A. There may be a deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs who shall be appointed by the secretary with consent of the Senate and who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary at a salary fixed by the secretary, which salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such position by the legislature while in session. The duties and functions of the deputy secretary shall be determined and assigned by the secretary. If appointed, the deputy secretary shall serve as acting secretary in the absence of the secretary.
B. The deputy secretary may serve concurrently as the director of medical services who shall oversee medical operations at the veterans' homes of this state and provide oversight over all contracted physicians and manage veteran mental health programs and veteran homelessness within the department. If the deputy secretary also serves as the director of medical services, the salary shall be set by the secretary.