NY State Senate Bill 2015-S4362

Senate Bill S4362

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Establishes the New York state interagency coordinating council for service-disabled veterans, defines the powers and duties of the council, requires an annual report

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2016	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Mar 16, 2015	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs

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2015-S4362 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §368-a, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S7112
2011-2012: S3594
2013-2014: S2392
2017-2018: S8864

2015-S4362 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the New York state interagency coordinating council for service-disabled veterans; defines the powers and duties of the council and requires an annual report by the council to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.

2015-S4362 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S4362

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
establishing the New York state interagency coordinating council for
service-disabled veterans, defining the powers and duties of the
council and requiring an annual report by the council to the governor,
the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill would establish a New York
State Interagency coordinating Council for Service-Disabled Veterans
to provide accessible, coordinated, and specialized services to
service disabled veterans from multiple state and local agencies.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This bill amends the Executive Law by
adding a new section 369 to create the New York State Interagency
Coordinating Council for Service-Disabled Veterans.

The Council will include ten agency heads or their designees from the
following agencies: the director of the NYS Division of Veterans'
Affairs who will also serve as chair of this council, the NYS Division
of Military and Naval Affairs, the Division of Housing & Community
Renewal, the Offices of Mental Health, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
Services, Aging and the Departments of Health, Labor, Education and
Transportation.

In addition to the agency representatives, the council will include

nine service-disabled veteran representatives appointed by the
Governor and the State Legislature.

Functions of the council would include:

(a) promoting the implementation of a comprehensive statewide program
of coordinated services for service-disabled veterans that includes:
(1) matters pertaining to educational training and retraining services
and facilities, (2) health, medical and rehabilitation services and
facilities, (3) employment and re-employment services, including small
business opportunities, (4) housing options, (5) transportation
options, (6) long term care, (7) personal care, (8) day program
services, (9) family outreach and (10) other essential services that
maximize existing resources and administrative mechanisms;

(b) disseminating general information about available services to
service-disabled veterans and how such services can be accessed;

(c) receiving complaints in matters affecting service-disabled
veterans and to refer such complaints to the appropriate regulatory
agencies where it deems necessary or appropriate; and

(d) conducting an ongoing evaluation of the needs of service-disabled
veterans.

The Council shall meet quarterly and shall seek to consult with the
federal department of veterans' affairs, specifically with the network
directors of VISN 2 & 3. The Council shall report to the Governor. and
State Legislature beginning on or before September 1, 2013 with
advisement on policy, legislative recommendations and any other
recommendations improving service delivery and coordination, reducing


duplication and fragmentation and facilitating the most efficient use
of existing resources.

JUSTIFICATION: There are many veterans returning home from active
military duty with service-related disabilities. This bill would
create an interagency collaboration to identify the needs and services
that service-disabled veterans require and a more efficient matching
of these needs to State resources. New York State must provide
additional assistance and support to service-disabled veterans to
better inform them of available services and how such services can be
accessed.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2010: A.8296-A/S.7112 - Vetoed Memo 6757 Passed
Assembly 2009: A.8296 Espaillat

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after
it shall have become law; provided, however, that effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on
or before such effective date.

2015-S4362 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  4362

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 16, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. HAMILTON -- 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 establishing  the  New
  York  state  interagency  coordinating  council  for  service-disabled
  veterans, defining the powers and duties of the council and  requiring
  an  annual report by the council to the governor, the temporary presi-
  dent of the senate and the speaker of the assembly

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

  Section  1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby recognizes that
New York state's veterans, particularly those who  suffered  service-re-
lated disabilities, have unique needs as a result of the sacrifices they
made  during  their  military service. It is also hereby acknowledged by
the legislature that due to the complexity of their needs, such individ-
uals require accessible, coordinated, and  specialized  services  within
their  communities  from multiple state and local agencies. The legisla-
ture finds that there is an immediate need for a statewide comprehensive
program to coordinate such services.
  S 2. The executive law is amended by adding a  new  section  368-a  to
read as follows:
  S  368-A. NEW YORK STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR SERVICE-
DISABLED VETERANS. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE NEW YORK STATE INTER-
AGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS IN THE  EXECU-
TIVE  DEPARTMENT  TO  HAVE AND EXERCISE THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES
PROVIDED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND ANY  OTHER  PROVISION  OF
LAW.
  1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL MEAN:
  (A)  "COUNCIL" MEANS THE NEW YORK STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUN-
CIL FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD08300-01-5

