S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  4914

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               May 1, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  BALL  --  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 education law, the judiciary law, the general  busi-
  ness  law,  the  vehicle  and  traffic law, the public health law, the
  county law and the general city law,  in  relation  to  licensure  and
  certification for military training

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  Section 6505-c of the education law is amended  by  adding
three new subdivisions 5, 6 and 7 to read as follows:
  5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY,
A  COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL INSTITUTION OR OTHER APPROVED PROGRAM THAT ISSUES
LICENSES OR CERTIFICATES FOR WHICH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING,  SCHOOLING  OR
APPRENTICESHIP  IS  REQUIRED  SHALL  PROVIDE  CREDITS OR EXEMPTIONS FROM
REQUIREMENTS TOWARD LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION FOR ANY APPLICANT  TO  AN
APPROVED PROGRAM WHO HAS RECEIVED TRAINING WHICH APPEARS ON SUCH LISTS.
  6. AN APPLICANT TO A COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL INSTITUTION OR OTHER APPROVED
PROGRAM  SHALL  NOT  BE REQUIRED TO REPEAT ANY TRAINING WHICH APPEARS ON
SUCH LISTS IN ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR  LICENSURE  OR  CERTIF-
ICATION.  CREDITS  OR  EXEMPTIONS  FROM  REQUIREMENTS TOWARD LICENSES OR
CERTIFICATES AWARDED BY A COLLEGE SHALL BE GRANTED IN A MANNER  CONSIST-
ENT  WITH  (A)  GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCA-
TION, (B) THE CONSTITUENT  UNITS'  TRANSFER  CREDIT  POLICIES,  AND  (C)
SECTIONS 21.4253 AND 21.4254 OF TITLE THIRTY-EIGHT OF THE CODE OF FEDER-
AL REGULATIONS.
  7.  FOR  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "COLLEGE", "VOCATIONAL INSTITUTION"
AND "APPROVED PROGRAM" SHALL HAVE THE SAME  MEANINGS  AS  SET  FORTH  IN
SUBDIVISIONS  TWO,  THREE  AND  FOUR  OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED ONE OF THIS
CHAPTER, RESPECTIVELY.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10497-01-3

              

S. 4914                             2

  S 2. Section 6501 of the education law, as amended by  chapter  81  of
the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  S  6501. Admission to a profession (licensing).  Admission to practice
of a profession in this state is accomplished by a license being  issued
to  a qualified applicant by the education department.  To qualify for a
license an applicant shall meet the requirements prescribed in the arti-
cle for the  particular  profession  and  shall  meet  the  requirements
prescribed  in  section  3-503  of the general obligations law; PROVIDED
THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY,  ANY  APPLI-
CANT WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL
GUARD OR RESERVES MAY SUBMIT SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF LICENSURE TO PRAC-
TICE  AN  EQUIVALENT  OCCUPATION  ISSUED  BY ANY OTHER STATE, TERRITORY,
PROTECTORATE OR DEPENDENCY OF THE  UNITED  STATES,  OR  OF  PROFESSIONAL
TRAINING  AND PRACTICE IN THE  ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES IN LIEU
OF THE SUBMISSIONS REQUIRED BY THE  ARTICLE  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  FOR  THE
PARTICULAR  PROFESSION, PROVIDED THAT SUCH LICENSE WAS GRANTED OR TRAIN-
ING AND PRACTICE CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS WHICH  WERE,  IN
THE  JUDGMENT  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  REGENTS, NOT LOWER THAN THOSE OF THIS
STATE.
  S 3. The judiciary law is amended by adding a  new  section  464-a  to
read as follows:
  S  464-A.  ADMISSION ON MOTION; MILITARY TRAINING. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY APPLICANT FOR ADMISSION ON  MOTION
WHO  WAS  A  MEMBER  OF  THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL
GUARD OR RESERVES MAY SUBMIT SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF LICENSURE TO PRAC-
TICE AS AN ATTORNEY IN  ANY  OTHER  STATE,  TERRITORY,  PROTECTORATE  OR
DEPENDENCY  OF  THE UNITED STATES, OR OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND PRAC-
TICE, IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES  IN  LIEU  OF  ANY  OTHER
SUBMISSIONS  REQUIRED  BY  THE  RULES  OF  THE COURT, PROVIDED THAT SUCH
LICENSE OR TRAINING AND PRACTICE WAS CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH STAND-
ARDS WHICH WERE IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS, NOT LOWER  THAN
THOSE OF THIS STATE.
  S  4.  The general business law is amended by adding a new article 2-A
to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 2-A
                        ADMISSION TO A PROFESSION
SECTION 20. ADMISSION  TO  A  PROFESSION;  LICENSING,  CERTIFICATION  OR
              REGISTRATION.
  S 20. ADMISSION TO A PROFESSION; LICENSING, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRA-
TION.  ADMISSION TO PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION GOVERNED BY THIS CHAPTER IN
THIS  STATE IS ACCOMPLISHED, WHERE REQUIRED, BY A LICENSE, CERTIFICATION
OR CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION BEING ISSUED TO A QUALIFIED APPLICANT  BY
THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE.  TO  QUALIFY  FOR A LICENSE, CERTIFICATION OR
CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AN APPLICANT  SHALL  MEET  THE  REQUIREMENTS
PRESCRIBED  IN  THE ARTICLE FOR THE PARTICULAR PROFESSION AND SHALL MEET
THE REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 3-503 OF THE GENERAL  OBLIGATIONS
LAW;  PROVIDED  THAT,  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  PROVISION OF THE LAW TO THE
CONTRARY, ANY APPLICANT WHO WAS A MEMBER OF  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE
UNITED  STATES,  NATIONAL  GUARD  OR  RESERVES  MAY  SUBMIT SATISFACTORY
EVIDENCE OF LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION  OR  REGISTRATION  TO  PRACTICE  AN
EQUIVALENT OCCUPATION ISSUED BY ANY OTHER STATE, TERRITORY, PROTECTORATE
OR  DEPENDENCY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, OR OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND
PRACTICE IN THE ARMED FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  IN  LIEU  OF  THE
SUBMISSIONS  REQUIRED  BY THE ARTICLE OF THIS CHAPTER FOR THE PARTICULAR
PROFESSION, PROVIDED THAT SUCH LICENSE, CERTIFICATION OR CERTIFICATE  OF
REGISTRATION  WAS  GRANTED OR TRAINING AND PRACTICE CONDUCTED IN COMPLI-

