S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7421
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 24, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  ORTT  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
   ty and Military Affairs
 
 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to the  veterans
   employment task force
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The veterans' services law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 3-a to read as follows:
   §  3-A.  VETERANS  EMPLOYMENT  TASK  FORCE.  1.  THERE SHALL BE IN THE
 DEPARTMENT A TASK FORCE ON VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WHICH SHALL
 CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING THIRTEEN MEMBERS: THE  STATE  COMMISSIONER,  OR
 HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, WHO SHALL SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE; THE
 COMMISSIONER  OF THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE;
 THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATE CIVIL  SERVICE  COMMISSION,  OR  HIS  OR  HER
 DESIGNEE;  THE  COMMISSIONER OF LABOR, OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE; THE ADJU-
 TANT GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OR  HIS  OR  HER  DESIGNEE;  TWO
 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, ONE OF WHOM SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE
 FROM  THE  PRIVATE SECTOR; TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESI-
 DENT OF THE SENATE, ONE OF WHOM  SHALL  BE  A  REPRESENTATIVE  FROM  THE
 PRIVATE  SECTOR;  TWO  MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY,
 ONE OF WHOM SHALL BE A  REPRESENTATIVE  FROM  THE  PRIVATE  SECTOR;  ONE
 MEMBER  APPOINTED  BY  THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND 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.
   3. 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08944-02-3
              

 S. 7421                             2
 
   4. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THE TASK FORCE SHALL HOLD AT LEAST  TWO  PUBLIC
 HEARINGS.  TO  THE  EXTENT  PRACTICABLE,  SUCH HEARINGS SHALL BE HELD IN
 DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE STATE. DURING THE  PUBLIC  HEARINGS,  THE  TASK
 FORCE  SHALL  HEAR THE TESTIMONY OF VOLUNTARY WITNESSES, AND MAY REQUEST
 THE  PRODUCTION OF ANY DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE
 PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW AND THAT THE TASK FORCE DEEMS  REASONABLY  NECESSARY
 TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
   5.  THE  TASK  FORCE  SHALL ISSUE A REPORT NO LATER THAN MARCH THIRTY-
 FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, AND EVERY TWO YEARS AFTER SUCH DATE, TO
 THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER  OF
 THE ASSEMBLY. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  RECOMMENDATIONS  ON  THE  DEVELOPMENT OF NEW METHODS AND PROGRAMS
 AIMED AT ASSISTING THE STATE'S VETERANS IN FINDING AND MAINTAINING MEAN-
 INGFUL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES;
   (B) AN ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT METHODS AND PROGRAMS;
   (C) THE IMPACT ON VETERANS EMPLOYMENT BY PROFESSIONAL LICENSING;
   (D) THE IMPACT OF VETERANS CONTRACTOR PROGRAMS;
   (E) THE IMPACT OF TAX CREDITS AND MUNICIPAL GRANTS  FOR  HIRING  UNEM-
 PLOYED VETERANS; AND
   (F) ANY PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.