Senate Bill S8897

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8897
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
   ty and Military Affairs
 
 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
   veterans' services director
 
   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 DIRECTOR 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.
              

                                                            LBD14388-01-6
 S. 8897                             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 DIVISION'S WEBSITE AND PROVIDE FOR A THIRTY-DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERI-
 OD  PRIOR  TO SUCH REPORT BEING DELIVERED TO THE DIRECTOR. A SYNOPSIS OF
 THE COMMENTS SHALL BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT THAT IS SUBMITTED.
   UPON THE RECEIPT OF THE REPORT THE STATE DIRECTOR 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.