SENATE PASSES PACKAGE OF BILLS TO PROTECT, ASSIST, AND RECOGNIZE CURRENT AND FORMER MILITARY SERVICE MEMBERS

The New York State Senate today passed a package of bills in an effort to care for and memorialize the courageous men and women who have served in our military, as well as those still on active-duty. The legislative measures will help protect the well-being of those who defend our freedoms, ease their financial worries, connect them with crucial benefits, and honor their service. 
Also, today the Senate inducted 61 veterans from across the state into the New York State Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame for their meritorious service to our nation and as a fitting expression of our gratitude and admiration. 

Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan said, “Today’s Veterans’ Hall of Fame inductions and package of bills we passed provide an opportunity for the Senate to give back to the brave men and women who fought to protect our country, our freedoms, and our way of life.  As legislators, we must ensure we’re doing everything possible to make life better for our service members and their families who have sacrificed so much for us. Furthermore, it was a distinct privilege to honor the 61 new members of the Hall of Fame. The inductees have exemplified courage, honor, and leadership in both military and civilian life.”

Senator Thomas Croci (R, Sayville) said, “On the same day that the New York State Senate celebrates our Veteran Hall of Fame inductions, it is fitting to also pass these important changes in our laws to benefit those that serve our country. This package of bills will help provide long overdue property tax relief, protect the voting rights of military personnel who die while in service, and will allow returning Veterans the opportunity to participate in the civil service examination process.  This package also includes much needed legislation that will protect and prevent crimes against members of the military and reserves who have become targets for violent offenders.  It is vitally important that we act to curb this trend with the proper classification of the crimes committed to ensure protection of those who have made it a career protecting the citizens of this country.”

Senator William Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson) said, “Showing our appreciation to veterans and active service members cannot only be measured in words.  We must honor these patriots through our actions.  Duty, honor, country and respect drives us every single day to do the work we were brought to Albany to do.  My colleagues and I have put forward legislation that will have a meaningful impact on the lives of our veterans and their families. It is incumbent upon us to recognize that we must serve our veterans and service members with the same vigilance and patriotism that they have shown while serving our great country.”

Senator Robert Ortt (R-C-I, North Tonawanda), said “The health and well-being of both service members and their families is something I hold extremely close to my heart. These brave men and women would – without hesitation – give the ultimate sacrifice while serving our nation. Tragically, many leave behind not only spouses and partners but also children. Allowing the children of perished military personnel to receive much-needed higher education financial assistance just one way we can assist families in need while ensuring the memories and sacrifice of our nations service members is carried on.”

Bills passed include:

Protecting the Welfare of Military Personnel

S927, sponsored by Senator Croci, establishes a Class D felony for the crime of inciting violence against both active duty and reserve military service members in an effort to curb the destructive trend of targeting those who have made a career out of protecting the citizens of this country.

S955, sponsored by Senator Croci, makes it a Class C felony to commit assault against an active-duty soldier if the accused’s intent was to prevent that soldier from performing their lawful duty.

S957A, sponsored by Senator Croci, creates the Class E felony crime of stolen valor and directs that anyone convicted under this new crime pay a fee to be deposited into the veterans cemetery fund. Requiring those who deplorably impersonate the brave men and women who served in the military – whether for money or other benefits – to pay a fee towards maintaining veterans’ cemeteries is a fitting way to ensure real heroes are honored appropriately.

Making it More Affordable to Live and Thrive in New York

S936A, sponsored by Senator Croci, creates a task force to study and improve the job market for veterans. The task force, to be made up of stakeholders within state government, the private sector, and institutions of higher education, will be charged with holding annual public hearings and making recommendations to the legislature regarding ways the state can assist those who served our country in finding and maintaining meaningful employment opportunities. 

S5642A, sponsored by Senator Croci, creates a certified service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprise development and lending program to help provide financial and technical assistance to disabled veterans who have started a business in New York. Building upon the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act enacted in 2014, this legislation would help guarantee that certified service-disabled veteran-owned businesses have the necessary assistance to succeed.

S3879A, sponsored by Senator Mike Ranzenhofer (R-C-I, Amherst), encourages public employers to hire military service veterans by establishing the “Hire a Vet” program, which would provide grants to municipalities when a veteran is hired and employed. Similar to tax credits offered to private businesses, the grants would range from $5000 to $15000 for qualified and disabled veterans, and incentivize public employers to help honor and recognize sacrifices made by members of the military in service to their country.

