S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5630
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 14, 2017
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Introduced by M. of A. CURRAN, FINCH, GRAF -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
of A. GIGLIO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and
Means
AN ACT to amend the tax law and the state finance law, in relation to
establishing the veteran assistance lottery game
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The tax law is amended by adding a new section 1621 to read
as follows:
§ 1621. VETERAN ASSISTANCE LOTTERY GAME. 1. THE DIRECTOR SHALL DEVELOP
AND IMPLEMENT A SCRATCH-OFF LOTTERY GAME WHOSE REVENUE, AFTER PAYMENT OF
PRIZES AND ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF SUCH GAMES, SHALL BE
DEPOSITED IN THE VETERANS' ASSISTANCE FUND AS ESTABLISHED IN SECTION
NINETY-SEVEN-PPPP OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW. THIS LOTTERY GAME SHALL BE
MARKETED AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS ALL LOTTERY GAMES
CONTROLLED BY THE DIVISION. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT DIMINISH ANY EFFORTS
OR FUNDING FOR OTHER LOTTERY GAMES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE DIVISION.
EACH TICKET SHALL CLEARLY STATE THAT ALL PROCEEDS FROM TICKET SALES GO
TOWARDS THE VETERANS' ASSISTANCE FUND.
2. THE DIVISION OF LOTTERY SHALL ESTABLISH AND BEGIN SELLING TICKETS
AS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION NO LATER THAN DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO
THOUSAND SEVENTEEN.
§ 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 97-pppp
to read as follows:
§ 97-PPPP. VETERANS' ASSISTANCE FUND. 1. THE VETERANS' ASSISTANCE FUND
IS ESTABLISHED IN THE SOLE CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER. MONIES IN
THE FUND SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE AND NOT COMMINGLED WITH OTHER FUNDS IN
THE CUSTODY OF THE COMPTROLLER.
2. MONIES OF THE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED ONLY FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HIGHER EDUCATION,
JOB AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS TRAINING
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08467-01-7
A. 5630 2
APPROVED BY THE STATE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS. MONIES SHALL BE
PAYABLE FROM THE FUND BY THE COMPTROLLER ON VOUCHERS APPROVED BY THE
STATE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS.
3. THE STATE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS SHALL CREATE A DIRECT GRANT
PROGRAM THAT WILL DISBURSE FUNDS TO REIMBURSE INDIVIDUAL VETERANS FOR
THE COSTS OF APPROVED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS BASED UPON APPLICATION AND
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY SUCH STATE DIRECTOR, WITH A PREFER-
ENCE GIVEN TO VETERANS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A DISABILITY RATING BY THE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, AND WITH A HIGHER PRIORITY
GRANTED TO VETERANS WITH HIGHER DISABILITY RATINGS.
4. MONIES SHALL BE CREDITED TOWARDS THE FUND IN THE FORM OF GIFT,
DONATION, FEDERAL ASSISTANCE OR GRANT, TRANSFERS, PAYMENT, APPROPRIATION
OR BY A DEDICATED REVENUE SOURCE INCLUDING THE VETERAN ASSISTANCE
LOTTERY GAME AS ESTABLISHED IN SECTION SIXTEEN HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE OF THE
TAX LAW.
5. MONIES OF THE FUND SHALL NOT BE USED, TRANSFERRED OR APPROPRIATED
FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN WHAT IS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, EXCEPT THAT
SUCH MONIES MAY BE USED FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTERING THE
PROGRAM WITHIN THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS.
6. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "VETERAN" SHALL HAVE THE MEANING
DEFINED IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.