S. 4914                             3

ANCE WITH STANDARDS WHICH WERE, IN THE JUDGMENT OF  THE  SECRETARY,  NOT
LOWER THAN THOSE OF THIS STATE.
  S  5. Subdivision (c) of section 304-a of the vehicle and traffic law,
as added by chapter 61 of the laws  of  1989,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (c) The commissioner may, by regulation, establish standards of compe-
tency  and fitness for certification as an inspector; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
THAT ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER OF  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED
STATES,  NATIONAL  GUARD  OR  RESERVES  AND WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND
PRACTICE ACQUIRED THE SKILLS OF  A  MOTOR  VEHICLE  INSPECTOR  SHALL  BE
CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS AN INSPECTOR.
  S 6. Section 398-d of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
  8.  EVERY  PERSON  WHO  WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED
STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND  WHO  BY  MILITARY  TRAINING  AND
PRACTICE ACQUIRES THE SKILLS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE MECHANIC SHALL BE DEEMED
TO  BE  QUALIFIED  TO  PERFORM WORK UPON MOTOR VEHICLES AT MOTOR VEHICLE
REPAIR SHOPS.
  S 7. Subdivision 2 of section  3002  of  the  public  health  law,  as
amended  by  chapter  580  of  the  laws  of 2007, is amended to read as
follows:
  2. The state council shall have the power, by an affirmative vote of a
majority of those present, subject to approval by the  commissioner,  to
enact,  and  from  time to time, amend and repeal, rules and regulations
establishing minimum standards for ambulance services, ambulance service
certification,  advanced  life  support  first  response  services,  the
provision  of  prehospital emergency medical care, public education, the
development of  a  statewide  emergency  medical  services  system,  the
provision  of ambulance services outside the primary territory specified
in the ambulance services' certificate and  the  training,  examination,
and certification of certified first responders, emergency medical tech-
nicians,  and advanced emergency medical technicians; provided, however,
that such minimum standards must be consistent with the staffing  stand-
ards  established by section three thousand five-a of this article. Such
training shall be made available by video or  computer  to  the  maximum
extent possible. [Until January first, nineteen hundred ninety-seven, no
minimum standards shall be established for services provided by a volun-
tary  ambulance  service  operating  solely  pursuant  to a statement of
registration issued under section three thousand four.]  The  curriculum
for  certified first responder training shall not exceed fifty-one hours
including prerequisites. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY  OTHER  PROVISION  OF  THIS
ARTICLE TO THE CONTRARY, ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND WHO BY MILITARY
TRAINING AND PRACTICE WAS A MEDIC OR CORPSMAN SHALL BE CERTIFIED,  WITH-
OUT  EXAMINATION,  BY THE STATE COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AS A FIRST
RESPONDER OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. The state council shall  have
the  same  powers  granted  to  regional councils by this article in any
region of the state in which a regional  council  has  not  been  estab-
lished.
  S  8.  Subdivision 1 of section 236-a of the county law, as amended by
chapter 343 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
  1. Notwithstanding the provisions of the general city law or any other
law to the contrary, the counties of Dutchess and Westchester  are  each
hereby  authorized  to  establish a county board of examiners for master
electricians and to empower such board to assume  all  licensing  duties
within each such county with respect to the licensure of master electri-

S. 4914                             4

cians.    PROVIDED,  THAT SUCH COUNTIES SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING,
WITHOUT EXAMINATION, AS A MASTER ELECTRICIAN OF ANY  PERSON  WHO  WAS  A
MEMBER  OF  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR
RESERVES  AND  WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND PRACTICE ACQUIRED THE SKILLS
OF AN ELECTRICIAN.  The  counties  of  Dutchess  and  Westchester  shall
provide  for master electrician's duties and responsibilities in accord-
ance with the local law of each such county.
  S 9. Section 45 of the general city law is amended to read as follows:
  S 45. Examinations; conducting business without certificate  prohibit-
ed.  A  person  desiring  or intending to conduct the trade, business or
calling of a plumber or of plumbing in a city of this state as employing
or master plumber, shall be required to submit to an examination  before
such examining board of plumbers as to his experience and qualifications
for  such  trade, business or calling, and it shall not be lawful in any
city of this state for a person to conduct such trade, business or call-
ing, unless he shall have first obtained  a  certificate  of  competency
from  such board of the city in which he conducts or proposes to conduct
such business.  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY PERSON WHO WAS A  MEMBER  OF
THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND
WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND PRACTICE ACQUIRED THE SKILLS OF  A  PLUMBER
SHALL BE CERTIFIED AS COMPETENT WITHOUT EXAMINATION.
  S 10. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that, effec-
tive  immediately,  any rules and regulations necessary to implement the
provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed
to be amended, added and/or repealed on or before such date.

