S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4751--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. RAJKUMAR -- 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  the  employ-
   ment of veterans with disabilities

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 13 of section 4 of the veterans'  services  law
 is amended to read as follows:
   13.  To  provide information regarding resources that are available to
 assist veterans in  obtaining  employment  by  maintaining  a  veterans'
 employment  portal  on  the  department's  internet website. Such portal
 shall provide virtual links to appropriate governmental programs on  the
 federal and state level, including, but not limited to the United States
 department  of  labor [and], the New York state department of labor, AND
 THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL  SERVICE.    The  department  may
 consult with members of the community devoted to helping veterans obtain
 employment.  The  department  shall  make  reference to this information
 pursuant to subdivisions five, six, and seven of this  section  and  the
 annual  report to the governor and the legislature as provided in subdi-
 vision seventeen of this section. Such information required  under  this
 subdivision  shall  be  maintained and updated annually. The information
 may also be made available in printed form.
   § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 13 of the  veterans'  services  law,  as
 amended  by  chapter  445  of  the  laws  of 2024, is amended to read as
 follows:
   1. A state veterans' service  agency  established  by  the  department
 pursuant  to  this  article shall have power and it shall be its duty to
 inform military and naval authorities of the United  States  and  assist
 members  of  the  uniformed  services and veterans, who are residents of
 this state, and their families, in relation to (1) matters pertaining to
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06441-02-5
              

 A. 4751--A                          2
 
 educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health,
 medical and rehabilitation services and facilities,  (3)  provisions  of
 federal,  state  and local laws and regulations affording special rights
 and  privileges  to  members  of the uniformed services and veterans and
 their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, INCLUDING THE
 EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM  UNDER  SECTION  FIFTY-
 FIVE-C  OF  THE  CIVIL  SERVICE  LAW,  and (5) other matters of similar,
 related or appropriate nature. The state veterans' service  agency  also
 shall  perform such other duties as may be assigned by the state commis-
 sioner.
   § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 15 of the  veterans'  services  law,  as
 amended  by  chapter  445  of  the  laws  of 2024, is amended to read as
 follows:
   1. A local veterans' service agency shall have power under the  direc-
 tion  of the state veterans' service agency, and it shall be its duty to
 inform military and naval authorities of the United  States  and  assist
 members  of  the  uniformed  services and veterans, who are residents of
 this state, and their families, in relation to (1) matters pertaining to
 educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health,
 medical and rehabilitation services and facilities,  (3)  provisions  of
 federal,  state  and local laws and regulations affording special rights
 and privileges to members of the uniformed  services  and  veterans  and
 their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, INCLUDING THE
 EMPLOYMENT  OF  VETERANS  WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM UNDER SECTION FIFTY-
 FIVE-C OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW, (5) the process of submitting an appli-
 cation for a discharge upgrade to the discharge upgrade advisory  board,
 and  (6)  other  matters of similar, related or appropriate nature.  The
 local veterans' service agency may also assist families  of  members  of
 the reserve components of the uniformed services and the organized mili-
 tia  ordered  into active duty to ensure that they are made aware of and
 are receiving all appropriate support available to them and  are  placed
 in  contact  with  the agencies responsible for such support, including,
 but not limited to, the division of military and naval affairs and other
 state agencies responsible for providing such support.  The local veter-
 ans' service agency also shall perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be
 assigned by the state commissioner.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.