S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8064
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 11, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. CRUZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the military law and the state finance law, in  relation
   to legal assistance for military families
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The military law is amended by adding a new section 15-a to
 read as follows:
   § 15-A. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES. 1. THE ATTORNEY GENER-
 AL SHALL, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADJUTANT GENERAL AND THE CHAIRMAN  OF
 THE  BOARD  OF TRUSTEES OF THE NEW YORK INTEREST ON LAWYER ACCOUNT FUND,
 ESTABLISH A MILITARY PRO BONO PROGRAM TO PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE  WITH-
 OUT  CHARGE TO THOSE IN ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES AND
 THOSE MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED FOR  ACTIVE  DUTY  OTHER
 THAN  TRAINING,  AND  THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DOMICILED OR STATIONED IN THE
 STATE.
 2. THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY SUCH PROGRAM SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE
 LIMITED  TO:  (A)  CIVIL  LAW;  (B) FAMILY LAW; (C) ESTATE PLANNING; (D)
 EMPLOYMENT LAW; (E) IMMIGRATION LAW; (F) DEBTOR-CREDITOR  LAW;  AND  (G)
 MILITARY ADMINISTRATIVE LAW.
   3.  THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  AND THE ADJUTANT GENERAL MAY APPLY FOR AND
 RECEIVE GRANTS, GIFTS, DONATIONS, BEQUESTS, OR  OTHER  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO
 SUPPORT  THE  MILITARY  PRO BONO PROGRAM AND SHALL DEPOSIT SUCH FUNDS IN
 THE NEW YORK INTEREST ON LAWYER ACCOUNT FUND, TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
 LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH C OF SUBDI-
 VISION THREE OF SECTION NINETY-SEVEN-V OF THE STATE FINANCE LAW.
   4. THE ADJUTANT  GENERAL  SHALL  ESTABLISH  A  MILITARY  FAMILY  LEGAL
 ASSISTANCE  ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATIVES
 FROM EACH OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE OFFICES ON MILITARY  INSTALLATIONS  IN
 THE  STATE,  THE NEW YORK STATE BAR ASSOCIATION'S COMMITTEE ON VETERANS,
 THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' SERVICES, THE OFFICE OF COURT  ADMINISTRATION,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD10185-01-1

 A. 8064                             2
 
 VETERANS  SERVICE  ORGANIZATIONS,  MILITARY  SUPPORT  ORGANIZATIONS, AND
 ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN COORDINATING, SUPPORTING AND DELIVERING  CIVIL
 LEGAL  AID  AND PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES IN NEW YORK STATE. THE COMMITTEE
 SHALL  BE  CO-CHAIRED  BY THE STATE JUDGE ADVOCATE OR HIS OR HER ASSIST-
 ANTS, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE NEW YORK INTEREST
 ON LAWYER ACCOUNT FUND, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, AND SHALL PROVIDE ADVICE
 AND ASSISTANCE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REGARDING PROGRAM DESIGN,  OPERA-
 TION, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT, SUPPORT STRATEGIES, SERVICE DELIVERY OBJEC-
 TIVES AND PRIORITIES, AND FUNDING FOR THE MILITARY PRO BONO PROGRAM.
   5. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY
 TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. Paragraph c of subdivision 3 of section 97-v of the state finance
 law,  as added by chapter 659 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as
 follows:
   c. The remaining funds shall be allocated for purposes related to  the
 improvement of the administration of justice, including, but not limited
 to,  LEGAL  ASSISTANCE  FOR MILITARY FAMILIES PURSUANT TO A MILITARY PRO
 BONO PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION FIFTEEN-A OF  THE  MILITARY  LAW,
 the provision of civil legal services to groups currently underserved by
 legal  services,  such as the elderly and the disabled, and the enhance-
 ment of civil legal services to the poor through innovative and cost-ef-
 fective means, such as volunteer lawyer programs and support and  train-
 ing services.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.