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 4914--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               May 1, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  BALL  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
  ty and Military Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the education law,  in  relation  to  granting  academic
  credit  at  state operated institutions of the state university of New
  York and the senior colleges of the city university  of  New  York  to
  veterans;  and  to  amend  the  education  law, the judiciary law, the
  general business law, the vehicle and traffic law, the  public  health
  law, the county law and the general city law, in relation to licensure
  and certification for military training

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  The education law is amended by adding a new section 669-e
to read as follows:
  S 669-E. COURSE CREDIT FOR VETERANS. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS  SECTION,
THE  TERM  "VETERAN"  MEANS  A  PERSON, MALE OR FEMALE, RESIDENT OF THIS
STATE, WHO HAS SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY OR  NAVAL  SERVICE  OF  THE
UNITED  STATES  DURING  A WAR IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES ENGAGED AND WHO
HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH SERVICE BY ANY MEANS OTHER THAN BY DISHONOR-
ABLE DISCHARGE, OR WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED TO THE RESERVE.
  2. EVERY VETERAN WHO IS ENROLLED ON A FULL-TIME BASIS AS AN UNDERGRAD-
UATE STUDENT IN GOOD  STANDING,  AT  AN  INSTITUTION  WITHIN  THE  STATE
UNIVERSITY  SYSTEM, SHALL UPON APPLICATION BE GRANTED UP TO SIX ACADEMIC
CREDITS PER YEAR AND SIXTY CREDITS IN THE AGGREGATE TOWARDS HIS  OR  HER
DEGREE  FOR COMPLETION OF COURSES THAT WERE PART OF SUCH VETERAN'S MILI-
TARY TRAINING OR SERVICE IF THE COMPLETED COURSES MEET THE STANDARDS  OF
THE  AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION OR ITS EQUIVALENT FOR THE AWARDING OF
ACADEMIC CREDITS. NO FEE, TUITION OR  OTHER  CHARGE  SHALL  BE  ASSESSED
AGAINST  A  VETERAN  WHO  QUALIFIES  FOR  SUCH  CREDIT  PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10497-02-3
              

S. 4914--A                          2

  3. THE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY UNIVER-
SITY OF NEW YORK SHALL ADOPT SUCH PROCEDURES AS ARE NECESSARY  TO  FULLY
IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
  S  2.  Section  6505-c of the education law is amended by adding three
new subdivisions 5, 6 and 7 to read as follows:
  5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY,
A COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL INSTITUTION OR OTHER APPROVED PROGRAM THAT  ISSUES
LICENSES  OR  CERTIFICATES FOR WHICH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING, SCHOOLING OR
APPRENTICESHIP IS REQUIRED SHALL  PROVIDE  CREDITS  OR  EXEMPTIONS  FROM
REQUIREMENTS  TOWARD  LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION FOR ANY APPLICANT TO AN
APPROVED PROGRAM WHO HAS RECEIVED TRAINING WHICH APPEARS ON SUCH LISTS.
  6. AN APPLICANT TO A COLLEGE, VOCATIONAL INSTITUTION OR OTHER APPROVED
PROGRAM SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO REPEAT ANY TRAINING  WHICH  APPEARS  ON
SUCH  LISTS  IN  ORDER TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE OR CERTIF-
ICATION. CREDITS OR EXEMPTIONS  FROM  REQUIREMENTS  TOWARD  LICENSES  OR
CERTIFICATES  AWARDED BY A COLLEGE SHALL BE GRANTED IN A MANNER CONSIST-
ENT WITH (A) GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED BY THE AMERICAN  COUNCIL  ON  EDUCA-
TION,  (B)  THE  CONSTITUENT  UNITS'  TRANSFER  CREDIT POLICIES, AND (C)
SECTIONS 21.4253 AND 21.4254 OF TITLE THIRTY-EIGHT OF THE CODE OF FEDER-
AL REGULATIONS.
  7. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "COLLEGE",  "VOCATIONAL  INSTITUTION"
AND  "APPROVED  PROGRAM"  SHALL  HAVE  THE SAME MEANINGS AS SET FORTH IN
SUBDIVISIONS TWO, THREE AND FOUR OF SECTION  SIX  HUNDRED  ONE  OF  THIS
CHAPTER, RESPECTIVELY.
  S  3.  Section  6501 of the education law, as amended by chapter 81 of
the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
  S 6501. Admission to a profession (licensing).  Admission to  practice
of  a profession in this state is accomplished by a license being issued
to a qualified applicant by the education department.  To qualify for  a
license an applicant shall meet the requirements prescribed in the arti-
cle  for  the  particular  profession  and  shall  meet the requirements
prescribed in section 3-503 of the  general  obligations  law;  PROVIDED
THAT,  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY APPLI-
CANT WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL
GUARD OR RESERVES MAY SUBMIT SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF LICENSURE TO PRAC-
TICE AN EQUIVALENT OCCUPATION ISSUED  BY  ANY  OTHER  STATE,  TERRITORY,
PROTECTORATE  OR  DEPENDENCY  OF  THE  UNITED STATES, OR OF PROFESSIONAL
TRAINING AND PRACTICE IN THE  ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES IN  LIEU
OF  THE  SUBMISSIONS  REQUIRED  BY  THE  ARTICLE OF THIS CHAPTER FOR THE
PARTICULAR PROFESSION, PROVIDED THAT SUCH LICENSE WAS GRANTED OR  TRAIN-
ING  AND  PRACTICE CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH STANDARDS WHICH WERE, IN
THE JUDGMENT OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS,  NOT  LOWER  THAN  THOSE  OF  THIS
STATE.
  S  4.  The  judiciary  law is amended by adding a new section 464-a to
read as follows:
  S 464-A. ADMISSION ON MOTION; MILITARY TRAINING.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
PROVISION  OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ANY APPLICANT FOR ADMISSION ON MOTION
WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  NATIONAL
GUARD OR RESERVES MAY SUBMIT SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF LICENSURE TO PRAC-
TICE  AS  AN  ATTORNEY  IN  ANY  OTHER STATE, TERRITORY, PROTECTORATE OR
DEPENDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES, OR OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING  AND  PRAC-
TICE,  IN  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF THE UNITED STATES IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER
SUBMISSIONS REQUIRED BY THE RULES  OF  THE  COURT,  PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH
LICENSE OR TRAINING AND PRACTICE WAS CONDUCTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH STAND-
ARDS  WHICH WERE IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF APPEALS, NOT LOWER THAN
THOSE OF THIS STATE.

