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A06213 Summary:

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A06213 Floor Votes:

A06213 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         6213--B
 
                               2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     March 15, 2013
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. RAMOS, CUSICK, ORTIZ, MAGNARELLI, NOLAN, LUPARDO,
          TITONE, SKARTADOS, OTIS, AUBRY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. PERRY
          --  read  once  and  referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs --
          committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
          recommitted to said committee -- ordered to a third reading -- commit-

          ted  to  the  Committee  on Veterans' Affairs -- committee discharged,
          bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said
          committee
 
        AN  ACT  to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the New
          York  state  interagency  coordinating  council  for  service-disabled
          veterans,  defining the powers and duties of the council and requiring
          an annual report by the council to the governor, the temporary  presi-
          dent of the senate and the speaker of the assembly
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature hereby recognizes  that
     2  New  York  state's veterans, particularly those who suffered service-re-
     3  lated disabilities, have unique needs as a result of the sacrifices they

     4  made during their military service. It is also  hereby  acknowledged  by
     5  the legislature that due to the complexity of their needs, such individ-
     6  uals  require  accessible,  coordinated, and specialized services within
     7  their communities from multiple state and local agencies.  The  legisla-
     8  ture finds that there is an immediate need for a statewide comprehensive
     9  program to coordinate such services.
    10    §  2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 369 to read
    11  as follows:
    12    § 369. New York state interagency coordinating  council  for  service-
    13  disabled veterans. There is hereby established the New York state inter-
    14  agency  coordinating council for service-disabled veterans in the execu-
    15  tive department to have and exercise the functions,  powers  and  duties
 

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05544-04-4
        A. 6213--B                          2
 
     1  provided  by  the  provisions of this section and any other provision of
     2  law.
     3    1. As used in this section the following terms shall mean:
     4    (a)  "council" means the New York state interagency coordinating coun-
     5  cil for service-disabled veterans;
     6    (b) "veteran" means a person, male or female, resident of this  state,
     7  who  has  served  in  the  active military, naval, or air service of the
     8  United States during a war in which the United States  engaged  and  who

     9  has  been  released  from  such  service  otherwise than by dishonorable
    10  discharge, or who has been furloughed to the reserve; and
    11    (c) "service-disabled veteran" means a veteran with a disability  that
    12  was  incurred  or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military,
    13  naval, or air service.
    14    2. The council shall consist of the  following  ten  agency  heads  or
    15  their  designees:  director  of  the  division of veterans' affairs, who
    16  shall serve as chair of the council, the adjutant general of  the  divi-
    17  sion  of  military and naval affairs, the commissioner of the department
    18  of health, the commissioner of the office of mental health, the  commis-
    19  sioner  of  the  office  of alcoholism and substance abuse services, the

    20  commissioner of the department of labor, the commissioner of  the  divi-
    21  sion of housing and community renewal, the commissioner of the education
    22  department,  the  commissioner  of the department of transportation, and
    23  the director of the office for the aging. In addition, the council shall
    24  consist of nine service-disabled veterans, three to be appointed by  the
    25  governor,  two to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate,
    26  two to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one to be  appointed
    27  by  the  minority  leader  of  the senate and one to be appointed by the
    28  minority leader of the assembly. The members of the council shall  serve
    29  terms  of  two  years;  provided,  however,  that  of  the members first

    30  appointed, the members appointed by the governor shall serve  for  terms
    31  of  three  years and the remaining members, appointed by the legislative
    32  leaders, shall serve for terms of two  years.  Members  of  the  council
    33  shall  receive  no  compensation for their services but shall be allowed
    34  their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their
    35  functions hereunder.
    36    3. The council shall have the following powers and duties:
    37    (a) to promote the implementation of a comprehensive statewide program
    38  of coordinated services for service-disabled veterans that includes: (1)
    39  matters pertaining to educational training and retraining  services  and
    40  facilities,  (2) health, medical and rehabilitation services and facili-

    41  ties, (3) employment and re-employment services including small business
    42  opportunities, (4) housing options, (5) transportation options, (6) long
    43  term care, (7) personal care,  (8)  day  program  services,  (9)  family
    44  outreach  and  (10)  other  essential  services  that  maximize existing
    45  resources and administrative mechanisms;
    46    (b) to disseminate general information  about  available  services  to
    47  service-disabled  veterans  and  how such services can be accessed. Such
    48  information shall be posted on the division's website or be available in
    49  printed form;
    50    (c) to receive complaints in matters affecting service-disabled veter-
    51  ans and to refer such complaints to the appropriate regulatory  agencies

    52  where it deems necessary or appropriate; and
    53    (d)  to conduct an ongoing evaluation of the needs of service-disabled
    54  veterans.
    55    4. The council shall meet as necessary to  carry  out  its  functions,
    56  powers  and  duties,  but  such  meetings shall occur at least once each
        A. 6213--B                          3
 
     1  quarter. Furthermore, the council shall seek to consult with the network
     2  directors of the veterans integrated service networks, VISN 2  and  VISN
     3  3.
     4    5.  The  council shall provide a report to the governor, the temporary
     5  president of the senate and the speaker of the  assembly  on  or  before
     6  September  first  of  each year, beginning in two thousand fifteen. Such

     7  report shall summarize the council's activity during the previous fiscal
     8  year and detailing legislative recommendations appropriate to effectuate
     9  the purposes of this section, and any other recommendations for  improv-
    10  ing service delivery and coordination, reducing duplication and fragmen-
    11  tation  and  facilitating  the most efficient use of existing resources.
    12  Such report shall also include a proposed agenda consisting of  specific
    13  issues that the council plans to address during the current fiscal year.
    14    §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
    15  have become a law; provided, however, that  effective  immediately,  the
    16  addition,  amendment  and/or  repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
    17  for the implementation of this act on its effective date are  authorized

    18  and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.