Assembly Bill A10362A

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10362--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 2, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GRIFFIN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on  Veterans'  Affairs  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to directing the
   veterans service commission to submit a report relating to coordinated
   services  for  veterans  with  service-connected  disabilities  to the
   commissioner of veterans' services
 
   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   from
 service-connected  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 individuals require accessible, coordinated, and specialized
 services within their communities from multiple state  and  local  agen-
 cies.  The  legislature  finds  that there may be a need for a statewide
 comprehensive program to coordinate such services.
   § 2. Section 3 of the veterans' services law is amended  by  adding  a
 new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
   6.  THE COMMISSION, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF DISA-
 BILITY OFFICER BY APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-NINE, SHALL SUBMIT  A
 REPORT  TO  THE COMMISSIONER REVIEWING THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO VETERANS
 WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES BY STATE AND LOCAL VETERANS' SERVICE
 AGENCIES. THE REPORT SHALL IDENTIFY ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THE  AVAILABILI-
 TY, ACCESSIBILITY AND DELIVERY OF SUCH SERVICES.
   (A)  THE  SERVICES  REVIEWED  IN  THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE
 LIMITED TO:
   (I) EDUCATION AND VOCATION RELATED SERVICES,  INCLUDING  TRAINING  AND
 RETRAINING SERVICES;
   (II) HEALTHCARE SERVICES, INCLUDING MEDICAL, MENTAL, DENTAL, REHABILI-
 TATION AND COUNSELING SERVICES;
   (III) CAREER, EMPLOYMENT AND RE-EMPLOYMENT SERVICES;
   (IV) HOUSING RELATED SERVICES;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14388-02-6
 A. 10362--A                         2
 
   (V) TRANSPORTATION SERVICES;
   (VI) LONG TERM CARE SERVICES;
   (VII) PERSONAL CARE SERVICES;
   (VIII) ADULT DAY HEALTHCARE SERVICES;
   (IX) FAMILY OUTREACH AND FAMILY CAREGIVER SERVICES; AND
   (X)  LEGAL  SERVICES,  INCLUDING VETERANS' BENEFITS CLAIMS ASSISTANCE.
 THE REPORT SHALL PROVIDE ANY FINDINGS  AND  RECOMMENDATIONS  AS  TO  HOW
 THESE  SERVICES  MAY BE IMPROVED, OR BETTER COORDINATED AND HOW INFORMA-
 TION PERTAINING TO SUCH SERVICES CAN BE BETTER COMMUNICATED TO VETERANS.
 TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE, THE REPORT SHALL  ALSO  IDENTIFY  ANY  NEEDS  OF
 VETERANS  WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES THAT ARE UNMET BY EXISTING
 SERVICES AND INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO HOW THEY MAY BE ADDRESSED.
   (B) THE REPORT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON  THE
 NECESSITY  AND  FEASIBILITY  OF  IMPLEMENTING  A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE
 PROGRAM OF COORDINATED SERVICE FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISA-
 BILITIES. ONCE COMPLETED, THE COMMISSION SHALL PUBLISH  SUCH  REPORT  ON
 THE  DEPARTMENT'S  WEBSITE  AND  PROVIDE FOR A THIRTY-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT
 PERIOD PRIOR TO SUCH REPORT  BEING  DELIVERED  TO  THE  COMMISSIONER.  A
 SYNOPSIS OF THE COMMENTS SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT THAT IS SUBMIT-
 TED.
   UPON  THE  RECEIPT OF THE REPORT THE STATE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT A
 COPY OF THE REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE
 AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.