S854, sponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R-C-I, 57th District), provides free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses to state residents who are active duty members of the United States armed services.

S3571, sponsored by Senator Fred Akshar (R-C-I-Reform, Binghamton), streamlines the process for active duty service members to receive their free Empire Passport for state park usage. Current law requires the Empire Passport to be filled out annually and to be received in the mail, making the entire process lengthy and cumbersome. Active duty service members and their immediate family would instead be eligible for the free entry to state parks by providing their military ID upon entry.

S3336, sponsored by Senator Jamaal T. Bailey (D, 36th District), grants an additional real property tax exemption for two qualified veterans who reside in the same household in relation to the alternative veterans’ exemptions. This legislation would properly recognize and financially reward all veterans who have served their country and own property in New York.

Connecting Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families with Important Services 

S255, sponsored by Senator Ortt, changes the eligibility dates for a military enhanced recognition, incentive and tribute scholarship to include all the military conflicts that occurred on or after June 1, 1982. The enactment of this bill would allow family members or financial dependents of New York State residents who were wounded or killed while serving the United States military from June 1, 1982 onward to qualify for academic scholarships such as the NYS Regents Award for Children of Veterans and the Military Service Recognition Scholarship.

S254, sponsored by Senator Ortt, provides surviving dependent family members of New York State military personnel who have died while performing official military duties with free tuition and room and board at CUNY or SUNY institutions, or a commensurate amount to be applied to a public college or university.

S5158, sponsored by Senator Ranzenhofer, assists service-related disabled veterans in affording a home by giving those with a VA disability rating of 40 percent or higher a preference in applications to the state’s Affordable Home Ownership Development Program. This legislation would help disabled veterans sustain a good quality of life after sacrificing their health for their country.

S2319, sponsored by Senator Ranzenhofer, creates a mechanism for parents or guardians who find themselves deployed for short-term military service to appoint a temporary guardian for their minor child or children while they are serving our country. With all the other worries and considerations that come with a deployment for military service, parents or guardians who are called upon to serve their country should be able to choose a guardian for their children during their deployment without undue complication.

S1013A, sponsored Senator Joseph Robach (R-C-I, Rochester), authorizes military personnel scheduled for deployment in less than 30 days to get married within 24 hours of receiving their marriage license. Currently the mandatory waiting period of 24 hours for couples to get married is a hindrance to those expected to serve our country overseas and on short notice.

S944, sponsored by Senator Croci, allows the ballot of an active duty service member who has died in combat to be counted towards the election for which it was cast. Current law prohibits the counting of an absentee ballot cast by any individual who died prior to the date of the election, but this bill gives our brave service members one final act of citizenship.

S2813, sponsored by Senator Kemp Hannon (R, Nassau), updates provisions for leaves of absence for public employees who are war veterans to continue their education by including the current federal veterans educational programs.

S200A, sponsored by Senator Kathy Marchione (R-C-I-Reform, Halfmoon), increases the base amount of the annuity for legally blind veterans and their unmarried widows, and clarifies that the formula for an annual increase consider the cost of living increase established for veteran benefits by the federal government on December 1, 2015. The blind annuity was established in 1923 in New York to help take care of veterans who made great sacrifices during wartime, and was last updated in 2004.

S3709, sponsored by Senator Ranzenhofer, establishes a Veterans’ Gerontological Advisory Committee. This measure would address the needs of a state with the second-highest veteran population in the country, and an older veteran population whose needs and problems pervade multiple geriatrics and gerontology disciplines. At no cost to the taxpayers, the advisory committee will be able to provide crucial recommendations to the Director of the Office for the Aging on policies, programs, services, and trends affecting the aging veteran population.

S733, sponsored by Senator Ortt, ensures job protection for both New York State public and private employees who live outside of New York and are deployed, as an active duty member of the National Guard. 

S1011, sponsored by Senator Joseph Robach (R-C-I, Rochester), allows any individual who has served in active duty in the United States military to attend SUNY colleges and universities as an in-state resident. Under current law, active duty veterans who choose to come to study at SUNY colleges are charged out-of-state tuition - a significant amount not entirely covered by the federal GI bill. This bill would encourage service men and women to study at state colleges and universities, and start their futures in New York.

