NY State Senate Bill S2941A

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (10)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jun 14, 2016	referred to veterans' affairs delivered to assembly passed senate
Jun 08, 2016	ordered to third reading cal.1541
Jun 07, 2016	reported and committed to rules
May 03, 2016	reported and committed to finance
Jan 06, 2016	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Jun 04, 2015	print number 2941a
Jun 04, 2015	amend and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Jan 30, 2015	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs

Votes

view votes

Jun 14, 2016 - floor Vote

S2941A

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jun 8, 2016 - Rules committee Vote

S2941A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jun 7, 2016 - Finance committee Vote

S2941A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

May 3, 2016 - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committee Vote

S2941A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

Co-Sponsors

S2941 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8189
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §368-a, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2011-2012: S2424
2013-2014: S2658
2017-2018: S3906, A3364
2019-2020: S3780
2021-2022: S4735
2023-2024: S6655

S2941 - Summary

Establishes the "New York state veterans cemetery act"; directs the division to conduct an investigation and study on the issue of the establishment of a New York state veterans cemetery funding program.

S2941 - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2941

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of
the New York state veterans cemetery act

PURPOSE:

This bill seeks to establish a New York State Veterans Cemetery
Program.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would provide that this law shall be known and
may be cited as the New York State Veterans Cemetery Act.

Section 2 of this bill would amend the executive law to add a new
section 368-a to establish a New York State Veterans Cemetery Program.
Pursuant to such section, the New York State Division of Veterans
Affairs would be directed to conduct an investigation and study on the
issue of the establishment of a New York State Veterans Cemetery
Program. Such investigation and study would be required to be
completed on or before December 31, 2015. As soon as possible, the
Division shall submit to the Federal Veterans Administration Veterans
Cemetery Grants Program a pre-application for one or more veterans

cemetery. Within 90 days of the completion of such investigation and
study, the Division must also complete and deliver, to the chair of
the Senate Standing Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and
Military Affairs and the chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on
Veterans Affairs, a report on such investigation and study, containing
recommendations to the legislature on the establishment of a New York
State Veterans Cemetery Program. Such recommendations shall include
what measures need to be taken by New York State to establish such a
program, what laws should be amended or added to establish such a
program, and what fiscal resources would need to be appropriated and
expended, if any, to establish such program.

Section 3 of this bill would provide for an immediate effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

New York State presently exists in a dangerous and uncertain world.
Like in generations before, our veterans have answered the call and
have placed themselves as the defenders of our freedoms and liberties.
This bill seeks to provide the mechanism for the establishment of a
New York State Veterans cemetery Program. Such a program is a
necessary and prudent step toward recognizing the commitment and
sacrifice our state's veterans have made. Such a program, by terms of
this bill, would be developed in partnership with the New York State
Division of Veterans Affairs, after thoughtful study and
investigation. The report and recommendations required under this bill
would provide the framework for the establishment of the Program, upon
which a successful establishment and implementation could be based.
This bill seeks to direct New York State's veterans recognition and
services in a responsible, thoughtful manner, using experience and


intelligence to seek the best possible outcome for those who have
given so much of themselves for all the people of our State.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S. 2658 of 2014 - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
Committee.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None noted, although some staff time at the New York State Division of
Veterans Affairs would be required to accomplish the investigation,
study and report required under this bill, its actions could easily be
performed with current resources.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Immediate.

S2941 - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  2941

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 30, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
  ty and Military Affairs

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the  establishment  of
  the New York state veterans cemetery act

