S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3149
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 2, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to authorizing
the department of veterans' services to provide eligible veterans with
financial assistance for purchasing, training and the upkeep of
service dogs and emotional support dogs
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new
section 29-b to read as follows:
§ 29-B. SERVICE DOG AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG GRANT ASSISTANCE. 1.
FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "SERVICE DOG" SHALL HAVE THE
SAME MEANING AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISION SEVEN OF SECTION FORTY-SEV-
EN-B OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS LAW.
2. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG"
SHALL MEAN A DOG PROVIDING THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT TO AN OWNER.
3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ELIGIBLE VETERANS WITH: (A) GRANT
ASSISTANCE OF UP TO SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE PURCHASE
AND TRAINING OF A SERVICE DOG FROM AN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING SERVICE
DOGS FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AND/OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY;
OR (B) GRANT ASSISTANCE OF UP TO FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE PURCHASE
AND TRAINING OF A SERVICE DOG FROM A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE DOG TRAINER OR
AN OWNER-TRAINER. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ELIGIBLE VETERANS RECEIV-
ING GRANT ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION WITH AN AMOUNT OF NOT
LESS THAN FIFTY DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THE CONTINUED UPKEEP OF THE SERVICE
DOG AS LONG AS THE ELIGIBLE VETERAN IS IN POSSESSION OF THE SERVICE DOG.
4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE ELIGIBLE VETERANS WITH GRANT ASSIST-
ANCE OF UP TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR THE PURCHASE AND TRAINING OF AN
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG, AS WELL AS AN AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN THIRTY-FIVE
DOLLARS A MONTH FOR THE CONTINUED UPKEEP OF THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG AS
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07812-01-3
A. 3149 2
LONG AS THE ELIGIBLE VETERAN IS IN POSSESSION OF THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
DOG.
5. TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE GRANT ASSISTANCE UNDER THIS SECTION, AN
INDIVIDUAL MUST:
(A) BE A VETERAN, WHICH, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, SHALL MEAN
RESIDENT OF THIS STATE WHO SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY IN THE UNITED STATES
ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR FORCE, COAST GUARD OR THE RESERVES COMPO-
NENT, OR WHO SERVED IN ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES AS A
MEMBER OF THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NEW YORK GUARD OR
NEW YORK NAVAL MILITIA, WHO WAS RELEASED FROM SUCH SERVICE OTHER THAN BY
DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE;
(B) RECEIVE A DIAGNOSIS FROM A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR LICENSED MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, A TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURY, OR BOTH, CAUSING A DISABILITY AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN SUBDI-
VISION TWENTY-ONE OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED NINETY-TWO OF THE EXECUTIVE
LAW;
(C) RECEIVE A LETTER FROM A LICENSED PHYSICIAN OR LICENSED MENTAL
HEALTH PROVIDER CERTIFYING THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE
USE OF A SERVICE DOG OR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DOG; AND
(D) HAVE AN ANNUAL INCOME OF FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OR LESS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided however, if section 2 of part PP of
chapter 56 of the laws of 2022 shall not have taken effect on or before
such date, this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as such section of such part of such chapter of the laws of 2022
takes effect. 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 to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.