S1124A, sponsored by Senator Marchione, provides an annual increase to the Gold Star Parent Annuity in relation to increased annual costs of living. Established in 2008, the yearly compensation shows recognition for parents that have lost a son or daughter in the armed services during a time of war, yet it has never increased since its implementation.

S2189, sponsored by Senator Kevin S. Parker (D, 21st District), empowers the state Division of Veterans’ Affairs and other state agencies to study and address the alarming trend of homeless persons who are veterans in New York, as well as the amount of homeless veterans who are also parents. The study and analysis would help gather information on the number of homeless veterans in New York, and help lead to solutions to combat the growing problem among the men and women who have served in the military and are now homeless, as well as their children.

Showing Respect for and Recognition of Service to Country

S216, sponsored by Senator Marchione, designates March 13 of each year as "K9 Veterans Day" in this state.

S6606, sponsored by Senator Young, establishes the “New York State Silver Rose Veterans Service Certificate” for veterans exposed to dioxin or phenoxy herbicides during military service. This legislation would help to bring awareness to the long-suffered effects of exposure to tactical herbicides such as Agent Orange while also recognizing and honoring the tremendous sacrifice and bravery of our veterans.

S198, sponsored by Senator Marchione, creates a new Korean War Service Medal for military service abroad in the Korean War from June 25, 1950, through July 27, 1953.

S199, sponsored by Senator Marchione, creates the Vietnam War Service Medal for military service abroad in the Vietnam War from November 1, 1955, through April 30, 1975.

S3906, sponsored by Senator Joseph Griffo (R-C-I, Rome), establishes a veterans cemetery funding promotion program, building upon the Veterans Remembrance and Cemetery Maintenance and Operation Fund and New York State Veterans Cemetery program, both created in 2013 and administered by the state Division of Veterans’ Affairs. The legislation would require the Division to produce and conduct programs, projects, and materials designed to solicit financial contributions by individuals, groups, and corporations to give to the fund, in order to support the construction and maintenance of veterans’ cemeteries in New York. Also included in the bill are directions for the Division to apply for grants and contributions from governments and other institutional funding sources, and the production of an annual report on the activities, operations, and progress of the promotion program.

S7870, sponsored by Senator Pam Helming (R-C-I, Canandaigua), establishes the “Veterans’ Memorials Preservation Act,” to help protect veterans’ memorials throughout the state. An  omission under current law has resulted in many veterans' memorials being destroyed by those with disregard for the sacrifices of our veterans – something this measure would help correct by further providing for the preservation of military history in New York to ensure that future generations understand the significance of what military service veterans have done to preserve democracy and freedom.

S3675A, sponsored by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D, 15th District), creates the option for a voluntary contribution on state personal income tax returns for congressional chartered veterans service organizations. By contributing to organizations like the Veterans Service Organizations Fund, taxpayers would be helping to cut through red tape and connect veterans with services they have earned without any effect on state fiscal concerns.

The bills have been sent to the Assembly.

Earlier this session, the Senate also succeeded in restoring significant budget funding cuts for veterans’ initiatives as part of the enacted budget and increased funding for several programs that support veterans and their families. Funding includes:

· $645,000 in additional funding to expand the Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Services Peer-to-Peer Program to an additional seven counties. Total funding for this successful program, which is based on veterans helping veterans, is now $3.7 million and reaches 23 counties;
· $500,000 for the NYS Defenders Association Veterans Defense Program;
· $250,000 in additional funding for the Veterans Outreach Center in Monroe County, for a total of $500,000;
· $450,000 for the Veteran's Mental Health Training Initiative; 
· $220,000 to expand the Veterans Defense Program to Long Island
· $200,000 for Legal Services of the Hudson Valley Veterans and Military Families Advocacy Project;
· $200,000 for Warrior Salute;
· $100,000 for the Veterans Justice Project;
· $100,000 for the SAGE Veterans Project;
· $50,000 for the Vietnam Veterans of America New York State Council;
· $200,000 for Helmets-to-Hardhats;
· $25,000 for the Veterans Miracle Center; and
· $125,000 for Veterans of Foreign Wars NYS Chapter Field Service Operations.

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