S. 4914--A                          3

  S 5. The general business law is amended by adding a new  article  2-A
to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 2-A
                        ADMISSION TO A PROFESSION
SECTION 20. ADMISSION  TO  A  PROFESSION;  LICENSING,  CERTIFICATION  OR
              REGISTRATION.
  S 20. ADMISSION TO A PROFESSION; LICENSING, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRA-
TION.  ADMISSION TO PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION GOVERNED BY THIS CHAPTER IN
THIS STATE IS ACCOMPLISHED, WHERE REQUIRED, BY A LICENSE,  CERTIFICATION
OR  CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION BEING ISSUED TO A QUALIFIED APPLICANT BY
THE SECRETARY OF STATE. TO  QUALIFY  FOR  A  LICENSE,  CERTIFICATION  OR
CERTIFICATE  OF  REGISTRATION  AN  APPLICANT SHALL MEET THE REQUIREMENTS
PRESCRIBED IN THE ARTICLE FOR THE PARTICULAR PROFESSION AND  SHALL  MEET
THE  REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SECTION 3-503 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS
LAW; PROVIDED THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION  OF  THE  LAW  TO  THE
CONTRARY,  ANY  APPLICANT  WHO  WAS  A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE
UNITED STATES,  NATIONAL  GUARD  OR  RESERVES  MAY  SUBMIT  SATISFACTORY
EVIDENCE  OF  LICENSURE,  CERTIFICATION  OR  REGISTRATION TO PRACTICE AN
EQUIVALENT OCCUPATION ISSUED BY ANY OTHER STATE, TERRITORY, PROTECTORATE
OR DEPENDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES,  OR  OF  PROFESSIONAL  TRAINING  AND
PRACTICE  IN  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES IN LIEU OF THE
SUBMISSIONS REQUIRED BY THE ARTICLE OF THIS CHAPTER FOR  THE  PARTICULAR
PROFESSION,  PROVIDED THAT SUCH LICENSE, CERTIFICATION OR CERTIFICATE OF
REGISTRATION WAS GRANTED OR TRAINING AND PRACTICE CONDUCTED  IN  COMPLI-
ANCE  WITH  STANDARDS  WHICH WERE, IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE SECRETARY, NOT
LOWER THAN THOSE OF THIS STATE.
  S 6. Subdivision (c) of section 304-a of the vehicle and traffic  law,
as  added  by  chapter  61  of  the  laws of 1989, is amended to read as
follows:
  (c) The commissioner may, by regulation, establish standards of compe-
tency and fitness for certification as an inspector; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
THAT  ANY  PERSON  WHO  WAS  A  MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED
STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND  WHO  BY  MILITARY  TRAINING  AND
PRACTICE  ACQUIRED  THE  SKILLS  OF  A  MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTOR SHALL BE
CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS AN INSPECTOR.
  S 7. Section 398-d of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
  8. EVERY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED
STATES,  NATIONAL  GUARD  OR  RESERVES  AND WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND
PRACTICE ACQUIRES THE SKILLS OF A MOTOR VEHICLE MECHANIC SHALL BE DEEMED
TO BE QUALIFIED TO PERFORM WORK UPON MOTOR  VEHICLES  AT  MOTOR  VEHICLE
REPAIR SHOPS.
  S  8.  Subdivision  2  of  section  3002  of the public health law, as
amended by chapter 580 of the laws  of  2007,  is  amended  to  read  as
follows:
  2. The state council shall have the power, by an affirmative vote of a
majority  of  those present, subject to approval by the commissioner, to
enact, and from time to time, amend and repeal,  rules  and  regulations
establishing minimum standards for ambulance services, ambulance service
certification,  advanced  life  support  first  response  services,  the
provision of prehospital emergency medical care, public  education,  the
development  of  a  statewide  emergency  medical  services  system, the
provision of ambulance services outside the primary territory  specified
in  the  ambulance  services' certificate and the training, examination,
and certification of certified first responders, emergency medical tech-
nicians, and advanced emergency medical technicians; provided,  however,

