BILL NUMBER: S7610

SPONSOR: THOMAS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to authorizing certain
health care providers in the state to diagnose post-traumatic stress
disorder or traumatic brain injury

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::

To decrease the difficulty less than honorably discharged veterans face
when gaining access to certain state benefits under the Restoration of
Honor Act.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::

Section 1 of this bill amends the executive law to authorize less than
honorably discharged veterans to be diagnosed with a qualifying condi-
tion by a licensed health care provider in the State of New York.

              

 
EXISTING LAW::

The current law authorizes less than honorably discharged veterans to be
being diagnosed at United States Department of Veterans Affairs facili-
ty.

 
JUSTIFICATION::

The Restoration of Honor Act helps to connect less than honorably
discharged veterans with New York State veteran-specific benefits and
services. The current law requires less than honorably discharged veter-
ans to be diagnosed at United States Department of Veterans Affairs
facility. However, veterans with less than honorable discharges often
find it extremely difficult to access healthcare services at a Veterans
Affairs facility.

There are numerous barriers to accessing state veteran specific benefits
and services. For example, VA psychiatrists may not feel able to confirm
the diagnosis of a veteran they have met once or veterans who are survi-
vors of sexual assaulted might find it traumatizing to walk through a VA
hospital, making treatment at a VA facility counterproductive. This bill
would allow less than honorably discharged veterans to have their diag-
nosis confirmed by a licensed provider in the State of New York who has
been responsible for their treatment.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::

New bill.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

On the same date and in the same manner as the chapter 490 of the laws
of 2019.