NY State Senate Bill 2017-S8391

Senate Bill S8391

2017-2018 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

download bill text pdf

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
May 04, 2018	referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs

2017-S8391 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §368-a, Exec L

2017-S8391 (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.

2017-S8391 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8391

SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
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, coordi-
nated, and specialized services to service disabled veterans from multi-
ple state and local agencies.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This bill amends the Executive Law by adding a new section 368-a 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. Such
information shall be posted on the division's website or be available in
printed form;

(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 arid 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, 2019 with advise-
ment on policy, legislative recommendations and any other recommenda-
tions 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:

2016 A4789A: Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military
Affairs
2015 A4789/S4362: Passed in Assembly-REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND
SECURITY, AND MILITARY AFFAIRS (in Senate)
2014 A6213-B:Passed in Assembly - REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURI-
TY, AND MILITARY AFFAIRS (in Senate)
2013: A.6213-A Passed Assembly
2012: A.726C-A/S.3594 - Passed Assembly
2011: A.726C/S.3594 - Reported to Ways and Means/Referred to Veterans,
Homeland Security and Military Affairs
2010: 'A3296-A/S.7112 - Vetoed Memo 6757
2009: A.8296 - Passed Assembly

 
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.

2017-S8391 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8391
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                May 4, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- 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.
   § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a  new  section  368-a  to
 read as follows:
   §  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;
   (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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD00716-07-8

 S. 8391                             2
 
 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
 SEPTEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND  NINETEEN.  SUCH
 REPORT SHALL SUMMARIZE THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITY DURING THE PREVIOUS FISCAL
 YEAR AND DETAILING LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS APPROPRIATE TO EFFECTUATE

 S. 8391                             3
 
 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.
   § 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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