Amd S353, Exec L; amd S3803, Pub Health L; amd S29, Cor L
Provides additional benefits for veterans; provides for services and counseling related to post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries; requires reports to the legislature concerning the number of veterans who are incarcerated.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2102A REVISED 5/30/12
SPONSOR: Lavine 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 correction law, in relation to requiring certain reports
relating to veterans
PURPOSE: To develop, in consultation with the department of mental
health, a program for the identification, diagnosis, counseling and
treatment of veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder,
traumatic brain injury and other brain-related injuries. Such program
shall include procedures for identifying veterans who may need assist-
ance and information and outreach to make veterans aware of available
programs and services
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the executive law to require the division of veterans'
affairs to develop with the department of mental health a program to
identify and treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disor-
der, traumatic brain injury and other brain-related injuries.
Section 2 amends the Veterans Health Care Information Program in the New
York State Department of Health 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-re-
lated 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).
Section 3 requires that the State Commissioner of the Department of
Corrections and Community Supervision 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.