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

  Section 1. Short title.  This act shall be known and may be  cited  as
the "New York state veterans cemetery act".
  S  2.  The  executive  law is amended by adding a new section 368-a to
read as follows:
  S 368-A. VETERANS CEMETERY PROGRAM.  THE DIVISION IS  HEREBY  DIRECTED
TO  CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY ON THE ISSUE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A NEW YORK STATE VETERANS CEMETERY PROGRAM WHICH WILL BE A BENEFICIAL
AND ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION FOR SERVING THE VETERANS OF THE STATE.  AS  SOON
AS  POSSIBLE  AFTER  THE  COMMENCEMENT OF SUCH STUDY, THE DIVISION SHALL
SUBMIT TO THE FEDERAL VETERANS ADMINISTRATION CEMETERY GRANTS PROGRAM  A
PRE-APPLICATION  FOR  THE  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  ONE OR MORE VETERANS CEME-
TERIES.  SUCH INVESTIGATION AND STUDY SHALL BE COMPLETED  ON  OR  BEFORE
DECEMBER  THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN.  WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE
COMPLETION OF SUCH INVESTIGATION AND STUDY, THE DIVISION WHICH WILL BE A
BENEFICIAL AND ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION FOR SERVING THE VETERANS OF THE STATE
SHALL COMPLETE AND DELIVER, TO THE CHAIR  OF  THE  SENATE  COMMITTEE  ON
VETERANS,  HOMELAND  SECURITY  AND MILITARY AFFAIRS AND THE CHAIR OF THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS A REPORT ON  SUCH  INVESTIGATION
AND  STUDY,  CONTAINING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE ESTAB-
LISHMENT OF A NEW YORK STATE VETERANS CEMETERY PROGRAM. SUCH RECOMMENDA-
TIONS SHALL INCLUDE WHAT MEASURES NEED TO BE  TAKEN  BY  THIS  STATE  TO
ESTABLISH SUCH A PROGRAM, WHAT LAWS SHOULD BE AMENDED OR ADDED TO ESTAB-
LISH  SUCH  A PROGRAM, AND WHAT FISCAL RESOURCES WOULD NEED TO BE APPRO-
PRIATED AND EXPENDED, IF ANY, TO ESTABLISH SUCH A PROGRAM.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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

                                                           LBD03585-01-5

Co-Sponsors

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8189
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §368-a, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2011-2012: S2424
2013-2014: S2658
2017-2018: S3906, A3364
2019-2020: S3780
2021-2022: S4735
2023-2024: S6655

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2941A

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of
the New York state veterans cemetery act

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would amend the executive law, to establish a New York state
veterans cemetery funding promotion program within the New York State
Division of Veterans Affairs.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This bill would add a new section 368-a to the executive law, to
establish a New York state veterans cemetery funding promotion program
within the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Pursuant to this bill, the purpose of this promotion program, would be
to encourage the giving of financial contributions, by individuals,
groups and corporations, to the Veterans Remembrance and Cemetery
Maintenance and Operation Fund, which was established by act of the
state legislature in 2013, as a means to provide funding for state
veterans cemeteries, to be built and maintained in accordance with the
New York State Veterans Cemetery program (also established in law in

2013 by section 368 of the executive law).

This bill, would additionally require the Division, in accordance with
the promotion program, to establish, produce and conduct programs,
projects, and materials, designed to encourage the giving of financial
contributions, by individuals, groups and corporations, to the
Veterans Remembrance and Cemetery Maintenance and Operation Fund, in
order to support the construction and maintenance of New York State
Veterans Cemeteries. This bill would further direct the Division to
seek, and apply on behalf of the state of New York, for grants and
contributions, from governments and/or other institutional funding
sources, for deposit in, and use by, the fund

Finally, this bill would require the division to produce an annual
report, on or before December 15, on the activities, operations and
progress of the promotion program.

Justification:

In 2013, the legislature enacted for the first time in history, a New
York State Veterans Cemetery Program Under the terms of this program,
a Veterans Remembrance and Cemetery Maintenance and Operation Fund,
was established as a means to provide funding for the construction,
maintenance and operation of such cemeteries At this time, the
legislature also appropriated $500,000 into such fund, and established
a tax check off box on all state tax returns, to allow for gifts to be
made to the fund.

As federal monies are available for state veteran cemetery
construction, but not for perpetual maintenance, the law that created
the New York State Veterans Cemetery Program (section 368 of the


executive law) provided that in order for the Division of Veterans
Affairs to authorize the designation or construction of a state
veterans cemetery, the Veterans Remembrance and Cemetery Maintenance
and Operation Fund must have within its account, an endowment amount
equal to fifteen years of perpetual maintenance funds for such
cemetery. For an average size veterans cemetery, such would constitute
a requirement of having the fund contain approximately between six to
seven million dollars before a state veterans cemetery could be
constructed or designated. Due to the declining effectiveness of tax
check off boxes, when most returns are now filed electronically, as of
January 2015, the fund contained less than $600,000.

This bill would seek to have the Division of Veterans Affairs promote
charitable giving to the fund, in order to raise money, and accelerate
the time, for the construction or designation of the first state
veterans cemetery. Such would provide additional funding for this
purpose, and supplement the proceeds raised by the tax check off box.
Similar programs of private giving, such as those targeted to build
the WWII memorial in Washington, D.C. have proven highly successful.
It is hoped that the promotion program directed by this bill could
have similar results.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None noted, as this program could be achieved within current resource
allocations.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act would take effect immediately.

