Section 14. (a) Each state-operated veterans’ home shall have: (i) a superintendent as its administrative head, who shall report to the secretary of veterans’ services; and (ii) a deputy superintendent, who shall report to the superintendent. The superintendent for each state-operated veterans’ home shall be: (i) licensed as a nursing home administrator pursuant to section 109 of chapter 112; and (ii) a veteran or have experience with management of veterans in a nursing home or long-term care facility. The superintendent shall be appointed by the secretary of veterans’ services and may be removed by the secretary without cause. The deputy superintendent of a state-operated veterans’ home shall be appointed by the superintendent of the state-operated veterans’ home and may be removed by the superintendent without cause.

The board of trustees for each state-operated veterans’ home shall each nominate 1 candidate for superintendent of their respective veterans’ home for approval by the veterans’ homes council, who shall then submit their final candidate to the secretary of veterans’ services for consideration for appointment pursuant to the third paragraph of this subsection.

The secretary of veterans’ services shall provide notice of a vacancy in the position of superintendent at a state-operated veterans’ home within 10 days of the vacancy to the secretary of health and human services, the veterans’ home council and the board of trustees of the state-operated veterans’ home at which the vacancy exists. The vacancy shall be filled by the secretary of veterans’ services upon receiving a final candidate from the veterans’ home council pursuant to the second paragraph of this subsection.

(b) Each superintendent shall be responsible for the day-to-day management and operation of their respective state-operated veterans’ home and shall ensure that facilities, personnel, operations and finances are well-managed and a high quality of care is maintained. The responsibilities of a superintendent shall include, but not be limited to: (i) developing organizational policies and procedures for the home; (ii) conducting recruitment, hiring and training of personnel; (iii) directing, supervising and evaluating the work of personnel; (iv) remaining up-to-date on medical advances and equipment; (v) ensuring compliance with government regulations and policies; (vi) ensuring regular communication with state agencies and bodies; (vii) managing fiscal planning and operations; and (viii) monitoring the use of services and facilities to ensure effective use of resources and to assess future needs. Annually, each superintendent shall meet with the board of trustees for their respective veterans’ home to provide a briefing on their budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year and provide an opportunity for comment from the board of trustees.

(c) The superintendent shall appoint and may remove a medical director, a director of nursing and a chief financial officer. The medical director, director of nursing and chief financial officer shall be employed full-time and shall devote their full time and attention to the duties of their office. section 49 of chapter 31 shall apply to the appointment of the chief financial officer. The medical director shall be responsible for: (i) the medical, surgical and outpatient facilities; (ii) establishing best practices for the treatment of health issues that disproportionately impact veterans including, but not limited to, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicide; and (iii) making recommendations to the superintendent regarding the appointment of the director of nursing and the appointment of all physicians, nurses and other medical staff by the superintendent. The superintendent shall appoint and remove such other persons as the superintendent deems necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the facilities of the state-operated veterans’ home.