STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8391 IN SENATE May 4, 2018 ___________ Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- 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 executive law, in relation to establishing the New York state interagency coordinating council for service-disabled veterans, defining the powers and duties of the council and requiring an annual report by the council to the governor, the temporary presi- dent of the senate and the speaker of the assembly The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby recognizes that 2 New York state's veterans, particularly those who suffered service-re- 3 lated disabilities, have unique needs as a result of the sacrifices they 4 made during their military service. It is also hereby acknowledged by 5 the legislature that due to the complexity of their needs, such individ- 6 uals require accessible, coordinated, and specialized services within 7 their communities from multiple state and local agencies. The legisla- 8 ture finds that there is an immediate need for a statewide comprehensive 9 program to coordinate such services. 10 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 368-a to 11 read as follows: 12 § 368-a. New York state interagency coordinating council for service- 13 disabled veterans. There is hereby established the New York state inter- 14 agency coordinating council for service-disabled veterans in the execu- 15 tive department to have and exercise the functions, powers and duties 16 provided by the provisions of this section and any other provision of 17 law. 18 1. As used in this section the following terms shall mean: 19 (a) "council" means the New York state interagency coordinating coun- 20 cil for service-disabled veterans; 21 (b) "veteran" means a person, male or female, resident of this state, 22 who has served in the active military, naval, or air service of the 23 United States during a war in which the United States engaged and who EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00716-07-8S. 8391 2 1 has been released from such service otherwise than by dishonorable 2 discharge, or who has been furloughed to the reserve; and 3 (c) "service-disabled veteran" means a veteran with a disability that 4 was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, 5 naval, or air service. 6 2. The council shall consist of the following ten agency heads or 7 their designees: director of the division of veterans' affairs, who 8 shall serve as chair of the council, the adjutant general of the divi- 9 sion of military and naval affairs, the commissioner of the department 10 of health, the commissioner of the office of mental health, the commis- 11 sioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, the 12 commissioner of the department of labor, the commissioner of the divi- 13 sion of housing and community renewal, the commissioner of the education 14 department, the commissioner of the department of transportation, and 15 the director of the office for the aging. In addition, the council shall 16 consist of nine service-disabled veterans, three to be appointed by the 17 governor, two to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, 18 two to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one to be appointed 19 by the minority leader of the senate and one to be appointed by the 20 minority leader of the assembly. The members of the council shall serve 21 terms of two years; provided, however, that of the members first 22 appointed, the members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms 23 of three years and the remaining members, appointed by the legislative 24 leaders, shall serve for terms of two years. Members of the council 25 shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be allowed 26 their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their 27 functions hereunder. 28 3. The council shall have the following powers and duties: 29 (a) to promote the implementation of a comprehensive statewide program 30 of coordinated services for service-disabled veterans that includes: (1) 31 matters pertaining to educational training and retraining services and 32 facilities, (2) health, medical and rehabilitation services and facili- 33 ties, (3) employment and re-employment services including small business 34 opportunities, (4) housing options, (5) transportation options, (6) long 35 term care, (7) personal care, (8) day program services, (9) family 36 outreach and (10) other essential services that maximize existing 37 resources and administrative mechanisms; 38 (b) to disseminate general information about available services to 39 service-disabled veterans and how such services can be accessed. Such 40 information shall be posted on the division's website or be available in 41 printed form; 42 (c) to receive complaints in matters affecting service-disabled veter- 43 ans and to refer such complaints to the appropriate regulatory agencies 44 where it deems necessary or appropriate; and 45 (d) to conduct an ongoing evaluation of the needs of service-disabled 46 veterans. 47 4. The council shall meet as necessary to carry out its functions, 48 powers and duties, but such meetings shall occur at least once each 49 quarter. Furthermore, the council shall seek to consult with the network 50 directors of the veterans integrated service networks, VISN 2 and VISN 51 3. 52 5. The council shall provide a report to the governor, the temporary 53 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on or before 54 September first of each year, beginning in two thousand nineteen. Such 55 report shall summarize the council's activity during the previous fiscal 56 year and detailing legislative recommendations appropriate to effectuateS. 8391 3 1 the purposes of this section, and any other recommendations for improv- 2 ing service delivery and coordination, reducing duplication and fragmen- 3 tation and facilitating the most efficient use of existing resources. 4 Such report shall also include a proposed agenda consisting of specific 5 issues that the council plans to address during the current fiscal year. 6 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 7 have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the 8 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary 9 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized 10 and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.