S. 4914--A                          4

that  such minimum standards must be consistent with the staffing stand-
ards established by section three thousand five-a of this article.  Such
training  shall  be  made  available by video or computer to the maximum
extent possible. [Until January first, nineteen hundred ninety-seven, no
minimum standards shall be established for services provided by a volun-
tary  ambulance  service  operating  solely  pursuant  to a statement of
registration issued under section three thousand four.]  The  curriculum
for  certified first responder training shall not exceed fifty-one hours
including prerequisites. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY  OTHER  PROVISION  OF  THIS
ARTICLE TO THE CONTRARY, ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND WHO BY MILITARY
TRAINING AND PRACTICE WAS A MEDIC OR CORPSMAN SHALL BE CERTIFIED,  WITH-
OUT  EXAMINATION,  BY THE STATE COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AS A FIRST
RESPONDER OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. The state council shall  have
the  same  powers  granted  to  regional councils by this article in any
region of the state in which a regional  council  has  not  been  estab-
lished.
  S  9.  Subdivision 1 of section 236-a of the county law, as amended by
chapter 343 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
  1. Notwithstanding the provisions of the general city law or any other
law to the contrary, the counties of Dutchess and Westchester  are  each
hereby  authorized  to  establish a county board of examiners for master
electricians and to empower such board to assume  all  licensing  duties
within each such county with respect to the licensure of master electri-
cians.    PROVIDED,  THAT SUCH COUNTIES SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING,
WITHOUT EXAMINATION, AS A MASTER ELECTRICIAN OF ANY  PERSON  WHO  WAS  A
MEMBER  OF  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR
RESERVES AND WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND PRACTICE ACQUIRED  THE  SKILLS
OF  AN  ELECTRICIAN.  The  counties  of  Dutchess  and Westchester shall
provide for master electrician's duties and responsibilities in  accord-
ance with the local law of each such county.
  S  10.  Section  45  of  the  general  city  law is amended to read as
follows:
  S 45. Examinations; conducting business without certificate  prohibit-
ed.  A  person  desiring  or intending to conduct the trade, business or
calling of a plumber or of plumbing in a city of this state as employing
or master plumber, shall be required to submit to an examination  before
such examining board of plumbers as to his experience and qualifications
for  such  trade, business or calling, and it shall not be lawful in any
city of this state for a person to conduct such trade, business or call-
ing, unless he shall have first obtained  a  certificate  of  competency
from  such board of the city in which he conducts or proposes to conduct
such business.  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY PERSON WHO WAS A  MEMBER  OF
THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND
WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND PRACTICE ACQUIRED THE SKILLS OF  A  PLUMBER
SHALL BE CERTIFIED AS COMPETENT WITHOUT EXAMINATION.
  S 11. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing  the  date  on which it shall have become a law, except that section
one of this act shall take effect on the first of July  next  succeeding
the  date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that, effective
immediately, any  rules  and  regulations  necessary  to  implement  the
provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed
to be amended, added and/or repealed on or before such date.

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 4914--B
    Cal. No. 934

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               May 1, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  BALL, ADDABBO, AVELLA, CARLUCCI, GRISANTI, LANZA,
  MAZIARZ, NOZZOLIO, SAMPSON, SEWARD -- read twice and ordered  printed,
  and  when  printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Home-
  land Security and  Military  Affairs  --  committee  discharged,  bill
  amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
  tee -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered  to  first  and
  second  report,  ordered  to  a  third  reading,  amended  and ordered
  reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading

AN ACT to amend the education law, in  relation  to  course  credit  for
  veterans;  to  articulation between military and civilian professional
  careers; to application for admission to practice of a profession by a
  veteran or a veteran's spouse; to amend the general business  law,  in
  relation to licensing, certification and registration for veterans and
  veteran's  spouses; to amend  the vehicle and traffic law, in relation
  to providing motor vehicle inspector certification and mechanic quali-
  fications; to amend the public health  law,  in  relation  to  certif-
  ication  of  responder  or emergency medical technicians; to amend the
  county law, in relation to licensure of master  electricians;  and  to
  amend the general city law, in relation to plumber certification

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section  669-e
to read as follows:
  S  669-E. COURSE CREDIT FOR VETERANS. 1. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,
THE TERM "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON, MALE  OR  FEMALE,  RESIDENT  OF  THIS
STATE,  WHO  HAS  SERVED  IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY OR NAVAL SERVICE OF THE
UNITED STATES DURING A WAR IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES  WAS  ENGAGED  AND
WHO  HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH SERVICE BY ANY MEANS OF AN HONORABLE OR
GENERAL DISCHARGE, OR WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED TO THE RESERVE.
  2. EVERY VETERAN WHO IS ENROLLED ON A FULL-TIME BASIS AS AN UNDERGRAD-
UATE STUDENT IN GOOD  STANDING,  AT  AN  INSTITUTION  WITHIN  THE  STATE

