Section 15.49 - Department of veterans affairs; creation(1) In this section, "veteran" means a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01(12) (a) to (f), who has served on active duty, as defined in s. 45.01(1).(2) There is created a department of veterans affairs and a board of veterans affairs. Except as otherwise provided by law, the department shall be under the direction and supervision of the secretary of veterans affairs, who shall be a veteran. The board shall consist of 9 members all of whom shall be veterans. The members shall be appointed for staggered 4-year terms. The board shall be composed so that for each congressional district in the state there is at least one member of the board who is a resident of that district. If a member ceases to reside within the boundaries of the congressional district where he or she resided as that district existed at the time that member's current term began, the member vacates his or her office.1975 c. 77; 1981 c. 199; 1991 a. 165; 2011 a. 36.