* § 29-b. Veterans' liaisons. 1. As used in this section the term
"state agency" shall mean any department, board, bureau, division,
commission, council or committee within the executive branch.

2. Each state agency shall designate at least one employee to act as a
liaison with veterans within such agency or served by such agency. Such
liaison shall be funded from existing appropriations in each agency.
Upon designating a veterans' liaison, which shall be done within ninety
days, all state agencies shall inform the department in a form and
manner to be prescribed by the department. An employee designated to act
as a veterans' liaison must first complete an initial training provided
by appropriate staff designated by the department before assuming the
duties of a veterans' liaison. Thereafter all veterans' liaisons shall
annually receive supplemental trainings provided by the department. A
state agency may also, in consultation with the department, prescribe
such additional trainings for its veterans' liaisons as it deems
necessary and relevant to assisting veterans employed or served by the
agency.

3. Each state agency shall conspicuously post the name and contact
information of its current veterans' liaisons on its website and a
listing of all state agency veterans' liaisons shall be maintained by
the department and updated at least annually on its website.

4. The duties of a veterans' liaison may include but not be limited
to: (a) providing information and assistance to veterans regarding
benefits and services available to veterans at the liaison's agency or
other state agencies including the department; (b) ensuring active
communication, coordination and cooperation are maintained with members
of the public as well as other state and local agencies regarding the
agency's efforts to assist veterans; (c) advising agency staff as to how
to identify and address the unique needs of veterans within or served by
the agency; (d) informing veterans within the agency as to applicable
employee personnel policies; (e) promoting the recruitment, retention,
and professional development of veteran employees within the agency; and
(f) making efforts to identify veterans as defined in section one of
this article within or served by the agency on an annual basis.

5. Information received pursuant to this section will be provided to
the department. Information collected pursuant to this section shall be
protected under article six-A of the public officers law against
disclosure of confidential material and used only to determine the
number of veterans who are employed by or seeking services from the
state of New York.

6. The department shall develop guidelines and a best practices
document for veterans' liaisons in consultation with state agencies and
with input solicited from the veterans' liaisons designated by such
agencies. Further, the department shall include engagement with
veterans' liaisons as part of its efforts to develop collaborative
relationships with state agencies pursuant to subdivision thirty-seven
of section four of this article.

7. The annual report required by subdivision seventeen of section four
of this article shall contain a description of the department's
activities and collaborations with veterans' liaisons and any
recommendations of the department with respect to the veterans' liaisons
program established under this section.

* NB Effective February 10, 2025