§9A-1-1a. Department of Veterans' Assistance; office of Secretary of Department of Veterans' Assistance.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Assistance is the chief executive officer of the department. Subject to the requirements for the qualification and appointment of the secretary provided in section four of this article, the Governor shall appoint the secretary, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for the term for which the Governor is elected and until a successor shall have been appointed and qualified. The Secretary shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Governor. Any reference in this code to the Division of Veterans' Affairs or to the Department of Veterans' Affairs means the Department of Veterans' Assistance. Any reference in this code to the Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs means the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Assistance. As used in this chapter, "secretary" means the Secretary of Veterans' Assistance and "division" means Department of Veterans' Assistance.

(b) The department may receive federal funds.

(c) The secretary serves at the will and pleasure of the Governor. The annual compensation of the secretary shall be as specified in section two-a, article seven, chapter six of this code.