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD10497-04-3

S. 4914--B                          2

UNIVERSITY  SYSTEM,  SHALL UPON APPLICATION AND APPROVAL OF THE CHANCEL-
LOR, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, BE GRANTED UP TO SIX ACADEMIC  CREDITS  PER
SEMESTER  TOWARDS  HIS OR HER DEGREE FOR COMPLETION OF COURSES THAT WERE
PART OF SUCH VETERAN'S MILITARY TRAINING OR SERVICE.  IN DETERMINING THE
APPROVAL  OF  SUCH  VETERAN'S APPLICATION, THE CHANCELLOR, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE, SHALL CONSIDER THE STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCA-
TION. NO FEE, TUITION OR OTHER CHARGE SHALL BE ASSESSED AGAINST A VETER-
AN WHO QUALIFIES FOR SUCH CREDIT PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
  3. THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK  MAY  PROMULGATE
RULES AND REGULATIONS AS ARE NECESSARY TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS  SECTION.
  S  2.  Section 6505-c of the education law, as added by chapter 106 of
the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
  S 6505-c. Articulation  between  military  and  civilian  professional
careers. 1. The commissioner shall develop, jointly with the director of
the  division of veterans' affairs, a program to facilitate articulation
between participation in the military service of the  United  States  or
the military service of the state and admission to practice of a profes-
sion. The commissioner and the director shall identify, review and eval-
uate  professional training programs offered through either the military
service of the United States or the military service of the state  which
may,  where  applicable,  be  accepted  by  the department as equivalent
education and training in lieu of all or part of  an  approved  program.
Particular  emphasis  shall  be placed on the identification of military
programs which have previously been deemed acceptable by the  department
as  equivalent education and training, programs which may provide, where
applicable, equivalent education  and  training  for  those  professions
which  are  critical  to public health and safety and programs which may
provide, where applicable, equivalent education and training  for  those
professions  for  which  shortages  exist  in the state of New York, AND
PROGRAMS WHICH MAY PROVIDE, WHERE APPLICABLE, EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION  AND
TRAINING FOR THOSE PROFESSIONS WHICH WOULD PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
MENT, JOB CREATION OR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF BUSINESS IN THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.
  2.  The  commissioner  and  the director shall prepare a list of those
military programs which have previously been deemed  acceptable  by  the
department  as  equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part
of an approved program no later than the thirtieth of August, two  thou-
sand three. On and after such date, such list shall be made available to
the public and applicants for admission to practice of a profession.
  3.  The  commissioner  and  the director shall prepare a list of those
military programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent educa-
tion and training for those professions which  are  critical  to  public
health  and safety, programs which may provide, where applicable, equiv-
alent education and training for those professions for  which  shortages
exist in the state of New York, PROGRAMS WHICH MAY PROVIDE, WHERE APPLI-
CABLE,  EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING FOR THOSE PROFESSIONS WHICH
WOULD PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB  CREATION  OR  TECHNOLOGICAL
ADVANCEMENT  OF BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK and any other military
programs which may, where applicable, be accepted by the  department  as
equivalent  education and training in lieu of all or part of an approved
program no later than the thirty-first of October, two  thousand  three.
On  and after such date, such list shall be made available to the public
and applicants for admission to practice of a profession.
  4. Such lists shall be prepared annually no later than  the  thirtieth
of  June  thereafter  with  additions  and deletions made jointly by the

S. 4914--B                          3

commissioner and the director and  made  available  to  the  public  and
applicants for admission to practice of a profession on such date.
  5.  IN  THEIR DETERMINATION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION OF WHICH MILITARY
PROGRAMS PROVIDE EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING, SO AS TO BE ACCEPTED
BY THE DEPARTMENT AS EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN LIEU OF ALL OR
PART OF AN APPROVED PROGRAM, THE COMMISSIONER  AND  THE  DIRECTOR  SHALL
CONSIDER THE STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION.
  S  3.  The  education law is amended by adding a new section 6505-d to
read as follows:
  S 6505-D. APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION BY
A VETERAN OR A SPOUSE OF A VETERAN. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL  PROVIDE  FOR
AN  EXPEDITED  APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION
BY A VETERAN OR A SPOUSE OF A VETERAN. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL BE  DETER-
MINED BY THE COMMISSIONER WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE FILING OF THE APPLI-
CATION  WITH  THE COMMISSIONER BY THE VETERAN OR SPOUSE OF A VETERAN. IN
MAKING THE DETERMINATION FOR THE VETERAN,  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL,  IN
ADDITION TO THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE VETERAN, ALSO CONSIDER THE
EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING  OF THE VETERAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION SIXTY-FIVE HUNDRED FIVE-C OF  THIS  SUBARTICLE.  IN  MAKING  THE
DETERMINATION  FOR THE VETERAN'S SPOUSE, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONSIDER
THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE VETERAN'S SPOUSE,  TOGETHER  WITH  ANY
EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION, TRAINING, PAST ADMISSION OR PAST PRACTICE OF SUCH
SPOUSE OF SUCH PROFESSION IN ANOTHER  JURISDICTION,  TOGETHER  WITH  THE
STANDARDS  OF  THE  AMERICAN  COUNCIL  ON EDUCATION. IF THE COMMISSIONER
DETERMINES THAT THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE VETERAN OR THE  VETER-
AN'S  SPOUSE,  AND/OR  THEIR  PAST ADMISSION OR PAST PRACTICE IN ANOTHER
JURISDICTION, IS ESSENTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO  THE  REQUIREMENTS  NECESSARY
FOR  ADMISSION  TO  PRACTICE  THE PROFESSION IN NEW YORK STATE, THEN THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL GRANT SUCH VETERAN OR VETERAN'S SPOUSE  ADMISSION  TO
PRACTICE THE PROFESSION IN NEW YORK STATE.
  S  4.  The general business law is amended by adding a new article 2-A
to read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 2-A
    LICENSING, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION FOR VETERANS AND VETERAN
                                 SPOUSES
SECTION 20-A. ARTICULATION BETWEEN MILITARY  AND  CIVILIAN  PROFESSIONAL
                CAREERS.
        20-B. APPLICATION  FOR  LICENSING, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION
                TO PRACTICE A PROFESSION BY A VETERAN OR A SPOUSE  OF  A
                VETERAN.
  S 20-A. ARTICULATION   BETWEEN   MILITARY  AND  CIVILIAN  PROFESSIONAL
CAREERS.  1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE  SHALL  DEVELOP,  JOINTLY  WITH  THE
DIRECTOR  OF  THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, A PROGRAM TO FACILITATE
ARTICULATION BETWEEN PARTICIPATION IN THE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED
STATES OR THE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE STATE AND THE  LICENSING,  CERTIF-
ICATION  AND  REGISTRATION  FOR  VETERANS  TO  PRACTICE  ANY  PROFESSION
LICENSED, CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER.  THE  SECRE-
TARY  AND  THE DIRECTOR SHALL IDENTIFY, REVIEW AND EVALUATE PROFESSIONAL
TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH EITHER THE  MILITARY  SERVICE  OF  THE
UNITED  STATES  OR  THE  MILITARY  SERVICE OF THE STATE WHICH MAY, WHERE
APPLICABLE, BE ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS  EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION  AND
TRAINING  IN  LIEU  OF  ALL  OR  PART OF AN APPROVED PROGRAM. PARTICULAR
EMPHASIS SHALL BE PLACED ON  THE  IDENTIFICATION  OF  MILITARY  PROGRAMS
WHICH HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN DEEMED ACCEPTABLE BY THE DEPARTMENT AS EQUIV-
ALENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING, PROGRAMS WHICH MAY PROVIDE, WHERE APPLICA-
BLE,  EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR THOSE PROFESSIONS WHICH ARE