S. 4362                             2

  (B) "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON, MALE OR FEMALE, RESIDENT OF THIS  STATE,
WHO  HAS  SERVED  IN  THE  ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE OF THE
UNITED STATES DURING A WAR IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES  ENGAGED  AND  WHO
HAS  BEEN  RELEASED  FROM  SUCH  SERVICE  OTHERWISE THAN BY DISHONORABLE
DISCHARGE, OR WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED TO THE RESERVE; AND
  (C)  "SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN" MEANS A VETERAN WITH A DISABILITY THAT
WAS INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN THE  ACTIVE  MILITARY,
NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE.
  2.  THE  COUNCIL  SHALL  CONSIST  OF THE FOLLOWING TEN AGENCY HEADS OR
THEIR DESIGNEES: DIRECTOR OF THE  DIVISION  OF  VETERANS'  AFFAIRS,  WHO
SHALL  SERVE  AS CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL, THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE DIVI-
SION OF MILITARY AND NAVAL AFFAIRS, THE COMMISSIONER OF  THE  DEPARTMENT
OF  HEALTH, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE COMMIS-
SIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND  SUBSTANCE  ABUSE  SERVICES,  THE
COMMISSIONER  OF  THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVI-
SION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT  OF  TRANSPORTATION,  AND
THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL SHALL
CONSIST  OF NINE SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS, THREE TO BE APPOINTED BY THE
GOVERNOR, TWO TO BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE  SENATE,
TWO  TO BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ONE TO BE APPOINTED
BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE AND ONE  TO  BE  APPOINTED  BY  THE
MINORITY  LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL SERVE
TERMS OF TWO  YEARS;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  OF  THE  MEMBERS  FIRST
APPOINTED,  THE  MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS
OF THREE YEARS AND THE REMAINING MEMBERS, APPOINTED BY  THE  LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS,  SHALL  SERVE  FOR  TERMS  OF TWO YEARS. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES BUT  SHALL  BE  ALLOWED
THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR
FUNCTIONS HEREUNDER.
  3. THE COUNCIL SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:
  (A) TO PROMOTE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE PROGRAM
OF COORDINATED SERVICES FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS THAT INCLUDES: (1)
MATTERS  PERTAINING  TO EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND RETRAINING SERVICES AND
FACILITIES, (2) HEALTH, MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICES AND  FACILI-
TIES, (3) EMPLOYMENT AND RE-EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INCLUDING SMALL BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITIES, (4) HOUSING OPTIONS, (5) TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, (6) LONG
TERM  CARE,  (7)  PERSONAL  CARE,  (8)  DAY PROGRAM SERVICES, (9) FAMILY
OUTREACH AND  (10)  OTHER  ESSENTIAL  SERVICES  THAT  MAXIMIZE  EXISTING
RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE MECHANISMS;
  (B)  TO  DISSEMINATE  GENERAL  INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE SERVICES TO
SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS AND HOW SUCH SERVICES CAN  BE  ACCESSED.  SUCH
INFORMATION SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE OR BE AVAILABLE IN
PRINTED FORM;
  (C) TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS IN MATTERS AFFECTING SERVICE-DISABLED VETER-
ANS  AND TO REFER SUCH COMPLAINTS TO THE APPROPRIATE REGULATORY AGENCIES
WHERE IT DEEMS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE; AND
  (D) TO CONDUCT AN ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE NEEDS OF  SERVICE-DISABLED
VETERANS.
  4.  THE  COUNCIL  SHALL  MEET AS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS,
POWERS AND DUTIES, BUT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL  OCCUR  AT  LEAST  ONCE  EACH
QUARTER. FURTHERMORE, THE COUNCIL SHALL SEEK TO CONSULT WITH THE NETWORK
DIRECTORS  OF  THE VETERANS INTEGRATED SERVICE NETWORKS, VISN 2 AND VISN
3.
  5. THE COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR,  THE  TEMPORARY
PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE  AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE

S. 4362                             3

SEPTEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN TWO  THOUSAND  SIXTEEN.  SUCH
REPORT SHALL SUMMARIZE THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITY DURING THE PREVIOUS FISCAL
YEAR AND DETAILING LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS APPROPRIATE TO EFFECTUATE
THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, AND ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROV-
ING SERVICE DELIVERY AND COORDINATION, REDUCING DUPLICATION AND FRAGMEN-
TATION AND FACILITATING THE MOST EFFICIENT USE  OF  EXISTING  RESOURCES.
SUCH  REPORT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE A PROPOSED AGENDA CONSISTING OF SPECIFIC
ISSUES THAT THE COUNCIL PLANS TO ADDRESS DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
  S 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
have  become  a  law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary
for  the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized
and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S4362

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Jesse Hamilton