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 2941--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 30, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. GRIFFO, CROCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and
  when  printed  to  be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland
  Security and Military Affairs -- committee discharged,  bill  amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT  to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of
  the New York state veterans cemetery act

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

  Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "New York state veterans cemetery act".
  S 2. The executive law is amended by adding a  new  section  368-a  to
read as follows:
  S  368-A. VETERANS CEMETERY FUNDING PROMOTION PROGRAM. THE DIVISION IS
HEREBY DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH, PRODUCE  AND  CONDUCT  A  NEW  YORK  STATE
VETERANS CEMETERY FUNDING PROMOTION PROGRAM. THE PURPOSE OF THE NEW YORK
STATE VETERANS CEMETERY FUNDING PROGRAM WOULD BE TO ENCOURAGE THE GIVING
OF  FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, BY INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS AND CORPORATIONS, TO
THE VETERANS REMEMBRANCE AND CEMETERY MAINTENANCE  AND  OPERATION  FUND,
CREATED  PURSUANT TO SECTION NINETY-SEVEN-MMMM OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW,
WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR VETERANS CEMETERIES  PURSU-
ANT  TO  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  VETERANS  CEMETERY PROGRAM CREATED UNDER
SECTION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER.  IN  ESTABLISHING  THE
NEW YORK STATE VETERANS CEMETERY FUNDING PROMOTION PROGRAM, THE DIVISION
SHALL  ESTABLISH,  PRODUCE AND CONDUCT PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, AND MATERIALS
DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THE GIVING OF FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, BY INDIVID-
UALS, GROUPS AND CORPORATIONS, TO THE VETERANS REMEMBRANCE AND  CEMETERY
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION FUND. THE DIVISION SHALL FURTHER SEEK, AND MAY
APPLY  ON BEHALF OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, FOR GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS,
FROM GOVERNMENTS AND/OR OTHER INSTITUTIONAL FUNDING SOURCES, FOR DEPOSIT
IN, AND USE BY, THE VETERANS REMEMBRANCE AND  CEMETERY  MAINTENANCE  AND
OPERATION FUND, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING, OPERATING AND FINANCING

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03585-02-5

S. 2941--A                          2

NEW  YORK  STATE  VETERANS  CEMETERIES.  EVERY  YEAR, NOT LATER THAN THE
FIFTEENTH OF DECEMBER, THE DIVISION SHALL PRODUCE A REPORT OF THE ACTIV-
ITIES AND OPERATION OF THE NEW  YORK  STATE  VETERANS  CEMETERY  FUNDING
PROMOTION PROGRAM, AND SHALL DELIVER A COPY OF SUCH REPORT TO THE GOVER-
NOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY,
THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURI-
TY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS AND THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE
ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS. SUCH REPORT SHALL CONTAIN INFORMATION ON THE OPER-
ATIONS  AND  PROGRESS  OF  THE  NEW YORK STATE VETERANS CEMETERY FUNDING
PROMOTION PROGRAM, AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE ON  THE
NEW  YORK  STATE VETERANS CEMETERY FUNDING PROMOTION PROGRAM, AND ESTAB-
LISHING, MAINTAINING AND OPERATING STATE VETERANS CEMETERIES IN  ACCORD-
ANCE WITH THE NEW YORK STATE VETERANS CEMETERY PROGRAM.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S2941A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jun 14, 2016 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 14, 2016

Jun 8, 2016 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 8, 2016

Jun 7, 2016 - Finance committee Vote

Finance Committee Vote: Jun 7, 2016

May 3, 2016 - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committee Vote

Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee Vote: May 3, 2016

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S2941 - Details

S2941 - Summary

S2941 - Sponsor Memo

S2941 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Details

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S2941A

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Sponsored By

Joseph A. Griffo

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Jun 14, 2016 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 14, 2016

Jun 8, 2016 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 8, 2016

Jun 7, 2016 - Finance committee Vote

Finance Committee Vote: Jun 7, 2016

May 3, 2016 - Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs committee Vote

Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee Vote: May 3, 2016

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

Thomas D. Croci

S2941 - Details

S2941 - Summary

S2941 - Sponsor Memo

S2941 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

Fred Akshar

Thomas D. Croci

Andrew J. Lanza

Patty Ritchie

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Details

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S2941A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments