42.012.  Executive director, qualifications — appointment — compensation — powers and duties. — 1.  The commission shall have as its chief administrative officer an executive director, who shall be in charge of the staff of the commission and responsible for execution of the duties vested in the commission pursuant to this chapter.  The executive director shall have served in military forces of the United States and have been honorably discharged therefrom.  The executive director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the commission, and the commission shall fix his or her compensation as provided by law.

  2.  In carrying out the purposes and duties of the commission pursuant to this chapter, the executive director shall:

  (1)  Exercise for the commission the powers and duties of an appointing authority pursuant to chapter 36 to employ, with the consent of the commission, a staff composed of such professional, technical and clerical personnel as necessary to carry out the purposes of the commission and set compensation for such staff within the appropriations made for that purpose; provided, that no person shall be employed as an administrative assistant or as a veterans' service officer who has not served in the military forces of the United States and been honorably discharged therefrom.  All members of the staff of the commission, except the executive director and his or her deputy, shall be employed pursuant to the provisions of the state merit system law, chapter 36;

  (2)  Accept appointment as the attorney in fact by proper written power of attorney executed by veterans or their dependents or legal representatives as necessary to accomplish the purposes of sections 42.002 to 42.135 and section 143.1001;

  (3)  Accept, in carrying out the purposes of sections 42.002 to 42.135 and section 143.1001, and for no other purpose, grants of services, personnel or money from any federal agency or any political subdivision of the state desiring to participate in the work of the executive director;

  (4)  Accept and distribute any federal or state funds which are available for veterans of the military forces of the United States, and, if a bond is required as a condition to securing such funds, to execute the bond required;

  (5)  Have access to all pertinent records of state agencies, not designated as confidential records pursuant to any law of this state, and political subdivisions of this state, that may be of assistance in accomplishing the purposes of sections 42.002 to 42.135 and section 143.1001.  Upon the written request of the executive director, the person in charge of any such record shall furnish the executive director, without charge, authenticated or certified copies of the records requested;

  (6)  Have control of all veterans' cemeteries that are owned, purchased, leased, or provided by the state solely for the burial of veterans and eligible dependents as defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a successor federal agency.  In the name of the state of Missouri, the executive director may acquire by purchase and may receive by donation or dedication any property which may be used for veterans' cemetery purposes.  The executive director shall accept and receive any federal or state funds which are available for veterans' cemetery purposes.

  3.  The executive director shall have a seal of office and may administer oaths and acknowledge powers of attorney in favor of himself or herself, or any veterans' organization chartered by act of Congress of the United States.