S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2331--A
Cal. No. 99
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, DenDEKKER, M. G. MILLER, BRONSON,
MOSLEY, CYMBROWITZ, BENEDETTO, SIMOTAS, CUSICK, GUNTHER, GOTTFRIED,
PICHARDO, BARRON, COOK, GALEF, COLTON, ARROYO, HUNTER, PERRY,
BUCHWALD, BUTTENSCHON, BYRNE, NORRIS, CRUZ, BARRETT, GRIFFIN --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation -- ordered to a third reading, amended and
ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the executive law, in
relation to enabling veterans and reservists to receive benefit infor-
mation upon applying for or renewing a driver's license
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 508 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION
OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, IS DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS BY WHICH THE
DEPARTMENT SHALL REFER DRIVER'S LICENSE AND NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION
CARD APPLICANTS REQUESTING AND OBTAINING A NOTATION UPON SUCH LICENSE OR
NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT HE OR SHE IS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED
STATES ARMED FORCES PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION FOUR
HUNDRED NINETY OF THIS CHAPTER OR SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION FIVE
HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE, UPON HIS OR HER REQUEST, TO THE DIVISION OF
VETERANS' AFFAIRS, CONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION THREE
HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR-A OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
§ 2. Section 354-a of the executive law, as amended by section 8 of
part AA of chapter 56 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as
follows:
§ 354-a. Information on status of veterans receiving assistance.
Departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, commissions and agencies of the
state and political subdivisions thereof, which provide assistance,
treatment, counseling, care, supervision or custody in service areas
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00712-07-0
A. 2331--A 2
involving health, mental health, family services, criminal justice or
employment, including but not limited to the office of [alcoholism and
substance abuse services] ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, office of
mental health, office of probation and correctional alternatives, office
of children and family services, office of temporary and disability
assistance, department of health, department of labor, local workforce
investment boards, office for people with developmental disabilities,
and department of corrections and community supervision, shall request
assisted persons to provide information with regard to their veteran
status and military experiences. Individuals identifying themselves as
veterans, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING AND OBTAINING A VETERANS
NOTATION ON THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE OR NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD
PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FOUR HUNDRED NINETY AND FIVE HUNDRED TWO OF THE
VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, shall be advised that the division of veterans'
services and local veterans' service agencies established pursuant to
section three hundred fifty-seven of this article provide assistance to
veterans regarding benefits under federal and state law. Information
regarding veterans status and military service provided by assisted
persons solely to implement this section shall be protected as personal
confidential information under article six-A of the public officers law
against disclosure of confidential material, and used only to assist in
the diagnosis, treatment, assessment and handling of the veteran's prob-
lems within the agency requesting such information and in referring the
veteran to the division of veterans' services for information and
assistance with regard to benefits and entitlements under federal and
state law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.