Assembly Bill A9356

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  9356

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 22, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Veterans' Affairs

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  executive law, in relation to providing certain
  benefits to veterans;  and  to  amend  the  social  services  law,  in
  relation to requiring certain reports relating to veterans

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  The executive law is amended by adding a new section 353-a
to read as follows:
  S 353-A. IDENTIFYING HOMELESSNESS  AMONG  VETERANS.  1.  LOCAL  SOCIAL
SERVICES  DISTRICTS  AND SHELTERS RUN BY NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN
EACH COUNTY, SHALL COLLECT INFORMATION IDENTIFYING VETERANS AND  SPOUSES
OF VETERANS WHO ARE IN A HOMELESS FACILITY. SUCH DATA SHALL BE COLLECTED
QUARTERLY  AND  SUBMITTED  TO  THE DIVISION. THE DIVISION SHALL TRANSMIT
SUCH INFORMATION TO STATE COUNSELORS FOR REVIEW AND POTENTIAL LINKAGE TO
APPLICABLE BENEFITS. STATE COUNSELORS SHALL WORK WITH  COUNTY  AND  CITY
VETERANS' AGENCIES STAFF OR ANY ACCREDITED SERVICE OFFICERS OF AN ORGAN-
IZATION CHARTERED BY THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES AND/OR RECOGNIZED
BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR CLAIM REPRESENTATION AS NECES-
SARY  AND  WHERE  APPROPRIATE.  SUCH  INFORMATION  SHALL BE PROTECTED AS
PERSONAL CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION UNDER  ARTICLE  SIX-A  OF  THE  PUBLIC
OFFICERS  LAW  AGAINST DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL, AND SHALL BE
USED ONLY TO ASSIST IN PROVIDING  LINKAGE  TO  APPLICABLE  BENEFITS  AND
ENTITLEMENTS UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE LAW.
  2.  THE DIVISION SHALL INCLUDE WITHIN THE ANNUAL REPORT AS REQUIRED BY
SUBDIVISION ELEVEN OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE,
AN  ACCOUNTING  OF  INFORMATION  RECEIVED  FROM  LOCAL  SOCIAL  SERVICES
DISTRICTS  AND  SHELTERS  RUN  BY  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  ORGANIZATIONS AND THE
SPECIFIC NUMBER OF VETERANS AND SPOUSES OF VETERANS LINKED TO APPLICABLE
BENEFITS.
  S 2. Section 95 of the social services law is amended by adding a  new
subdivision 12 to read as follows:
  12.  THE  OFFICE  OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL COLLECT
DATA ON THE NUMBER OF VETERANS, AS DEFINED IN SECTION EIGHTY-FIVE OF THE

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD14611-01-2

A. 9356                             2

CIVIL SERVICE LAW, NUMBER OF  MILITARY  PERSONNEL  DEPLOYED  FOR  ACTIVE
MILITARY  SERVICE  AS  DEFINED  IN  SECTION ONE OF THE MILITARY LAW, AND
MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY WHO ARE IN RECEIPT OF FOOD  STAMPS  OR  WHO  ARE
PARTICIPATING  IN  A  FOOD  ASSISTANCE PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION.  SUCH
DATA SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE, NO LATER
THAN DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST OF EACH YEAR. SUCH REPORT SHALL  INCLUDE  BUT
BE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: A BREAKDOWN OF VETERANS AND
SERVICEMEMBERS  BY BRANCH, THE PERIOD OF SERVICE, AND IF APPLICABLE, THE
TYPE OF DISCHARGE.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, that  any  rules  and  regulations
necessary  for  the  timely  implementation of this act on its effective
date shall be promulgated on or before such date.