Assembly Bill A6503

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6503
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. DAIS -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Veterans' Affairs
 
 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to directing the
   department of veterans' services to establish and maintain, in consul-
   tation and collaboration with other state agencies, a searchable data-
   base of resources available in the state for veterans, members of  the
   uniformed services, and their families
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 4 of the  veterans'  services  law  is  amended  by
 adding a new subdivision 40 to read as follows:
   40.  (A)  TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN, IN CONSULTATION AND COLLABORATION
 WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE  OFFICE  OF
 MENTAL HEALTH, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES,
 THE  DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
 FINANCIAL SERVICES, A SEARCHABLE DATABASE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN  THE
 STATE  FOR  VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES, AND THEIR FAMI-
 LIES. SUCH DATABASE SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (1) GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AND CONTACT  INFORMATION  FOR  RESOURCES
 AVAILABLE  THROUGH  FEDERAL,  STATE,  AND  LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED  TO,  THOSE  RELATING  TO
 VETERANS' BENEFITS, HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, VETERAN-OWNED BUSI-
 NESSES,  SURVIVOR  BENEFITS,  SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT, PHYSICAL
 DISABILITIES, EDUCATIONAL AND JOB BENEFITS, TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS,
 HEALTH AND  MENTAL  HEALTH  REFERRALS,  REAL  PROPERTY  TAX  EXEMPTIONS,
 SUICIDE PREVENTION, AND PEER OUTREACH AND SUPPORT;
   (2) INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S MOBILE APPLICATION, ESTABLISHED
 UNDER SUBDIVISION TWENTY-ONE OF THIS SECTION; AND
   (3) LINKS TO THE DEPARTMENT'S SMALL BUSINESS PORTAL, ESTABLISHED UNDER
 SUBDIVISION  TWELVE  OF THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT'S VETERANS' EMPLOY-
 MENT PORTAL, ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBDIVISION THIRTEEN OF THIS SECTION, THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05777-01-5
              

 A. 6503                             2
 
 DEPARTMENT'S MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND  PHYSICAL  DISABILITIES
 PORTALS, ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBDIVISION TWENTY-SEVEN OF THIS SECTION, AND
 THE DEPARTMENT'S MILITARY SEXUAL TRAUMA PORTAL, ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBDI-
 VISION THIRTY-TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   (B)  THE  DATABASE  CREATED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE MADE
 AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE AND SHALL BE REVIEWED AND  UPDATED
 AT LEAST ANNUALLY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.  Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.