BILL NUMBER: S228

SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to establishing a
giving internships for disabled veterans not fully employed program
(G.I.V.E.  Back NY)

 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:

To set aside a percentage of the current Assembly Intern and Youth
Participation Program and Senate Student Program positions for service
disabled veterans.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This measure will add a new Article (Article 6-B) to the Legislative Law
and establish opportunities for service-disabled veteran to participate
in existing internship programs based on the following guidelines:

              

Eligible candidates will be Honorably discharged veterans with service-
connected disabilities as determined by the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense who are unemployed or underem-
ployed and have demonstrated an interest in future employment in public
service, government or public policy.

Inclusion of (but not limited to) a 10 percent set-aside of in each of
the current Assembly Youth Participation Program and Senate Student
Program for these eligible veterans.

In the same manner students are recruited for internship programs, the
Assembly Intern Office and the Senate Intern Office shall coordinate
with each of the respective county veteran's service agencies to identi-
fy and recruit eligible candidates.

G.I.V.E. Back NY enrollees receive a stipend equivalent to the stipend
awarded to graduate students participating in the same internship
program.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In the year 2014, there are 120 interns in the Assembly Internship
program, which is down from 180 interns.in 2013. Currently, the Assembly
Internship program is open to students matriculated in a four-year
college. Undergraduates receive a $6,2.00 annual stipend and graduate
students earn up to $33,000. It is budgeted at $2.2 million this fiscal
year. This program proposes that G.I.V.E. Back NY enrollees receive a
stipend equivalent to the stipend awarded to graduate student partic-
ipants. There will be no additional cost to taxpayers to implement
G.I.V.E. Back NY.

As our country continues to rely on our service men and women to protect
the ideals of our country, we cannot forget those veterans who have come
home to find that integrating back into our workforce and communities
poses many challenges.

As a Legislature we have always come together when it comes to those
service men and women, whether their service was this year, ten years
ago or sixty years ago. Who better than our wounded warriors to see the
inner workings of our republic and representative democracy they put
their lives on the line for to the extent that they now have to deal
with a lifelong disability?

The discipline and work ethic instilled in these service men and women
will prove to be a valuable asset to the New York State Legislature.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

01/21/15: S.2182 REFERRED TO VETERANS,HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/06/16: S.2182 REFERRED TO VETERANS,HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/10/17: S.1713 REFERRED TO VETERANS,HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/03/18: S.1713 REFERRED TO VETERANS,HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/09/19: S.386 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS
01/08/20: S.386 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None, Budget Neutral.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.