S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8390
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
June 15, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to providing a help
line/crisis line to assist veterans
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 3803 of the
public health law, as amended by chapter 743 of the laws of 2006, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) establishment of a toll-free telephone hotline to provide informa-
tion regarding health care providers and treatment centers with exper-
tise in illnesses associated with military duty AND A TOLL-FREE TELE-
PHONE NUMBER FOR USE AS (I) A CLEARINGHOUSE BY VETERANS, ACTIVE MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES IN THIS STATE, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL GUARD, AND
THEIR FAMILIES TO OBTAIN, IN RESPONSE TO THEIR REQUESTS ABOUT BENEFITS
OR SERVICES THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE TO SUCH VETERANS, MEMBERS OR THEIR
FAMILIES, REFERRALS TO ENTITIES THAT PROVIDE SUCH BENEFITS OR SERVICES,
AND (II) A CRISIS LINE TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM VETER-
ANS THAT IS MODELED ON THE FEDERAL VETERANS' CRISIS LINE. THE TOLL-FREE
TELEPHONE NUMBER SHALL BE STAFFED BY EMPLOYEES OF OR TRAINED VOLUNTEERS
WORKING AT THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' SERVICES ON WEEKDAYS DURING REGULAR
BUSINESS HOURS, AND ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS FROM NINE O'CLOCK A.M. TO
FIVE O'CLOCK P.M.; and
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07103-03-9