S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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3123
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the military law, in relation to the issuance of a New
York State Vietnam War Service Medal
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 247 of the military law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 1-c to read as follows:
1-C. THE ADJUTANT GENERAL IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO PRESENT IN THE NAME
OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, A MEDAL, TO BE KNOWN AS THE
"NEW YORK STATE VIETNAM WAR SERVICE MEDAL", BEARING A SUITABLE
INSCRIPTION, TO ANY PERSON: (I) WHO IS A CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK; OR (II) WHO WAS A CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHILE SERVING
IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES; (III) WHO SERVED IN THE UNITED
STATES ARMED FORCES, DEFINED AS ARMY, AIR FORCE, NAVY, MARINE CORPS, OR
COAST GUARD, OR THE ORGANIZED MILITIA ON ACTIVE DUTY ABROAD IN THE VIET-
NAM WAR DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME FROM NOVEMBER FIRST, NINETEEN HUNDRED
FIFTY-FIVE THROUGH APRIL THIRTIETH, NINETEEN HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE; AND
(IV) WHO WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED OR RELEASED UNDER HONORABLE CIRCUM-
STANCES DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. NOT MORE THAN ONE NEW YORK STATE VIETNAM
WAR SERVICE MEDAL SHALL BE AWARDED OR PRESENTED, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS SUBDIVISION, TO ANY PERSON WHOSE ENTIRE SERVICE SUBSEQUENT TO THE
TIME OF THE RECEIPT OF SUCH MEDAL SHALL NOT HAVE BEEN HONORABLE. FOR
EACH SUCCEEDING STAR AS PROVIDED HEREIN, SUCH PERSON SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO WEAR, AS THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE STATE MAY DIRECT, A RIBBON WHOSE
COLOR AND DESIGN SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE DIVISION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL
AFFAIRS. IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF ANY PERSON DURING OR SUBSEQUENT TO
THE RECEIPT OF SUCH CERTIFICATE IT SHALL BE PRESENTED TO SUCH REPRESEN-
TATIVE OF THE DECEASED AS MAY BE DESIGNATED. THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, IN
CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
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A. 3123 2
SHALL MAKE SUCH RULES AND REGULATIONS AS MAY BE DEEMED NECESSARY FOR THE
PROPER PRESENTATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH MEDALS.
S 2. Subdivision 4 of section 247 of the military law, as amended by
chapter 477 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
4. This section shall not be construed to require that a recipient of
the conspicuous service cross, the conspicuous service star [or], the
Cold War Certificate OR THE NEW YORK STATE VIETNAM WAR SERVICE MEDAL has
been a resident of the state of New York at the time of his or her entry
into the United States army, air force, navy, marine corps, or nurses
corps.
S 3. Subdivision 1-a of section 247 of the military law, as added by
chapter 184 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
1-a. The governor is hereby authorized to present in the name of the
legislature of the state of New York, a military decoration, to be known
as the "conspicuous service star", bearing a suitable inscription,
device, and ribbon, all of which shall be of suitable design, to any
person (i) who is a citizen of the state of New York or (ii) who was a
citizen of the state of New York while serving in the armed forces of
the United States, and who, while serving in the United States Armed
Forces, defined as army, air force, navy, marine corps, or coast guard,
has, or shall have received a United States unit level decoration denot-
ing combat participation and foreign unit awards, issued from a company,
regimental, brigade, or division commander, or equivalent naval unit, or
issued by the President of the United States, the Congress of the United
States, the United States Defense Department or the joint chiefs of
staff, such as, but not limited to, a presidential unit citation or a
joint meritorious unit award. Not more than one conspicuous service star
shall be issued to any one person; nor shall any citation be awarded or
presented, under the provisions of this subdivision, to any person whose
entire service subsequent to the time of the receipt of such star shall
not have been honorable. For each succeeding star as provided herein,
such person shall be entitled to wear, as the chief of staff of the
state may direct, a ribbon whose color and design shall be selected by
the division of [miliary] MILITARY AND NAVAL affairs. In the event of
the death of any person during or subsequent to the receipt of such
citation the conspicuous service star shall be presented to such repre-
sentative of the deceased as may be designated. The chief of staff shall
make such rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary for the prop-
er presentation and distribution of such decorations.
S 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law. The division of military and naval affairs
is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take
any other measures necessary to implement the provisions of this act on
its effective date on or before such date.