S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  8496

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             October 9, 2015
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the military  law  and  the  public  buildings  law,  in
  relation to the display of certain flags upon the capitol building

  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 267  to
read as follows:
  S  267.  DESIGNATION  OF HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG FOR FALLEN MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES.   (A) LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THE  LEGISLATURE  FINDS  AND
DETERMINES THAT:
  (1)  SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, MORE THAN ONE MILLION MEMBERS OF THE
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE  BY  SACRIFICING
THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY;
  (2)  THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THOSE FALLEN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ARE
DESERVING OF NATIONAL RECOGNITION; AND
  (3) CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED  SYMBOLIC  FLAG  THAT
ACKNOWLEDGES MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
  (B)  ADOPTION. THE NATIONAL HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG FOR FALLEN MEMBERS
OF THE ARMED FORCES SHALL BE THE OFFICIAL HONOR AND  REMEMBER  FLAG  FOR
THE  STATE OF NEW YORK. THE HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG IS THE SYMBOL OF OUR
NATION'S CONCERN AND COMMITMENT TO HONORING AND REMEMBERING THE LIVES OF
ALL MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR  LIVES
IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
  (C)  PROCUREMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF FLAGS. NOT LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS
AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  GENERAL
SERVICES  SHALL COMMENCE THE PROCUREMENT OF HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAGS AND
DISTRIBUTE THEM AS NECESSARY.
  S 2. Subdivision 2 of section  3  of  the  public  buildings  law,  as
amended  by  chapter  118  of  the  laws  of 1962, is amended to read as
follows:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD04338-01-5
              

A. 8496                             2

  2. cause the flags of the United States [and], the state flag  bearing
the  arms  of the state AND THE FLAG COMMONLY DESIGNATED AS THE NATIONAL
HONOR AND REMEMBER FLAG, to  be  displayed  upon  the  capitol  building
during  the  daily  sessions of the legislature and on public occasions,
and  cause  the  necessary  flagstaffs to be erected therefor. Cause the
flag of the United States to be appropriately displayed at all times  in
the  senate  chamber  and in the assembly chamber. Cause the flag of the
United States to be appropriately displayed upon the walls of  any  hall
or  other  meeting  place in a public building under his supervision and
control during any meeting or gathering of persons to which  the  public
is invited. The necessary expenses incurred thereby shall be paid out of
the treasury on the warrant of the comptroller.
  S  3.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
have become a law.