S. 4914--B                          4

CRITICAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY AND  PROGRAMS  WHICH  MAY  PROVIDE,
WHERE   APPLICABLE,   EQUIVALENT   EDUCATION   AND  TRAINING  FOR  THOSE
PROFESSIONS FOR WHICH SHORTAGES EXIST IN THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  AND
PROGRAMS  WHICH  MAY PROVIDE, WHERE APPLICABLE, EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND
TRAINING FOR THOSE PROFESSIONS WHICH WOULD PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOP-
MENT, JOB CREATION OR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF BUSINESS IN THE STATE
OF NEW YORK.
  2. THE SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTOR SHALL PREPARE A LIST OF THOSE  MILI-
TARY  PROGRAMS  WHICH  HAVE  PREVIOUSLY  BEEN  DEEMED  ACCEPTABLE BY THE
DEPARTMENT AS EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN LIEU OF ALL  OR  PART
OF  AN  APPROVED PROGRAM NO LATER THAN JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIR-
TEEN. ON AND AFTER SUCH DATE, SUCH LIST SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE  TO  THE
PUBLIC AND APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION TO PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION.
  3.  THE SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTOR SHALL PREPARE A LIST OF THOSE MILI-
TARY PROGRAMS WHICH MAY PROVIDE, WHERE APPLICABLE, EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION
AND  TRAINING  FOR THOSE PROFESSIONS WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH
AND SAFETY, PROGRAMS WHICH MAY  PROVIDE,  WHERE  APPLICABLE,  EQUIVALENT
EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING FOR THOSE PROFESSIONS FOR WHICH SHORTAGES EXIST
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, PROGRAMS WHICH MAY PROVIDE, WHERE  APPLICABLE,
EQUIVALENT  EDUCATION  AND  TRAINING  FOR  THOSE PROFESSIONS WHICH WOULD
PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB CREATION OR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCE-
MENT OF BUSINESS IN THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK  AND  ANY  OTHER  MILITARY
PROGRAMS  WHICH  MAY, WHERE APPLICABLE, BE ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT AS
EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN LIEU OF ALL OR PART OF AN  APPROVED
PROGRAM  NO  LATER  THAN THE THIRTY-FIRST OF OCTOBER, TWO THOUSAND FOUR-
TEEN. ON AND AFTER SUCH DATE, SUCH LIST SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE  TO  THE
PUBLIC  AND APPLICANTS FOR THE LICENSING, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION
TO THE PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION.
  4. SUCH LISTS SHALL BE PREPARED ANNUALLY NO LATER THAN  THE  THIRTIETH
OF  JUNE  THEREAFTER  WITH  ADDITIONS  AND DELETIONS MADE JOINTLY BY THE
SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTOR AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC  AND  APPLI-
CANTS  FOR THE LICENSING, CERTIFICATION AND REGISTRATION TO THE PRACTICE
OF A PROFESSION ON SUCH DATE.
  5. IN THEIR DETERMINATION PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION OF  WHICH  MILITARY
PROGRAMS PROVIDE EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING, SO AS TO BE ACCEPTED
BY THE DEPARTMENT AS EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN LIEU OF ALL OR
PART  OF  AN  APPROVED  PROGRAM,  THE  SECRETARY  AND THE DIRECTOR SHALL
CONSIDER THE STANDARDS OF THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION.
  S 20-B. APPLICATION FOR LICENSING, CERTIFICATION  OR  REGISTRATION  TO
PRACTICE  A PROFESSION BY A VETERAN OR A SPOUSE OF A VETERAN. THE SECRE-
TARY OF STATE SHALL PROVIDE FOR AN EXPEDITED APPLICATION FOR  LICENSING,
CERTIFICATION  OR  REGISTRATION  TO  THE  PRACTICE  OF A PROFESSION BY A
VETERAN OR A SPOUSE OF A VETERAN. SUCH APPLICATION SHALL  BE  DETERMINED
BY  THE  SECRETARY  WITHIN  THIRTY DAYS OF THE FILING OF THE APPLICATION
WITH THE SECRETARY BY THE VETERAN OR SPOUSE OF A VETERAN. IN MAKING  THE
DETERMINATION  FOR  THE VETERAN, THE SECRETARY SHALL, IN ADDITION TO THE
EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE  VETERAN,  ALSO  CONSIDER  THE  EQUIVALENT
EDUCATION  AND TRAINING OF THE VETERAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION TWEN-
TY-A OF THIS ARTICLE. IN MAKING  THE  DETERMINATION  FOR  THE  VETERAN'S
SPOUSE,  THE  SECRETARY SHALL CONSIDER THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE
VETERAN'S SPOUSE, TOGETHER WITH ANY EQUIVALENT EDUCATION, TRAINING, PAST
LICENSING, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION OR PAST PRACTICE OF SUCH SPOUSE
OF SUCH PROFESSION IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION, TOGETHER WITH THE  STANDARDS
OF  THE  AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EDUCATION. IF THE SECRETARY DETERMINES THAT
THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF  THE  VETERAN  OR  THE  VETERAN'S  SPOUSE,
AND/OR THEIR PAST LICENSING, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION OR PAST PRAC-

