Requires the notification to veterans of the availability of veterans' services free of charge by federal, state, and local veteran agencies; requires certain disclosures to be provided when notifying veterans about available services; provides for civil penalties for any violations.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8106
SPONSOR: Ra TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to requiring the
notification to veterans of the availability of veterans' services free
of charge by federal, state, and local veteran agencies
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill protects veterans from being unnecessarily charged for being
assisted on finding veterans services from individuals when the dissem-
ination of such information is freely available.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one establishes a new section in veterans service law.
Subsection one defines the terms used throughout the bill.
Subsection two prohibits any person from receiving compensation for
advising veterans on any veteran services that may be available except
as where permitted by federal law.
Subsection three requires that any person advising a veteran about
veterans services must issue a disclosure statement to the veteran they
are advising by stating that the business is not sponsored by any feder-
al, state, or local veteran agencies and that any advertisement for
compensation services must also include a disclosure statement saying
the person is not sponsored by any federal, state, or local veteran
agencies.
Subsection four establishes a civil penalty for violations of this
section.
Section two establishes the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill will prohibit the predatory charging by individual, corpo-
ration, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability
company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government or
governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal
or commercial entity, for providing information about veteran services
to veterans when such information is readily available free of charge.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
No costs to state, county, or municipal governments. Minimal increase in
revenue due to civil penalties to be used to support veteran service
programs.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
