Assembly Bill A9258

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9258
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             November 21, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Veterans' Affairs
 
 AN  ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to establishing
   a veterans' dental insurance coverage program; and making an appropri-
   ation therefor
 
   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 25-a to read as follows:
   § 25-A. VETERANS' DENTAL INSURANCE COVERAGE PROGRAM.  1.  THE  COMMIS-
 SIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A VETERANS' DENTAL INSURANCE COVERAGE PROGRAM, IN
 CONSULTATION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER OF CIVIL SERVICE, WITHIN THE STATE
 EMPLOYEE DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE
 AND ROUTINE DENTAL CARE SERVICES TO NEW YORK STATE RESIDENT VETERANS  AS
 SUCH TERM IS DEFINED IN THIS ARTICLE.
   2.  ELIGIBILITY  UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE GRANTED TO ANY PERSON
 WHO AT THE TIME AN APPLICATION IS MADE IS RECEIVING EQUIVALENT OR BETTER
 COVERAGE FROM ANY OTHER PUBLIC OR PRIVATE THIRD PARTY PAYMENT SOURCE  OR
 INSURANCE PLAN THAN THOSE BENEFITS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS SECTION.
   3.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  ESTABLISH A SLIDING SCALE FOR COPAYMENTS
 WHICH SHALL BE BASED ON INCOME AND  DISABILITY  LEVEL  OF  THE  VETERAN.
 VETERANS WITH A DISABILITY RATING OF BETWEEN TEN AND FIFTY PERCENT SHALL
 BE  SUBJECT TO COPAYMENT AMOUNTS AS SET BY THE DIRECTOR BASED ON INCOME.
 VETERANS WITH A DISABILITY RATING OF FIFTY PERCENT OR HIGHER  SHALL  NOT
 BE SUBJECT TO COPAYMENTS FOR TREATMENT OR SERVICES UNDER THIS PROGRAM.
   4. PROGRAM REGULATIONS SHALL:
   (A)  PROVIDE FOR A PROCESS OF DETERMINING AND RE-DETERMINING ELIGIBIL-
 ITY  FOR  PARTICIPATION  IN  THIS  PROGRAM  INCLUDING   PROVISIONS   FOR
 SUBMISSION  OF  PROOF  OF  VETERAN STATUS, RESIDENCY, INCOME, DISABILITY
 RATING AND INFORMATION ON  EXISTING  COMPLETE  OR  PARTIAL  COVERAGE  OF
 DENTAL EXPENSES UNDER A THIRD PARTY ASSISTANCE OR INSURANCE PLAN;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07059-01-5
              

 A. 9258                             2
 
   (B) PROVIDE FOR A FAIR HEARING PROCESS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND PARTICIPAT-
 ING DENTISTS TO APPEAL DETERMINATIONS OR ACTIONS OF THE CONTRACTORS; AND
   (C)  ESTABLISH  PROCEDURES FOR THE STATE TO RECOVER THE VALUE OF BENE-
 FITS OR PAYMENTS MADE UNDER THIS SECTION, IF ANY,  THAT  WERE  BASED  ON
 APPLICATIONS  OR  CLAIMS SUBMITTED IN VIOLATION OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS
 SECTION.
   § 2. The sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000), or so much  thereof
 as  may  be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of civil
 service out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general  fund  to
 the  credit of the local assistance account, not otherwise appropriated,
 and made immediately available, for the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the
 provisions  of  this  act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and
 warrant of the comptroller on vouchers  certified  or  approved  by  the
 president of the department of civil service in the manner prescribed by
 law.
   § 3. 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.