S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  5931--A
                                                         Cal. No. 426
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 17, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  RAMOS,  ORTIZ,  CUSICK, MAGNARELLI, LUPARDO,
   TITONE, AUBRY, WEPRIN, McDONALD -- Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M.  of  A.
   PERRY,  SIMON  -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
   Affairs -- ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered  reprinted,
   retaining its place on the order of third reading
 
 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:
 
   Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby recognizes  that
 New  York  state's veterans, particularly those who suffered service-re-
 lated disabilities, have unique needs as a result of the sacrifices they
 made during their military service. It is also  hereby  acknowledged  by
 the legislature that due to the complexity of their needs, such individ-
 uals  require  accessible,  coordinated, and specialized services within
 their communities from multiple state and local agencies.  The  legisla-
 ture finds that there is an immediate need for a statewide comprehensive
 program to coordinate such services.
   §  2.  The  executive  law is amended by adding a new section 368-a to
 read as follows:
   § 368-A. NEW YORK STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR  SERVICE-
 DISABLED VETERANS. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE NEW YORK STATE INTER-
 AGENCY  COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS IN THE EXECU-
 TIVE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE AND EXERCISE THE FUNCTIONS,  POWERS  AND  DUTIES
 PROVIDED  BY  THE  PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND ANY OTHER PROVISION OF
 LAW.
   1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL MEAN:

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

                                                            LBD00716-10-8

 A. 5931--A                          2
 
   (A) "COUNCIL" MEANS THE NEW YORK STATE INTERAGENCY COORDINATING  COUN-
 CIL FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS;
   (B)  "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON, MALE OR FEMALE, RESIDENT OF THIS STATE,
 WHO HAS SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL,  OR  AIR  SERVICE  OF  THE
 UNITED  STATES  DURING  A WAR IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES ENGAGED AND WHO
 HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM  SUCH  SERVICE  OTHERWISE  THAN  BY  DISHONORABLE
 DISCHARGE, OR WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED TO THE RESERVE; AND
   (C)  "SERVICE-DISABLED VETERAN" MEANS A VETERAN WITH A DISABILITY THAT
 WAS INCURRED OR AGGRAVATED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN THE  ACTIVE  MILITARY,
 NAVAL, OR AIR SERVICE.
   2.  THE  COUNCIL  SHALL  CONSIST  OF THE FOLLOWING TEN AGENCY HEADS OR
 THEIR DESIGNEES: DIRECTOR OF THE  DIVISION  OF  VETERANS'  AFFAIRS,  WHO
 SHALL  SERVE  AS CHAIR OF THE COUNCIL, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF
 GENERAL SERVICES, THE COMMISSIONER OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH,  THE
 COMMISSIONER  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
 OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
 THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND
 COMMUNITY  RENEWAL,  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE
 COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND  THE  DIRECTOR  OF
 THE OFFICE FOR THE AGING. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL SHALL CONSIST OF NINE
 SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS, THREE TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, TWO TO
 BE  APPOINTED  BY  THE  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE, TWO TO BE
 APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, ONE TO  BE  APPOINTED  BY  THE
 MINORITY  LEADER  OF  THE SENATE AND ONE TO BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY
 LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL SERVE TERMS  OF
 TWO  YEARS;  PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, THE
 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS OF  THREE  YEARS
 AND  THE  REMAINING MEMBERS, APPOINTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS, SHALL
 SERVE FOR TERMS OF TWO YEARS. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL  SHALL  RECEIVE  NO
 COMPENSATION  FOR  THEIR  SERVICES BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND
 NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR FUNCTIONS  HERE-
 UNDER.
   3. THE COUNCIL SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:
   (A) TO PROMOTE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE PROGRAM
 OF COORDINATED SERVICES FOR SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS THAT INCLUDES: (1)
 MATTERS  PERTAINING  TO EDUCATIONAL TRAINING AND RETRAINING SERVICES AND
 FACILITIES, (2) HEALTH, MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICES AND  FACILI-
 TIES, (3) EMPLOYMENT AND RE-EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INCLUDING SMALL BUSINESS
 OPPORTUNITIES, (4) HOUSING OPTIONS, (5) TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, (6) LONG
 TERM  CARE,  (7)  PERSONAL  CARE,  (8)  DAY PROGRAM SERVICES, (9) FAMILY
 OUTREACH AND  (10)  OTHER  ESSENTIAL  SERVICES  THAT  MAXIMIZE  EXISTING
 RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE MECHANISMS;
   (B)  TO  DISSEMINATE  GENERAL  INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE SERVICES TO
 SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS AND HOW SUCH SERVICES CAN  BE  ACCESSED.  SUCH
 INFORMATION SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DIVISION'S WEBSITE OR BE AVAILABLE IN
 PRINTED FORM;
   (C) TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS IN MATTERS AFFECTING SERVICE-DISABLED VETER-
 ANS  AND TO REFER SUCH COMPLAINTS TO THE APPROPRIATE REGULATORY AGENCIES
 WHERE IT DEEMS NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE; AND
   (D) TO CONDUCT AN ONGOING EVALUATION OF THE NEEDS OF  SERVICE-DISABLED
 VETERANS.
   4.  THE  COUNCIL  SHALL  MEET AS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS,
 POWERS AND DUTIES, BUT SUCH MEETINGS SHALL  OCCUR  AT  LEAST  ONCE  EACH
 QUARTER. FURTHERMORE, THE COUNCIL SHALL SEEK TO CONSULT WITH THE NETWORK
 DIRECTORS  OF  THE VETERANS INTEGRATED SERVICE NETWORKS, VISN 2 AND VISN
 3.

 A. 5931--A                          3
 
   5. THE COUNCIL SHALL PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR,  THE  TEMPORARY
 PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE  AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE
 APRIL FIRST OF EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN TWO THOUSAND TWENTY. SUCH  REPORT
 SHALL  SUMMARIZE  THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITY DURING THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR
 AND  DETAILING LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS APPROPRIATE TO EFFECTUATE THE
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, AND ANY OTHER  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  IMPROVING
 SERVICE  DELIVERY  AND COORDINATION, REDUCING DUPLICATION AND FRAGMENTA-
 TION AND FACILITATING THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES. SUCH
 REPORT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE  A  PROPOSED  AGENDA  CONSISTING  OF  SPECIFIC
 ISSUES THAT THE COUNCIL PLANS TO ADDRESS DURING THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law; provided, however, that  effective  immediately,  the
 addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized
 and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.