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11. THE NEED: 1: Veteran population and future growth with associated dependent's needs dictates the requirement for an autonomous entity, such as a Department, reporting directly to the Governor. 2: Without recourse, the current Division Director is subject to receive disapproval from the Secretary of Administration in matters of importance to Veterans Affairs. A separate department would abolish this condition. 3: Under the current system, the urgency of a situation, or the need for action as stated by the Division Director, can be toned down, either inten- tionally, or in ignorance on the part of the Secretary of Administration. Direct access to the Governor would assure complete and factual information. 4: Under the current structure, up to 5% of the budget approved for the Division of Veterans Affairs can be "sidetracked" to other Department projects. A separate department would cure this inequity. . 5: The Secretary of Administration cannot devote full time to Veterans Affairs. Because of the size of the industry, Veterans Affairs is a full time, top level management position. 6: Other States with far less veterans have created departments to deal with veterans' affairs. Nationally legislators are considering elevation of the Veterans Administrations to Cabinet level because of its enormity and economical impact on the country. The concept is structurally sound, and Florida needs to follow suit for many reasons. Veterans Service Officer McCann stated that basically all he is asking of the Commission is that they send a Resolution to Tallahassee confirming their support of the proposed legislation. He noted that eleven counties have supported this so far. Commissioner Bowman asked what State Division the Veterans Service Office is now a part of, and Service Officer McCann advised that it is now under the Secretary of Administration. Commissioner Bowman asked if we would create another bureaucracy and need to hire more employees or if this would be simply a transfer of a division. Mr. McCann felt it probably would require more employees. Question followed as to wording in the proposed Resolution which supports the establishment of a cabinet -levet department of Veterans Affairs, and it was noted that you can't create another cabinet level without changing the State constitution. Commissioner Eggert stated that she is supportive of the veterans, but she has a lot of problems with a whole new department and she certainly could not support a cabinet -level department. 85 JAM !9 1988 BOOK 70 P F 645