by a person designated by the director of the department. This designee shall be responsible for implementing departmental policy and maintaining program control, either directly and/or through contract administration.

Personnel services for departmental recruiting, testing and compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and policies shall be maintained by the department of veterans affairs.

The person responsible for administration of these services shall be designated by the director of the department.

Intradepartmental administrative services shall be provided by the department to include, but not be limited to: Accounting, purchasing, budget preparation, maintenance of supplies, and such management studies and program support functions as the director deems necessary.

Such fiduciary and other services mandated by RCW 43.60A.070 may be provided by the department of veterans affairs. Program administration and control shall be lodged in departmental headquarters, although the staff actually providing the services may be located elsewhere.

Rules of operation.

(1) The committee shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and the director on all matters pertaining to the department of veterans affairs;

(b) To acquaint themselves fully with the operations of the department and recommend such changes to the governor and the director as they deem advisable.

(2) The department of veterans affairs, and its director, shall fully recognize the advisory committee, as established under RCW 43.60A.080.

(3) The committee chair shall, following annual elections but before September, confer with the director to set the number of, and schedule for, authorized meetings during the following 12 months.

(4) A quorum must be present prior to the transaction of official committee business. A quorum for the committee shall be construed to be a simple majority of the committee members authorized in RCW 43.60A.080.

(5) The order of business for regular meetings shall be as follows:

(a) Pledge of Allegiance;

(b) Roll call and introductions;

(c) Approval of minutes;

(d) Discussion of upcoming town hall or community meetings;

(e) Homes liaisons reports and discussion;

(f) Report from the director or their designee;

(g) Report of committees;

(h) Other agenda items identified by the chair and director;

(i) New business;

(j) Time and place for next meeting;

(k) Adjournment (by majority vote of members present).

(6) Summary minutes shall be kept of committee proceedings and a complete copy will be provided to each member of the committee and the director within 14 calendar days of adjournment. When requested to do so by the committee, the director shall present a copy of the minutes to the governor.

(7) Each member of the committee is expected to actively participate in and attend all regular meetings of the committee either in person, or virtually if that option is available. If a committee member has three consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings, the director will meet with the member to determine if a replacement is needed. If a replacement is needed, a copy of the replacement request will be forwarded to the appropriate veterans organization department commander and subsequently to the governor's office for review and appointment.

(8) A member will receive an excused absence at the discretion of the chairperson or director.

(9) The director, or their designee, and such members of the department staff as the director selects, shall meet with the committee on a regular basis.

(10) The committee will annually review the quality and range of services performed by the department.

(11) Annually, the committee shall designate one of its meetings as a joint meeting with the commanders and service officers of all veterans organizations nationally recognized by the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs.

(12) During June of each year, there shall be an election of the chairperson and vice chairperson for the coming year. New officers shall take office in September. Those elected will serve for one year and be limited to one term in succession.

(13) All meetings and events relating to the advisory committee shall be accessible to all members and guests.

(14) The chairperson may appoint special committees consisting of not less than two members when necessary to make special inquiries, reports, and investigations.

The department of veterans affairs shall be responsible for coordination with other agencies, both public and private, of all programs and projects affecting veterans and their beneficiaries, as its director may deem appropriate.

In those contested cases, declaratory proceedings, and requests for rule making in which the department of veterans affairs has authority to conduct hearings, practice and procedure shall be in accordance with those uniform rules promulgated by the code reviser and codified as chapter 1-21 WAC as now written or as hereafter amended except for those situations covered under WAC 484-20-105.

(1) The rules are necessarily based on conditions which are considered to apply in the great majority of situations. Individual circumstances may exist in which application of the rule seems to work in opposition to the objective desired. This may occur when an individual's situation differs from that of the majority or when his circumstances are peculiar. In these cases, exceptions may be considered.

(2) An exception cannot be made to a specific provision of the law. However, individual case exception to a rule or procedure not specifically enunciated in the law can be authorized by the department of veterans affairs when it appears to be in the best interest of overall economy and the individual's welfare.

(3) Exception decisions are not subject to the fair hearing procedure of WAC 484-20-105.