S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2331--A
                                                          Cal. No. 99
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 22, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  DINOWITZ,  DenDEKKER, M. G. MILLER, BRONSON,
   MOSLEY, CYMBROWITZ, BENEDETTO, SIMOTAS,  CUSICK,  GUNTHER,  GOTTFRIED,
   PICHARDO,   BARRON,   COOK,  GALEF,  COLTON,  ARROYO,  HUNTER,  PERRY,
   BUCHWALD,  BUTTENSCHON,  BYRNE,  NORRIS,  CRUZ,  BARRETT,  GRIFFIN  --
   Multi-Sponsored  by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Transportation -- ordered to a third reading, amended and
   ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the  executive  law,  in
   relation to enabling veterans and reservists to receive benefit infor-
   mation upon applying for or renewing a driver's license
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 508 of the vehicle and traffic law  is  amended  by
 adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
   6. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION
 OF  VETERANS'  AFFAIRS,  IS DIRECTED TO ESTABLISH A PROCESS BY WHICH THE
 DEPARTMENT SHALL REFER DRIVER'S LICENSE  AND  NON-DRIVER  IDENTIFICATION
 CARD APPLICANTS REQUESTING AND OBTAINING A NOTATION UPON SUCH LICENSE OR
 NON-DRIVER IDENTIFICATION CARD THAT HE OR SHE IS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED
 STATES  ARMED  FORCES  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  THREE  OF SECTION FOUR
 HUNDRED NINETY OF THIS  CHAPTER  OR  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF  SECTION  FIVE
 HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE, UPON HIS OR HER REQUEST, TO THE DIVISION OF
 VETERANS'  AFFAIRS,  CONSISTENT  WITH  THE  PROVISIONS  OF SECTION THREE
 HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR-A OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW.
   § 2. Section 354-a of the executive law, as amended by  section  8  of
 part  AA  of  chapter  56  of  the  laws  of 2019, is amended to read as
 follows:
   § 354-a. Information  on  status  of  veterans  receiving  assistance.
 Departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, commissions and agencies of the
 state  and  political  subdivisions  thereof,  which provide assistance,
 treatment, counseling, care, supervision or  custody  in  service  areas
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00712-07-0

 A. 2331--A                          2
 
 involving  health,  mental  health, family services, criminal justice or
 employment, including but not limited to the office of  [alcoholism  and
 substance  abuse  services]  ADDICTION  SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, office of
 mental health, office of probation and correctional alternatives, office
 of  children  and  family  services,  office of temporary and disability
 assistance, department of health, department of labor,  local  workforce
 investment  boards,  office  for people with developmental disabilities,
 and department of corrections and community supervision,  shall  request
 assisted  persons  to  provide  information with regard to their veteran
 status and military experiences. Individuals identifying  themselves  as
 veterans,  INCLUDING  INDIVIDUALS  REQUESTING  AND  OBTAINING A VETERANS
 NOTATION ON THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE  OR  NON-DRIVER  IDENTIFICATION  CARD
 PURSUANT  TO  SECTIONS  FOUR  HUNDRED NINETY AND FIVE HUNDRED TWO OF THE
 VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAW, shall be advised that the division of veterans'
 services and local veterans' service agencies  established  pursuant  to
 section  three hundred fifty-seven of this article provide assistance to
 veterans regarding benefits under federal  and  state  law.  Information
 regarding  veterans  status  and  military  service provided by assisted
 persons solely to implement this section shall be protected as  personal
 confidential  information under article six-A of the public officers law
 against disclosure of confidential material, and used only to assist  in
 the diagnosis, treatment, assessment and handling of the veteran's prob-
 lems  within the agency requesting such information and in referring the
 veteran to the  division  of  veterans'  services  for  information  and
 assistance  with  regard  to benefits and entitlements under federal and
 state law.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.