Veteran Advocate Reports

(1) Annual and Interim Reports on the Activity of OVA. (a) In accordance with M.G.L. c. 115B, § 4, the Office of the Veteran Advocate shall file an annual report. The Veteran Advocate may, in addition, issue interim reports on the activities of OVA, significant problems encountered and recommendations for change. (b) The Veteran Advocate may convene ad hoc or ongoing joint investigative, audit, and/or inspectional activities with any other public or private bodies, including law enforcement agencies. 1. In any joint activity with a law enforcement entity or entities, the law enforcement entities involved shall determine the lead agency. 2. In all other matters, the Office of the Veteran Advocate shall serve as the lead agency in any matter in which the gravamen of the investigation, audit, and/or inspection concerns a matter enumerated in M.G.L. c. 115B. 3. Annual and interim reports shall be forwarded to the governor, the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate and the house committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs and shall be made available to the public. (c) The Veteran Advocate may issue special reports relating to the prevention or detection of fraud, waste and abuse in programs and operations within the jurisdiction of OVA. Such special reports shall be disseminated to the public and, in addition, to the responsible official or governing body of any public body which is the subject of such report. In the case of a state agency, a copy of a special report shall be forwarded to the appropriate state secretariat. Such special reports may include specific recommendations of the Veteran Advocate for policies and practices which will assist in safeguarding the wellbeing, dignified treatment, rights, and benefits of veterans in the care of, or receiving services from the Commonwealth; ensuring these veterans and their families receive compassionate, timely, and effective services. (d) If any annual, interim or special report of the Office of the Veteran Advocate contains findings critical of the practices, policies or procedures of any public body related to, the Veteran Advocate may request a written response to such critical findings. The head or governing body of a public body from whom the Veteran Advocate requests a response shall have 30 days from the date of issuance of the report to submit such a written response. The response shall be forwarded to those officials to whom a copy of the original report was disseminated. (e) If any annual, interim or special report of the Office of the Veteran Advocate makes specific recommendations for the elimination, modification, or implementation of the practices, policies or procedures of any public body related to the wellbeing, dignified treatment, rights, and benefits of veterans in the care of, or receiving services from the Commonwealth, ensuring these veterans and their families receive compassionate, timely, and effective services, the Veteran Advocate may require a periodic reporting from the affected public body as to action taken in response to such recommendations.