S02096 Summary:

BILL NOS02096D
 
SAME ASSAME AS A08298-B
 
SPONSORMURPHY
 
COSPNSRCROCI, LARKIN, ORTT, CARLUCCI, GALLIVAN, GOLDEN, MARCHIONE, O'MARA, RANZENHOFER, SERINO, SEWARD
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §216-a, Art 14 §§400 - 405, Mil L; add §82, St Fin L; amd §5205, CPLR; amd §§612 & 658, Tax L; amd §190, Exec L
 
Establishes the "New York's Own combat veterans healthcare choice program act" to establish tax free savings accounts to pay the healthcare costs of combat veterans on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, until covered by the federal government; and directs the division of military and naval affairs to establish a registry of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans.
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S02096 Actions:

BILL NOS02096D
 
01/12/2017REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
03/27/2017REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
04/25/2017AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
04/25/2017PRINT NUMBER 2096A
05/02/2017AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
05/02/2017PRINT NUMBER 2096B
06/07/2017AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE
06/07/2017PRINT NUMBER 2096C
01/03/2018REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
01/25/2018AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS
01/25/2018PRINT NUMBER 2096D
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S02096 Committee Votes:

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S02096 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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S02096 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         2096--D
 
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                    January 12, 2017
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sens.  MURPHY,  CROCI, LARKIN, ORTT, CARLUCCI, GALLIVAN,
          GOLDEN, MARCHIONE, O'MARA, RANZENHOFER, SERINO, SEWARD --  read  twice
          and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
          on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -- reported favor-
          ably  from said committee and committed to the Committee on Finance --
          committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
          recommitted  to  said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended,
          ordered reprinted as amended and  recommitted  to  said  committee  --
          committee  discharged,  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
          recommitted to said committee  --  recommitted  to  the  Committee  on
          Veterans,  Homeland  Security  and Military Affairs in accordance with
          Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill  amended,  ordered
          reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
        AN ACT to amend the military law, the state finance law, the civil prac-
          tice  law and rules, the tax law and the executive law, in relation to
          establishing the "New York's Own  combat  veterans  healthcare  choice
          program act"
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
     2  the "New York's Own combat veterans healthcare choice program act".
     3    § 2. The military law is amended by adding a new section 216-a to read
     4  as follows:
     5    § 216-a. Medical care when injured or disabled in combat zone.  1. Any
     6  New  York  resident  member  of the organized militia who shall, when on
     7  active duty in a combat zone, designated by the president of the  United
     8  States during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, for
     9  three  hundred  sixty days or more on orders issued by the governor, the
    10  commanding general of the New York army national guard,  the  commanding
    11  officer  of the New York air national guard or the commanding officer of
    12  the naval militia, receive any wound or injury, or incur or contract any
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02315-10-8

        S. 2096--D                          2
 
     1  disability or disease, by reason of such  duty,  or  who  shall  without
     2  fault  or  neglect  on  his  or  her  part  be wounded or disabled while
     3  performing any lawfully ordered duty while in such a combat zone,  which
     4  shall  incapacitate  him  or her, and who is unable to receive timely or
     5  adequate healthcare services from the  federal  Department  of  Veterans
     6  Affairs within ninety days of making application for such services shall
     7  receive  the payment into such service member's New York combat veterans
     8  healthcare choice account established pursuant to  article  fourteen  of
     9  this  chapter  for  care  and medical treatment if authority therefor is
    10  granted by the adjutant general, expenses for such    care  and  medical
    11  attendance  as are necessary for the appropriate treatment of the wound,
    12  injury, disease or disability may be  paid  from  the  New  York  combat
    13  veterans  healthcare  choice  account as provided in article fourteen of
    14  this chapter until treatment is provided by the federal Veterans  Admin-
    15  istration,  or the incapacity resulting from such wound, injury, disease
    16  or disability cannot be materially improved by further  care  or  treat-
    17  ment.  The  determination of whether such injury or disease was incurred
    18  while performing such lawfully ordered active duty  in  a  combat  zone,
    19  designated by the president of the United States during Operation Endur-
    20  ing Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, shall be in accordance with this
    21  section and such regulations as may be prescribed by the adjutant gener-
    22  al.
    23    2.  If  care  for  such  a  service member is approved by the adjutant
    24  general and the service member shall have  created  a  New  York  combat
    25  veterans  healthcare  choice account in accordance with article fourteen
    26  of this chapter, the state shall make a payment of five thousand dollars
    27  into such service member's combat veterans  healthcare  choice  account.
    28  Such payment shall not exceed five thousand dollars in any calendar year
    29  and  shall  be  discontinued upon the service member receiving care from
    30  the federal Department of Veterans Affairs for the injuries or disabili-
    31  ties sustained while in qualified state service.
    32    3. None of the benefits provided by subdivision one  of  this  section
    33  shall  be  paid or allowed unless a claim therefor has been presented to
    34  the adjutant general within three years after the date when such  wound,
    35  injury,  disease or disability was incurred, or from the date of discov-
    36  ery of such wound, injury, disease or disability.  None of the  benefits
    37  provided  by subdivision one of this section shall be paid or allowed by
    38  the state for any period during which such member of the organized mili-
    39  tia is entitled to receive the same as a charge against federal funds.
    40    4. a. Where a claim is made under this section  the  adjutant  general
    41  will  make a determination as to whether valid application or attempt to
    42  schedule an appointment to file an application for care was made to  the
    43  federal  Veterans  Administration  and  whether  ninety  days shall have
    44  passed since such application or attempt was made. The adjutant  general
    45  may cause examinations of the claimant to be made from time to time by a
    46  physician, surgeon or dentist designated for the purpose by the adjutant
    47  general,  and he or she may direct the removal of a claimant to, and his
    48  or her treatment in, a hospital designated by the adjutant general,  and
    49  if  the  claimant refuses to permit any such examination or if he or she
    50  refuses to go to such hospital or to follow the advice given  or  treat-
    51  ment  prescribed for him or her therein, he or she shall thereby forfeit
    52  and be barred from all right  to  any  claim  or  allowance  under  this
    53  section.
    54    b.  The  adjutant general may appoint a medical examiner or a board of
    55  three officers, at least one of whom shall  be  a  medical  officer,  to
    56  inquire  into  the merits of any claim presented under this section, and

