Bill Text: NY A06994 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Enacts the "New York veteran digital navigator program act"; requires the state commissioner of the department of veterans' services to establish a program to promote digital citizenship, through which the state commissioner shall award grants to eligible entities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to veterans' affairs [A06994 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A06994-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          6994

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                      May 10, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M. of A. RAGA -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Veterans' Affairs

        AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to enacting  the
          "New York veteran digital navigator program act of 2023"

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
     2  the "New York veteran digital navigator program act of 2023".
     3    §  2.  The  veterans'  services law is amended by adding a new section
     4  29-b to read as follows:
     5    § 29-b. New York veteran  digital  navigator  program.  1.  The  state
     6  commissioner  shall  establish a program to promote digital citizenship,
     7  through which the state commissioner  shall  award  grants  to  eligible
     8  entities  to  enable those eligible entities to carry out the activities
     9  described in subdivision three of this section.
    10    2. An eligible entity seeking a grant under the  program  required  by
    11  subdivision  one  of this section shall submit to the state commissioner
    12  an application therefor at such time, in  such  manner,  and  containing
    13  such  information as the state commissioner may require, including, at a
    14  minimum the following:
    15    (a) a description of the activities the  eligible  entity  intends  to
    16  carry out with the grant funds;
    17    (b) an estimate of the costs associated with such activities; and
    18    (c)  such  other  information and assurances as the state commissioner
    19  may require.
    20    3. An eligible entity shall use the amount of a  grant  awarded  under
    21  the program required by subdivision one of this section to carry out one
    22  or  more of the following activities to promote cybersecurity best prac-
    23  tices and increase digital literacy among veterans:
    24    (a) develop competencies in cybersecurity best practices; and
    25    (b) develop digital citizenship competencies by promoting veterans':

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10941-01-3
        A. 6994                             2

     1    (1) research and information fluency;
     2    (2) critical thinking and problem solving skills;
     3    (3) technology operations and concepts;
     4    (4) information and technological literacy;
     5    (5) concepts of digital representation and stereotyping;
     6    (6) understanding of explicit and implicit digital messages;
     7    (7)  understanding  of values and points of view that are included and
     8  excluded in digital content;
     9    (8) understanding of how  digital  content  may  influence  ideas  and
    10  behaviors;
    11    (9)  understanding how information on digital platforms can be altered
    12  through algorithms, editing, and augmented reality;
    13    (10) ability to create  digital  content  in  civically  and  socially
    14  responsible ways; and
    15    (11)  understanding of influence campaigns conducted by foreign adver-
    16  saries and the tactics employed by foreign  adversaries  for  conducting
    17  influence campaigns.
    18    4.  (a) Each recipient of a grant under the program required by subdi-
    19  vision one of this section shall, not later than one year after the date
    20  on which the recipient first  receives  funds  pursuant  to  the  grant,
    21  submit  to the state commissioner a report describing the activities the
    22  recipient carried out using grant funds and the effectiveness  of  those
    23  activities.
    24    (b)  Not  later  than  ninety  days  after the date on which the state
    25  commissioner receives the last report the state commissioner expects  to
    26  receive  under paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the state commissioner
    27  shall submit to the  legislature  a  report  describing  the  activities
    28  carried  out  under  this  section and the effectiveness of those activ-
    29  ities.
    30    5. The state commissioner shall:
    31    (a) establish and maintain a list of eligible entities that receive  a
    32  grant under the program required by subdivision one of this section, and
    33  individuals designated by those eligible entities as participating indi-
    34  viduals; and
    35    (b)  make  that  list available to those eligible entities and partic-
    36  ipating individuals  in  order  to  promote  communication  and  further
    37  exchange  of  information  regarding sound digital citizenship practices
    38  among recipients of grants under the program required by subdivision one
    39  of this section.
    40    6. For the purposes of this section:
    41    (a) "cybersecurity best practices"  means  practices  and  steps  that
    42  users of computers and other internet connected devices take to maintain
    43  and  improve online security, maintain the proper functioning of comput-
    44  ers devices, and protect computers and  devices  from  cyberattacks  and
    45  unauthorized use;
    46    (b) "digital citizenship" means the ability to:
    47    (1)  safely, responsibly, and ethically use communication technologies
    48  and digital information technology tools and platforms;
    49    (2) create and share media content  using  principles  of  social  and
    50  civic  responsibility and with awareness of the legal and ethical issues
    51  involved; and
    52    (3) participate in  the  political,  economic,  social,  and  cultural
    53  aspects  of  life related to technology, communications, and the digital
    54  world by consuming and creating digital content, including media;
    55    (c) "eligible entity" means:
        A. 6994                             3

     1    (1) a civil society organization, including community groups,  nongov-
     2  ernmental  organizations,  nonprofit organizations, labor organizations,
     3  indigenous groups, charitable organizations, professional  associations,
     4  and foundations; and
     5    (2) congressionally chartered veterans' service organizations.
     6    § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
     7  it shall have become a law.