BILL NUMBER: S3023

SPONSOR: ORTT
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the veterans' services law and the public health law, in
relation to directing the department of veterans' services to establish
and operate a publicly accessible electronic database of the availabili-
ty of openings for admission to state veterans' homes

 
PURPOSE:

This bill directs the Division of Veterans' Affairs to establish and
operate an electronic database of the number of available openings in
each of the state-run veterans' homes operated by the Department of
Health and the number of persons on each waiting list and describe
requirements pertinent to admission.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 353 of the executive taw, to require the Divi-
sion of Veterans Affairs, in cooperation with the Department of Health,
              

to establish and operate an electronic database, accessible to the
public, which provides the number of available openings or eligible
individuals at each state-run veterans' home. The database shall also
provide the number of eligible individuals who are on the waiting list
for admission. This webpage shall also include information on related
eligibility requirements that include but are not limited to military
service history, honorable discharge, service-connected disability, and
skilled nursing needs.

Section 2 establishes a new section 2636 of the public health law which
directs the Department of Health to fully cooperate with the Division of
Veterans' Affairs to establish and operate the electronic database and
provide information relating to the state veterans' homes operated by
the Department.

Section 3 establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to 2014 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, New York State
has the fifth largest veterans' population in the country, with more
than half of those veterans being sixty-five years of age and older.
With such a large aging veterans' population it is imperative that the
proper services are available in order to care for these individuals in
their later years. The state-run veterans' homes are experts in provid-
ing such care; however, oftentimes it is difficult to navigate the
state-run system. This bill seeks to aid the aging veteran population
and their caregivers by providing a simple mechanism to allow individ-
uals to check available space, or the extent of the waitlist, at each of
the five state run veterans' homes. With this information elderly veter-
ans, and their caregivers, can make more informed decisions regarding
long-term care options.  Providing this information is just a small step
the State can take in helping our aging veteran population secure the
health care services they have valiantly earned.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-2024 S S.1409/A.5743 Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and
Military Affairs

2021-2022: S. 3641 Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military
Affairs

2019-2020: S4108A Amended and Recommitted to Veterans, Homeland Security
and Military Affairs

2016: Al 0692/S.7480

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Provided, however, that, effective immediately,
any actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its
effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before
such date.