These new state laws take effect in New York this February
Originally published in
Staten Island Advance
on
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Several new state laws are set to take effect in New York this month, including two sponsored by Staten Island legislators.
Veterans’ liaisons at state agencies
Senate Bill S7544, which was sponsored by State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) and took effect earlier this month, now requires each state agency to designate a veterans’ liaison, allowing former service members to more easily connect with crucial programs, services and benefits.
“I know firsthand how challenging it was to track down the resources and services available to our family, and then figure out how to access them. This bill will help other veterans and their families by ensuring they have that guidance — a person dedicated to cutting through all the red tape. By informing and assisting them, we are opening many doors for our veterans, doors they didn’t even know existed,” Scarcella-Spanton said in June.
Scarcella-Spanton, who serves as the chair of the state Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, is the wife of a combat veteran and has made veteran services one of her top legislative priorities, having recently introduced five new bills to provide critical support and resources for veterans and their families across New York.
Disabling stolen devices
Senate Bill S7739B, referred to as “Detective Brian Simonsen’s Law,” requires wireless companies to disable services to stolen phones, rendering them inoperable and disincentivizing thefts.
The bill was sponsored in the State Senate by Scarcella-Spanton and co-sponsored in the Assembly by Reilly and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn).
“I’m proud to carry this legislation in the Senate with the support of the DEA in honor of Detective Simonsen. The NYPD put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve. Far too often, our officers have made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard our city, as criminals repeatedly endanger people for profit, whether by robbing innocent retail workers or individuals on the street,” Scarcella-Spanton said at the time.
