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

                                  7127

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 30, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sens. CROCI, ADDABBO, GOLDEN, AVELLA, CARLUCCI, GALLIVAN,
  HANNON, LARKIN, MARTINS, MURPHY, ORTT, RANZENHOFER,  RITCHIE,  SAVINO,
  SERINO,  SEWARD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to
  be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Mili-
  tary Affairs

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to  establishing  a  task
  force  on  veteran  employment  opportunities;  and  providing for the
  repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

  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 article 17-C
to read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 17-C
             TASK FORCE ON VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
SECTION 369-L. TASK FORCE ON VETERAN  EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES  MEMBER-
                 SHIP.
        369-M. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE.
  S 369-L. TASK FORCE ON VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES MEMBERSHIP. 1.
THERE  IS  HEREBY  CREATED  A  TASK FORCE ON VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTU-
NITIES, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF  THE  FOLLOWING  MEMBERS,  WHO  SHALL  BE
APPOINTED  NO  LESS  THAN  THIRTY  DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ARTICLE:
  (A) THE STATE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, OR HIS OR  HER  DESIGNEE,
WHO SHALL SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE;
  (B)  THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE;
  (C) THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE;
  (D) THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
  (E) THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, OR HIS OR  HER
DESIGNEE;
  (F)  THE  CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD14651-01-6
              

S. 7127                             2

  (G) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,  OR  HIS  OR  HER
DESIGNEE;
  (H)  TWO  MEMBERS  APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
ONE OF WHICH SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
  (I) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ONE OF WHICH
SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR;
  (J) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND
  (K) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
  2. NO MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING  ANY
PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, NOR SHALL HE OR SHE FORFEIT ANY SUCH OFFICE
OF  EMPLOYMENT  BY  VIRTUE  OF  HIS  OR HER APPOINTMENT PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION. MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL  RECEIVE  NO  COMPENSATION  FOR
THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
A  MEMBER  OF THE TASK FORCE MAY BE REMOVED BY THE APPOINTING AUTHORITY,
ONLY FOR GOOD CAUSE, AFTER  NOTICE  AND  AN  OPPORTUNITY  TO  BE  HEARD.
VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
  S  369-M.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE. 1. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS,
THE TASK FORCE SHALL HOLD AT  LEAST  TWO  PUBLIC  HEARINGS.  DURING  THE
PUBLIC  HEARINGS,  THE  TASK FORCE SHALL HEAR THE TESTIMONY OF VOLUNTARY
WITNESSES, MAY COMPEL THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES  AND  MAY  REQUIRE  THE
PRODUCTION OF ANY DOCUMENTS THE TASK FORCE DEEMS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO
CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
  2.  AFTER  RECEIPT  AND REVIEW OF PUBLIC COMMENT, THE TASK FORCE SHALL
ISSUE AN ANNUAL REPORT, TO THE GOVERNOR  AND  THE  LEGISLATURE,  ON  THE
SUBSTANCE  OF  THE  PUBLIC  HEARINGS  AND INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF NEW METHODS AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT ASSISTING  THE  STATE'S
VETERANS IN FINDING AND MAINTAINING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
AND  AN  ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT METHODS AND PROGRAMS. THE ANNUAL REPORT
SHALL BE ISSUED NO LATER THAT DECEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR, BUT SHALL NOT
BE DUE IN THE FIRST YEAR THIS ARTICLE SHALL  BE  DEEMED  TO  HAVE  TAKEN
EFFECT.
  3. THE TASK FORCE SHALL REPORT ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, AS THEY RELATE
TO AND IMPACT VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
  (A)  HIGHER  EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO AWARD ACADEMIC COURSE
CREDIT FOR COMPARABLE MILITARY TRAINING AND DISTANCE LEARNING BARRIERS;
  (B) PROFESSIONAL  LICENSING  INCLUDING  ANY  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  EASE
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES;
  (C) STATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES;
  (D) VETERAN CONTRACTOR PREFERENCES;
  (E) PURCHASING PREFERENCES;
  (F) TAX CREDITS AND MUNICIPAL GRANTS FOR HIRING UNEMPLOYED VETERANS;
  (G) PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES; AND
  (H) PAID LEAVE FOR COMBAT VETERANS NEEDING HEALTH SERVICES.
  4.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT THE TASK FORCE FROM REPORT-
ING ON ANY OTHER  TOPICS  IMPACTING  VETERAN  EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES,
WHICH THEY DEEM RELEVANT.
  S  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed ten years after such date.