S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9529
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 16, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on  Veterans,  Home-
   land Security and Military Affairs
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to the employ-
   ment of veterans with disabilities
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision 13 of section 4 of the veterans' services law
 is amended to read as follows:
   13. To provide information regarding resources that are  available  to
 assist  veterans  in  obtaining  employment  by  maintaining a veterans'
 employment portal on the  department's  internet  website.  Such  portal
 shall  provide virtual links to appropriate governmental programs on the
 federal and state level, including, but not limited to the United States
 department of labor [and], the New York state department of  labor,  AND
 THE  NEW  YORK  STATE  DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE.   The department may
 consult with members of the community devoted to helping veterans obtain
 employment. The department shall  make  reference  to  this  information
 pursuant  to  subdivisions  five, six, and seven of this section and the
 annual report to the governor and the legislature as provided in  subdi-
 vision  seventeen  of this section. Such information required under this
 subdivision shall be maintained and updated  annually.  The  information
 may also be made available in printed form.
   §  2.  Subdivision  1  of  section 13 of the veterans' services law is
 amended to read as follows:
   1. A state veterans' service  agency  established  by  the  department
 pursuant  to  this  article shall have power and it shall be its duty to
 inform military and naval authorities of the United  States  and  assist
 members  of  the  uniformed  services and veterans, who are residents of
 this state, and their families, in relation to (1) matters pertaining to
 educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health,
 medical and rehabilitation services and facilities,  (3)  provisions  of
 federal,  state  and local laws and regulations affording special rights
 and privileges to members of the uniformed services and war veterans and
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15447-01-4
 S. 9529                             2
 
 their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, INCLUDING THE
 EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM  UNDER  SECTION  FIFTY-
 FIVE-C  OF  THE  CIVIL  SERVICE  LAW,  and (5) other matters of similar,
 related  or  appropriate nature. The state veterans' service agency also
 shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the state  commis-
 sioner.
   §  3.  Subdivision  1  of  section 15 of the veterans' services law is
 amended to read as follows:
   1. A local veterans' service agency shall have power under the  direc-
 tion  of the state veterans' service agency, and it shall be its duty to
 inform military and naval authorities of the United  States  and  assist
 members  of  the  uniformed  services and veterans, who are residents of
 this state, and their families, in relation to (1) matters pertaining to
 educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health,
 medical and rehabilitation services and facilities,  (3)  provisions  of
 federal,  state  and local laws and regulations affording special rights
 and privileges to members of the uniformed services and war veterans and
 their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, INCLUDING THE
 EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM  UNDER  SECTION  FIFTY-
 FIVE-C OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW, (5) the process of submitting an appli-
 cation  for a discharge upgrade to the discharge upgrade advisory board,
 and (6) other matters of similar, related  or  appropriate  nature.  The
 local  veterans'  service  agency may also assist families of members of
 the reserve components of the uniformed services and the organized mili-
 tia ordered into active duty to ensure that they are made aware  of  and
 are  receiving  all appropriate support available to them and are placed
 in contact with the agencies responsible for  such  support,  including,
 but not limited to, the division of military and naval affairs and other
 state  agencies responsible for providing such support. The local veter-
 ans' service agency also shall perform  such  other  duties  as  may  be
 assigned by the state commissioner.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.