Senate Bill S1967

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S1967

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to
authorizing a former member of the United States public health service
to receive a distinguishing mark on his or her license indicating that
he or she is a veteran

 PURPOSE :

This legislation recognizes that all those serving in our military as
doctors or in the medical field serving in the military has a right to
ask for and then proudly display their veteran status on their license
plates.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1. Paragraph (a-1) of subdivision 1 of section 504 of the
vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 429 of the laws of
2014, is amended to read as follows:

(a-1) Every license or renewal thereof issued to an applicant who was
a member of the armed forces of the United States or the United States
public health service and received an honorable discharge or was
released there from under honorable conditions shall, upon his or her
              

request and submission of proof as set forth herein, contain a
distinguishing mark, in such form as the commissioner shall determine,
indicating that he or she is a veteran. Such proof shall consist of a
certificate of release or discharge from active duty including but not
limited to a DD Form 214, a PHS Form 1867 or other proof satisfactory
to the commissioner. The commissioner shall not require fees for the
issuance of such licenses or renewals thereof to persons requesting a
veteran distinguishing mark which are different from fees otherwise
required; provided, however, that notwithstanding the provisions of
this section, the commissioner shall not require fees for a
duplication or amendment of a license prior to its renewal if such
duplication or amendment was solely for the purpose of adding a
veteran distinguishing mark to such license.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

 EXISTING LAW :

Not included in current law

 JUSTIFICATION :

New York State does not currently recognize people who served in the
United States Public Health Service as a veteran. This even includes
those people who served in conflict zones around the world working as
doctors and other medical personnel. It is unfair to say the least, to
deny a person the right to ask for, and then receive license plates
that can be proudly displayed because of an oversight in a statute. It
goes without saying, many doctors and medical personnel provide much
needed life saving medical services in conflict areas all around the
world. They serve as officers, are saluted by rank and file personnel
and in fact are treated no differently than any other member serving
in our military.  Unfortunately, the language of the New York State
statute, allows only for the "distinguishing mark" to appear only on
licenses of those who were members of the "armed forces of the United
States".

The United States Public Health Service (USPHS) is not among the those
recognized by New York State statute as being in the armed forces. As
such, this individual is not eligible for the "distinguishing mark"
based on two different forms indicating his/her discharge papers. One
form is the DD-214 and the other is the USPHS 1867.

For example: Dr. David Gordon served in the United States Public
Health Service ("USPHS") as a surgeon from 1967-1969 and was honorably
discharged (equivalent to armed forces military service, final rank
Captain equivalent) indicates that he is also a veteran.  His time
spent in the service was in the USPHS was in lieu of uniformed
military service during the Vietnam War. He was saluted by Air Force
and Army service men when entering military bases. He is am a veteran
who served his country on active duty for two years and later in the
reserves for a short time. The USPHS discharge paper, which Dr. Gordon
was issued, is called a USPHS 1867 which is their OFFICIAL "Statement
of Service" and is equivalent to the DD-214.  Unfortunately, Dr.
Gordon, was denied the veteran plates because according to the
Department of Motor Vehicles the statute only recognizes the DD-214
form and not the USPHS 1867 form. This legislation will correct that
oversight and recognize the United States Public Health Services as
part of the armed forces if that individual can prove he/she served as
part of our military.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

None

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
To take effect immediately