S. 4914--B                          5

TICE  IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION, IS ESSENTIALLY EQUIVALENT TO THE REQUIRE-
MENTS NECESSARY FOR LICENSING, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION TO PRACTICE
THE PROFESSION IN NEW YORK STATE, THEN THE SECRETARY  SHALL  GRANT  SUCH
VETERAN  OR VETERAN'S SPOUSE LICENSING, CERTIFICATION OR REGISTRATION TO
PRACTICE THE PROFESSION IN NEW YORK STATE.
  S 5. Subdivision (c) of section 304-a of the vehicle and traffic  law,
as  added  by  chapter  61  of  the  laws of 1989, is amended to read as
follows:
  (c) The commissioner may, by regulation, establish standards of compe-
tency and fitness for certification as an inspector; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,
THAT  ANY  PERSON  WHO  WAS  A  MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED
STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES AND  WHO  BY  MILITARY  TRAINING  AND
PRACTICE  ACQUIRED  THE  SKILLS  OF  A  MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTOR SHALL BE
CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER AS AN INSPECTOR.
  S 6. Section 398-d of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
  8. ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER OF  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE  UNITED
STATES,  NATIONAL  GUARD  OR  RESERVES, AND WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND
PRACTICE ACQUIRES THE SKILLS OF  A  MOTOR  VEHICLE  MECHANIC,  SHALL  BE
DEEMED  TO  BE  QUALIFIED  TO  PERFORM WORK UPON MOTOR VEHICLES AT MOTOR
VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS.
  S 7. Subdivision 2 of section  3002  of  the  public  health  law,  as
amended  by  chapter  580  of  the  laws  of 2007, is amended to read as
follows:
  2. The state council shall have the power, by an affirmative vote of a
majority of those present, subject to approval by the  commissioner,  to
enact,  and  from  time to time, amend and repeal, rules and regulations
establishing minimum standards for ambulance services, ambulance service
certification,  advanced  life  support  first  response  services,  the
provision  of  prehospital emergency medical care, public education, the
development of  a  statewide  emergency  medical  services  system,  the
provision  of ambulance services outside the primary territory specified
in the ambulance services' certificate and  the  training,  examination,
and certification of certified first responders, emergency medical tech-
nicians,  and advanced emergency medical technicians; provided, however,
that such minimum standards must be consistent with the staffing  stand-
ards  established by section three thousand five-a of this article. Such
training shall be made available by video or  computer  to  the  maximum
extent possible. [Until January first, nineteen hundred ninety-seven, no
minimum standards shall be established for services provided by a volun-
tary  ambulance  service  operating  solely  pursuant  to a statement of
registration issued under section three thousand four.]  The  curriculum
for  certified first responder training shall not exceed fifty-one hours
including prerequisites. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY  OTHER  PROVISION  OF  THIS
ARTICLE TO THE CONTRARY, ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES
OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR RESERVES, AND WHO BY MILITARY
TRAINING AND PRACTICE WAS A MEDIC OR CORPSMAN, SHALL BE CERTIFIED, WITH-
OUT EXAMINATION, BY THE STATE COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCILS AS  A  FIRST
RESPONDER  OR EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. The state council shall have
the same powers granted to regional councils  by  this  article  in  any
region  of  the  state  in  which a regional council has not been estab-
lished.
  S 8. Subdivision 1 of section 236-a of the county law, as  amended  by
chapter 343 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
  1. Notwithstanding the provisions of the general city law or any other
law  to  the contrary, the counties of Dutchess and Westchester are each

S. 4914--B                          6

hereby authorized to establish a county board of  examiners  for  master
electricians  and  to  empower such board to assume all licensing duties
within each such county with respect to the licensure of master electri-
cians.    PROVIDED,  THAT SUCH COUNTIES SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE LICENSING,
WITHOUT EXAMINATION, AS A MASTER ELECTRICIAN OF ANY  PERSON  WHO  WAS  A
MEMBER  OF  THE  ARMED  FORCES  OF  THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR
RESERVES, AND WHO BY MILITARY TRAINING AND PRACTICE ACQUIRED THE  SKILLS
OF  AN  ELECTRICIAN.  The  counties  of  Dutchess  and Westchester shall
provide for master electrician's duties and responsibilities in  accord-
ance with the local law of each such county.
  S 9. Section 45 of the general city law is amended to read as follows:
  S 45. Examinations;  conducting business without certificate prohibit-
ed. A person desiring or intending to conduct  the  trade,  business  or
calling of a plumber or of plumbing in a city of this state as employing
or  master plumber, shall be required to submit to an examination before
such examining board of plumbers as to his experience and qualifications
for such trade, business or calling, and it shall not be lawful  in  any
city of this state for a person to conduct such trade, business or call-
ing,  unless  he  shall  have first obtained a certificate of competency
from such board of the city in which he conducts or proposes to  conduct
such  business.   PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY PERSON WHO WAS A MEMBER OF
THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, NATIONAL GUARD OR  RESERVES,  AND
WHO  BY MILITARY TRAINING AND PRACTICE ACQUIRED THE SKILLS OF A PLUMBER,
SHALL BE CERTIFIED AS COMPETENT WITHOUT EXAMINATION.
  S 10. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become  a  law,  provided,  however,
that section one of this act shall take effect on the first of July next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that,
effective  immediately, any rules and regulations necessary to implement
the provisions of this  act  on  its  effect  date  are  authorized  and
directed to be amended, added and/or repealed on or before such date.