S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    936
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 5, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  CROCI, ADDABBO, AKSHAR, AVELLA, GALLIVAN, GOLDEN,
   HANNON, KENNEDY, LARKIN,  LITTLE,  MARCHIONE,  MURPHY,  ORTT,  PARKER,
   RANZENHOFER,  RITCHIE,  SEWARD  -- read twice and ordered printed, and
   when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Veterans,  Homeland
   Security and Military 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.
   § 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;

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

                                                            LBD01771-01-7

 S. 936                              2
 
   (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.
   (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.
   § 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.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
 deemed repealed ten years after such date.