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

                                  9786

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              April 8, 2016
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to  establishing  a  task
  force  on  veteran  employment  opportunities;  and  providing for the
  repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

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

  Section  1.  The executive law is amended by adding a new article 17-C
to read as follows:
                              ARTICLE 17-C
             TASK FORCE ON VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
SECTION 369-L. TASK FORCE ON VETERAN  EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES  MEMBER-
                 SHIP.
        369-M. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE.
  S 369-L. TASK FORCE ON VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES MEMBERSHIP. 1.
THERE  IS  HEREBY  CREATED  A  TASK FORCE ON VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTU-
NITIES, WHICH SHALL CONSIST OF  THE  FOLLOWING  MEMBERS,  WHO  SHALL  BE
APPOINTED  NO  LESS  THAN  THIRTY  DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
ARTICLE:
  (A) THE STATE DIRECTOR OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, OR HIS OR  HER  DESIGNEE,
WHO SHALL SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE;
  (B)  THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE;
  (C) THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE;
  (D) THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
  (E) THE CHANCELLOR OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, OR HIS OR  HER
DESIGNEE;
  (F)  THE  CHANCELLOR OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE;
  (G) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,  OR  HIS  OR  HER
DESIGNEE;
  (H)  TWO  MEMBERS  APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
ONE OF WHICH SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

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

                                                           LBD14651-01-6

A. 9786                             2

  (I) TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ONE OF WHICH
SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR;
  (J) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND
  (K) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
  2.  NO MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING ANY
PUBLIC OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT, NOR SHALL HE OR SHE FORFEIT ANY SUCH OFFICE
OF EMPLOYMENT BY VIRTUE OF HIS  OR  HER  APPOINTMENT  PURSUANT  TO  THIS
SECTION.  MEMBERS  OF  THE  TASK FORCE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR
THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE MAY BE REMOVED BY THE  APPOINTING  AUTHORITY,
ONLY  FOR  GOOD  CAUSE,  AFTER  NOTICE  AND  AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.
VACANCIES SHALL BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
  S 369-M. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE. 1. ON AN  ANNUAL  BASIS,
THE  TASK  FORCE  SHALL  HOLD  AT  LEAST TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS. DURING THE
PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE TASK FORCE SHALL HEAR THE  TESTIMONY  OF  VOLUNTARY
WITNESSES,  MAY  COMPEL  THE  TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES AND MAY REQUIRE THE
PRODUCTION OF ANY DOCUMENTS THE TASK FORCE DEEMS REASONABLY NECESSARY TO
CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
  2. AFTER RECEIPT AND REVIEW OF PUBLIC COMMENT, THE  TASK  FORCE  SHALL
ISSUE  AN  ANNUAL  REPORT,  TO  THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE, ON THE
SUBSTANCE OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS  AND  INCLUDE  RECOMMENDATIONS  ON  THE
DEVELOPMENT  OF  NEW METHODS AND PROGRAMS AIMED AT ASSISTING THE STATE'S
VETERANS IN FINDING AND MAINTAINING MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT METHODS AND PROGRAMS. THE  ANNUAL  REPORT
SHALL BE ISSUED NO LATER THAT DECEMBER FIRST OF EACH YEAR, BUT SHALL NOT
BE  DUE  IN  THE  FIRST  YEAR THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TAKEN
EFFECT.
  3. THE TASK FORCE SHALL REPORT ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, AS THEY RELATE
TO AND IMPACT VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
  (A) HIGHER EDUCATION, INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO AWARD  ACADEMIC  COURSE
CREDIT FOR COMPARABLE MILITARY TRAINING AND DISTANCE LEARNING BARRIERS;
  (B)  PROFESSIONAL  LICENSING  INCLUDING  ANY  RECOMMENDATIONS  TO EASE
LICENSING REQUIREMENTS FOR VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES;
  (C) STATE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES;
  (D) VETERAN CONTRACTOR PREFERENCES;
  (E) PURCHASING PREFERENCES;
  (F) TAX CREDITS AND MUNICIPAL GRANTS FOR HIRING UNEMPLOYED VETERANS;
  (G) PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES; AND
  (H) PAID LEAVE FOR COMBAT VETERANS NEEDING HEALTH SERVICES.
  4. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT THE TASK FORCE FROM  REPORT-
ING  ON  ANY  OTHER  TOPICS  IMPACTING VETERAN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
WHICH THEY DEEM RELEVANT.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
deemed repealed ten years after such date.