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Senate Bill S4529

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Provides for legal assistance for military families

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

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2025-S4529 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A164
Current Committee:
Senate Rules
Law Section:
Military Law
Laws Affected:
Add §15-a, Mil L; amd §97-v, St Fin L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2021-2022: S5404, A8064
2023-2024: S6703, A549

2025-S4529 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides that the attorney general, in consultation with the adjutant general and the chair of the board of trustees of the New York interest on lawyer account fund, establish a military pro bono program to provide legal assistance without charge to those in active military service of the United States and those military personnel who have been deployed for active duty other than training, and their family members domiciled or stationed in the state; makes related provisions.

2025-S4529 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S4529 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4529
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on  Veterans,  Home-
   land Security and Military Affairs
 
 AN  ACT to amend the military law and the state finance law, in relation
   to legal assistance for military families

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The military law is amended by adding a new section 15-a to
 read as follows:
   § 15-A. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. 1. THE ATTORNEY GENER-
 AL SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADJUTANT GENERAL AND THE CHAIR OF THE
 BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  NEW  YORK INTEREST ON LAWYER ACCOUNT FUND,
 ESTABLISH A MILITARY PRO BONO PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE  WITH-
 OUT  CHARGE TO THOSE IN ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES AND
 THOSE MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED FOR  ACTIVE  DUTY  OTHER
 THAN  TRAINING,  AND  THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DOMICILED OR STATIONED IN THE
 STATE.
   2. THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY SUCH PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE, BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED  TO:  (A)  CIVIL  LAW;  (B) FAMILY LAW; (C) ESTATE PLANNING; (D)
 EMPLOYMENT LAW; (E) IMMIGRATION LAW; (F) DEBTOR-CREDITOR  LAW;  AND  (G)
 MILITARY ADMINISTRATIVE LAW.
   3.  THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  AND THE ADJUTANT GENERAL MAY APPLY FOR AND
 RECEIVE GRANTS, GIFTS, DONATIONS, BEQUESTS, OR  OTHER  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO
 SUPPORT  THE  MILITARY  PRO BONO PROGRAM AND SHALL DEPOSIT SUCH FUNDS IN
 THE NEW YORK INTEREST ON LAWYER ACCOUNT FUND, TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
 LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH C OF SUBDI-
 VISION THREE OF SECTION NINETY-SEVEN-V OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
   4. THE ADJUTANT  GENERAL  SHALL  ESTABLISH  A  MILITARY  FAMILY  LEGAL
 ASSISTANCE  ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATIVES
 FROM EACH OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICES ON MILITARY  INSTALLATIONS  IN
 THE  STATE,  THE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION'S COMMITTEE ON VETERANS,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00737-01-5

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