Assembly Bill A408

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Authorizes a veteran's close friend or family member who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a state veterans' cemetery

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Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2025-A408 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S1009
Current Committee:
Assembly Veterans' Affairs
Law Section:
Veterans' Service Law
Laws Affected:
Add §27-a, Veterans' Services L; amd §4201, Pub Health L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2015-2016: A7932, S5570
2017-2018: A3083, S829
2019-2020: A9808, S1167
2021-2022: A6302, S4344
2023-2024: A1664, S5530

2025-A408 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes a veteran's close friend or family who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a state veterans' cemetery.

2025-A408 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    408
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. STIRPE, BURDICK -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 
 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law and the public health law, in
   relation to authorizing a veteran's close friend or family member  who
   is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such
   veteran be buried in a veterans' cemetery
 
   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 27-a to read as follows:
   §  27-A.  BURIAL  RIGHTS OF CERTAIN VETERANS.   1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SECTION, "AGENT IN CONTROL OF THE DISPOSITION OF REMAINS" MEANS THE
 PERSON RESPONSIBLE  OR  DESIGNATED  TO  CONTROL  THE  DISPOSITION  OF  A
 DECEASED  VETERAN'S REMAINS AS DEFINED AND OUTLINED IN SECTION FORTY-TWO
 HUNDRED ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW WHO HAS KNOWLEDGE  OF  A  VETERAN'S
 DESIRE  TO BE BURIED IN A VETERANS' CEMETERY AND CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF
 THE MILITARY SERVICE OF THE DECEDENT WHICH SHALL  BE  FURNISHED  IN  THE
 MANNER AND FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE COMMISSIONER.
   2.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER  PROVISION  OF LOCAL LAW, LAW, RULE OR
 REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, ANY AGENT IN CONTROL OF THE  DISPOSITION  OF
 REMAINS  MAY  REQUEST  THAT  A DECEASED VETERAN BE BURIED IN A VETERANS'
 CEMETERY.
   § 2. Subparagraph (ix) of paragraph (a) of subdivision  2  of  section
 4201  of the public health law, as amended by chapter 401 of the laws of
 2007, is amended to read as follows:
   (ix) a close friend or relative who is reasonably  familiar  with  the
 decedent's  wishes, including the decedent's religious or moral beliefs,
 when no one higher on this list is  reasonably  available,  willing,  or
 competent  to  act[,  provided  that  such person has executed a written
 statement pursuant to subdivision seven of this section]; or
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

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