Guam Veterans Registry

(a)The Office of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of a Guam Veterans Registry (Registry), which shall be updated no less than semiannually.

(1)The update of the Registry shall entail the addition of newly registered veterans residing on Guam, and the scrubbing of the list to ensure that the names of veterans who no longer reside on the island or who have passed away are deleted from the Registry.

(2)The Registry shall be utilized by the Office for the purpose of providing Guam veterans and their families with current information on veterans’ benefits and activities, through the use of its webpage or other means deemed necessary that would ensure the maximum dissemination of veteranrelated information; and for the validation of Guam’s veteran population to further strengthen the Office’s ability to pursue financial resources and support in the provision of services or programs for the benefit of Guam’s veterans and their families.

(3)The Office may use data collected at other government agencies, which may be collecting the required data, in whole or in part.

(4)Nothing herein shall relieve the duty of any other entity to collect veterans’ data for the benefit of veterans on Guam.

(b)All government of Guam entities, whenever applicable, shall render assistance to the Office of Veterans Affairs in carrying out the provisions contained herein.

(1)All government entities to whom a DD214 form or other proof of veteran status is presented by an applicant as a qualifying document for benefits or services shall forward a copy of the applicant’s DD214 form or other proof of veteran status to the Office of Veterans Affairs no later than thirty

(30)days after the date of acceptance by that government entity; provided, that said service member or his or her legal guardian provides documented consent to the transmittal of said information to the Office of Veterans Affairs pursuant to this Section.

(2)Transmission of forms may be made by electronic means over a secured network as prescribed by the Office of Veterans Affairs.

(3)The Office of Veterans Affairs shall have the authority to adopt regulations to implement and administer the provisions of this Section and ensure the confidentiality of veteran information.

(c)The Administrator of the Office of Veterans Affairs shall submit a quarterly progress report of the Guam Veterans Registry to the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan.