§ 19. Women veterans coordinator. 1. Definitions. (a) "Veteran" shall
have the same meaning as defined in section one of this article.

(b) "Department" shall mean the state department of veterans'
services.

(c) "Women veterans coordinator" shall be a veteran.

2. Such women veterans coordinator shall be appointed by the
commissioner.

3. Establishment of women veterans coordinator. There is hereby
established within the department, a "women veterans coordinator" who
shall work under the direction of the commissioner and whose duties
shall include, but not be limited to, the:

(a) identification, development, planning, organization and
coordination of all statewide programs and services to meet the needs of
women veterans;

(b) recommendation to the commissioner to ensure compliance with all
existing department policies and regulations pertaining to the needs of
women veterans on the state and federal level and make recommendations
regarding the improvement of benefits and services to women veterans;

(c) liaison between the department, the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs center for women veterans, the United States Department
of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, state veterans
nursing homes, state agencies, community groups, advocates and other
veterans and military organizations and interested parties;

(d) advocating for all women veterans in the state;

(e) development and maintenance of a clearinghouse for information and
resources for women veterans;

(f) promote events and activities that recognize, educate and honor
women veterans, including but not limited to seminars required under
subdivision six of section four of this article, veteran human rights
conferences, veterans benefits and resources events, and veterans
cultural competence training;

(g) inclusion of the contributions women veterans have made on behalf
of the United States and this state on the department's official
website; and

(h) preparation of reports on topics including, but not limited to,
the demographics of women veterans, the number of women veterans listed
by county, and the unique needs of the women veterans population, to the
extent such information is available, to the commissioner on the status
of women veterans within New York state.

4. Reports. The women veterans coordinator shall submit a report to
the commissioner each year after the effective date of this section.
Such report shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the
women veterans coordinator's activities for the calendar year and the
programs developed pursuant to the provisions of this section. The
commissioner shall submit the report or a synopsis of the report to the
governor in accordance with the provisions of section four of this
article.