Establishes the governor's military council for purposes of growing and protecting major military activities in the state, to leverage such military activities into creating additional defense-related jobs, and to help local units of government improve the quality of life of members of the armed forces and their families in New York state.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1225
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 8, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
ty and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the governor's mili-
tary council
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 192 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 192. Governor's military council. 1. There is hereby established
4 within the division of military and naval affairs a council to be known
5 as the "governor's military council". The mission of the governor's
6 military council is to grow and protect major military activities
7 located in the state of New York, to leverage such military activities
8 into creating additional defense related jobs, and to help local units
9 of government improve the quality of life of members of the armed forces
10 and their families in this state.
11 2. (a) The governor's military council shall consist of no more than
12 twelve members, each to serve for a term of three years. Such members
13 shall be appointed as follows: one member shall be appointed by the
14 temporary president of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the
15 minority leader of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the
16 speaker of the assembly; one member shall be appointed by the minority
17 leader of the assembly; and eight members shall be appointed by the
18 governor. Of the twelve members, such members shall include the adjutant
19 general, the commissioner of economic development, the commissioner of
20 labor, and the director of the division of veterans' affairs, or their
21 designated representatives. Of the twelve members, such members shall
22 include one member from each area in this state in which a military base
23 is located, including Kings county, Jefferson county, Orange county, and
24 Saratoga county. The governor shall designate one member as chairperson,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04979-01-1
S. 1225 2
1 and may designate other officers as deemed appropriate. Base or post
2 commanders may serve as ex-officio members of the council. Appointments
3 shall be made within sixty days of the effective date of this section.
4 Vacancies in the council shall be filled in the manner provided for
5 original appointments.
6 (b) The members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the
7 governor and shall receive no compensation for services performed or
8 reimbursement for expenses incurred pursuant to this section. The
9 members shall meet upon the call of the chairperson as necessary to
10 carry out the duties set forth in subdivision three of this section.
11 3. The duties of the governor's military council shall be to initiate,
12 study, and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature,
13 with respect to strategies to:
14 (a) optimize the military presence in this state through the removal
15 of operational impediments, increasing operating efficiencies, and
16 recruitment or acquisition of new missions and force structure;
17 (b) foster close, effective cooperation among the installations, and
18 public and private sectors throughout the state;
19 (c) pursue initiatives to enhance the quality of life for all active
20 and reserve component military personnel;
21 (d) explore and develop outreach opportunities for individuals
22 discharging or retiring from military service to use their talents and
23 skills as members of the state workforce;
24 (e) assist in the development, coordination, and execution of strate-
25 gies required by any future change in missions proposed by the depart-
26 ment of defense; and
27 (f) grow defense-related industries in areas around the state's mili-
28 tary bases and installations.
29 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
