A08730 Summary:

BILL NO    A08730A

SAME AS    Same as S 5799-A

SPONSOR    Lavine

COSPNSR    

MLTSPNSR   

Amd S353, add SS353-a & 353-b, Exec L; amd S3803, Pub Health L; amd S95, Soc
Serv L; amd S71, Cor L

Provides additional benefits for veterans; provides for services and counseling
related to post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries; gives tax credits
for employers who provide compensation to employees serving in active duty in
the national guard or military reserves; requires reports to the legislature
concerning the number of veterans and families of active duty members who
receive food stamps and the number of veterans who are incarcerated.

A08730 Actions:

BILL NO    A08730A

06/04/2009 referred to veterans' affairs
01/06/2010 referred to veterans' affairs
01/20/2010 amend (t) and recommit to veterans' affairs
01/20/2010 print number 8730a

A08730 Votes:

A08730 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A8730A

TITLE  OF  BILL:    An  act  to amend the executive law and the public
health law, in relation to providing certain benefits to veterans; and
to amend the social services law and the correction law,  in  relation
to requiring certain reports relating to veterans

PURPOSE:  To  create a study on various important aspects of the lives
of this State's veterans.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:    IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN  THEATER  VETERANS
COUNSELING:    Section  1  is  designed  to  create  a  public/private
partnership to provide additional counseling services to the thousands
of Few Yorkers returning from the war and their families  focusing  on
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and physical care;

VETERAN  SUICIDES:  The Albany Times Union reported on May 19, 2007 at
page Al: "Suicide Taking a Terrible Toll on War Vets, Self-destruction
haunts some returning veterans who struggle to  adjust."  The  article
states  that  "since  2001, 988 soldiers in the Army, Army Reserve and
Army National Guard have killed themselves and  about  four  of  every
five  of  them were on active duty. Perhaps most startling are suicide
attempts.  The   army   last   year   said   attempts   had   'climbed
exponentially,'  from 350 when first tracked in 2002 to 2,100 in 2007.
Failed relationships, tangled finances and  legal  problems,  combined
with  a  long  war,  play roles in suicides, military officials said."
Section 2 directs the Director of Veterans' Affairs to report annually
on the number of suicides among veterans in Mew York;

HOMELESS VETERANS:  Recent news accounts relate  that  the  number  of
homeless  veterans  is  far greater than previously believed. For that
reason, Section 2 mandates that the State Director  shall  investigate
and report annually on the number of homeless veterans in New York;

HEALTHCARE:  Section 3 creates the Veterans Health Care Program in the
New  York  State  Division of Veterans' Affairs to provide information
for veterans, their families  and  health  care  providers  on  health
issues  associated  with  military  duty such as post-traumatic stress
disorder and brain-related injuries (in addition to  already  included
features  such  as Agent Orange, Gulf War Syndrome, toxic materials or
harmful physical agents such as depleted uranium and hepatitis C).

HUNGER AND NUTRITION:  Section 11 requires OTDA to report annually  to
the  legislature  on the number of deployed veterans' families who are
receiving food stamps or are participating in food assistance programs
in New York;

IMPRISONED VETERANS:  Section 12 requires that the State  Commissioner
of  Correctional  Services shall report annually to the legislature on
the number of veterans who are inmates in New  York  State  and  local
correctional facilities.

JUSTIFICATION:  Current  deployments  to the Middle East involve long,
dangerous and repeated tours of duty, with our  citizen  soldiers  and
their families performing above and beyond the call of duty. This bill
will  serve  to  assist  veterans  and  their  families  by helping to


determine the numbers in need and by maintaining the work salaries for
deployed members of service.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.