BILL NUMBER: S291

SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to establishing a
veterans internship program (V.I.P. NY)

 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:

To set aside a percentage of the current Assembly Intern and Youth
Participation Program and Senate Student Program positions for veterans.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This measure will add a new Article (Article 6-A) to the Legislative Law
and establish opportunities for veterans to participate in existing
internship programs based on the following guidelines:

Eligible candidates will be honorably discharged veterans who are unem-
ployed or underemployed and have demonstrated an interest in future
employment in public service, government or public policy.
              

Inclusion of (but not limited to) a 10 percent set-aside of in each of
the current Assembly Youth Participation Program and Senate Student
Program for these eligible veterans.

In the same manner students are recruited for internship programs, the
Assembly Intern Office and the Senate Intern Office shall coordinate
with each of the respective county veteran's service agencies to identi-
fy and recruit eligible candidates.

V.I.P. NY enrollees receive a stipend equivalent to the stipend awarded
to graduate students participating in the same internship program.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Here in the New York State Legislature, we have a great college intern-
ship program where students learn about our state government, but who
better than our veterans and wounded warriors to see the inner workings
of the legislative process as interns. This program proposes that V.I.P.
NY enrollees receive a stipend equivalent to the stipend awarded to
graduate student participants. There will be no additional cost to
taxpayers to implement V.I.P. NY.

As our country continues to rely on our service men and women to protect
the ideals of our country, we cannot forget those veterans who have come
home to rind that integrating back into our workforce and communities
poses many challenges.

As a Legislature we have always come together when it comes to those
service men and women, whether their service was this year, ten years
ago or sixty years ago. The discipline and work ethic instilled in these
service men and women will prove to be a valuable asset to the New York
State Legislature.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:


01/21/15: S.2182 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

01/06/16: S.2182 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

01/10/17: S.1713 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

01/03/18: S.1713 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

01/09/19: S.386 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

01/08/20: S.386 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY
AFFAIRS

01/06/21: S.228 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

01/19/21: S.228 REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

11/24/21: S.228 AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE

11/24/21: S.228 PRINT NUMBER 228A

01/05/22: S.228A REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

02/01/22: S.228A REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None, Budget Neutral.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.