The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6441, aims to enhance the staffing and operational capabilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Advocacy and Assistance. Key changes include increasing the minimum staff from ten to nineteen, with at least fourteen veterans' service officers and three clerical personnel. The bill mandates that all veterans' service officers be veterans themselves and introduces specific requirements for training, including a focus on assisting women veterans and ensuring bilingual proficiency among some officers. Additionally, the office is tasked with developing outreach strategies and conducting training sessions for municipal veterans representatives.

The bill also outlines the responsibilities of the office in tracking outreach efforts and providing quarterly reports to the Board of Trustees for the Department of Veterans Affairs. These reports will summarize concerns raised by veterans and their families, petitions filed, and the office's outreach activities. The legislation is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and aims to improve the support and services available to veterans and their families in the state.