Senator Kaplan Passes Pro-Veteran Legislation, Celebrates West Point Day

<<See photos from West Point Day here >>

(Albany, NY) The State Senate Democratic Majority welcomed cadets and staff from the United State Military Academy, known more commonly as West Point, for the annual West Point Day, including Hicksville High School graduate Cadet Jongbum Chae of Hicksville. Additionally, the State Senate passed several bills to help veterans more easily return to civilian life, including a bill by Senator Anna M. Kaplan which would better publicize veterans’ service agencies and programs, and a bill highlighting state agency positions specifically designed to be filled by disabled veterans.

"I was so proud to welcome Cadet Jongbum Chae and all our guests from West Point to the Senate chamber as we recognized them for their commitment to our country, and thanked them for their service on behalf of all New Yorkers," said Senator Anna M. Kaplan.

The legislation advanced by the Senate Majority includes:

• “55-c” Eligible Jobs Notifications: This bill, S.3300, requires state agencies to prominently identify on any job posting that meets the requirements of section 55-c of the civil service law that such job is "55-c Eligible." The 55-c program allows state agencies to set aside certain state positions, which are to be filled by disabled veterans, but is not currently being fully utilized.
• Veterans Service Information: This bill, S.2405, introduced by Senator Anna M. Kaplan, requires the Division of Veterans’ Services to list information regarding the location and operating hours of local veterans’ service agencies on its website.

Senator Anna M. Kaplan concluded, “Navigating government services can often be difficult and confusing, so I am happy to find any way possible to make it easier for our constituents to access the services they need, particularly when it comes to our veterans.  I’m proud to sponsor legislation to create an easy, up-to-date directory of local veterans’ service agencies, so that veterans can find the information they need easily and all in one place.”