        S. 2096--D                          3

     1  to recommend the amount or amounts, if any, to be paid or allowed  under
     2  this  section, or he or she may, in his or her discretion, determine any
     3  claim without appointing a medical examiner or board and fix the  amount
     4  to  be  paid  or  allowed  under  this section. If no medical officer is
     5  available, such medical examiner or medical officer on such board may be
     6  a civilian physician, surgeon or dentist.
     7    c. A medical examiner or board appointed under this section shall have
     8  the same power to take evidence, administer oaths, issue  subpoenas  and
     9  compel  witnesses to attend and testify and to produce books and papers,
    10  and to punish their failure to do so as is possessed by military courts.
    11    d. The findings and recommendations of the medical examiner  or  board
    12  shall   be  submitted  to  the  adjutant  general  who  may  return  the
    13  proceedings to such examiner or board for reconsideration or for  taking
    14  further  testimony and who shall approve or disapprove the claim and fix
    15  the amount, if any, to be paid or allowed under this section. The amount
    16  so fixed by the adjutant general shall be a charge against and  be  paid
    17  in the manner provided by this section, by the state.
    18    § 3. The military law is amended by adding a new article 14 to read as
    19  follows:
    20                                 ARTICLE 14
    21          NEW YORK'S OWN COMBAT VETERANS HEALTHCARE CHOICE PROGRAM
    22  Section 400. Program established.
    23          401. Purpose.
    24          402. Definitions.
    25          403. Functions of the comptroller and the division.
    26          404. Program  requirements;  New York combat veterans healthcare
    27                 choice account.
    28          405. Program limitations; New York  combat  veterans  healthcare
    29                 choice account.
    30    §  400. Program established.  There is hereby established the New York
    31  combat veterans healthcare choice program  and  such  program  shall  be
    32  known and may be cited as the "New York's Own combat veterans healthcare
    33  choice program".
    34    §  401.  Purpose. The purposes of the New York combat veterans health-
    35  care choice program are  to  authorize  the  establishment  of  veterans
    36  healthcare choice accounts and provide guidelines for the maintenance of
    37  such accounts to:
    38    1.  Enable  resident  veteran members of the organized militia of this
    39  state who were on active duty in a combat zone, designated by the presi-
    40  dent of the United States during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation
    41  Iraqi Freedom, to obtain healthcare from the provider of  their  choice,
    42  with  funds  from  a  New York combat veterans healthcare choice account
    43  funded by the state and the service member in accordance with this arti-
    44  cle, when after ninety days of making application to  or  attempting  to
    45  schedule  an  appointment  with  the federal Veterans Administration for
    46  such care, the service member is unable to  secure  timely  or  adequate
    47  healthcare  services for injuries and disabilities sustained in the line
    48  of active duty in such a combat zone, whenever ordered into such  combat
    49  zone  for three hundred sixty days or more by the governor, the command-
    50  ing general of the New York army national guard, the commanding  officer
    51  of  the  New  York  air  national guard or the commanding officer of the
    52  naval militia;
    53    2. Provide funding from the state for New York combat veterans health-
    54  care choice accounts in an amount of up to  five  thousand  dollars  per
    55  calendar year for a period not to exceed three years, when in accordance
    56  with  this  article, a qualified state resident combat veteran is unable

        S. 2096--D                          4

     1  to secure healthcare services within ninety days of  making  application
     2  or  scheduling  an  appointment  to  make  such  an application for such
     3  services from the federal Veterans Administration; and
     4    3.  To  create  a  state  personal  income  tax  deduction for amounts
     5  contributed by qualified resident combat veterans to a New  York  combat
     6  veterans healthcare choice account in an amount not to exceed five thou-
     7  sand dollars per calendar year as provided in this article.
     8    § 402. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
     9  have the following meanings:
    10    1.  "Account"  or "New York combat veterans healthcare choice account"
    11  shall mean an individual savings account established in accordance  with
    12  the provisions of this article.
    13    2.  "Account  owner"  shall  mean  a person who enters into a New York
    14  combat veterans healthcare choice  account  agreement  pursuant  to  the
    15  provisions  of  this article, including a person who enters into such an
    16  agreement as a fiduciary or agent on behalf of a trust, estate, partner-
    17  ship, association, company or corporation. The account owner may also be
    18  the designated beneficiary of the account.
    19    3. "Designated beneficiary" shall mean, with respect to an account  or
    20  accounts,  the  individual designated as the individual whose healthcare
    21  expenses are expected to be paid from the account or accounts.
    22    4. "Financial organization" shall mean an organization  authorized  to
    23  do  business in the state of New York and (a) is an authorized fiduciary
    24  to act as a trustee pursuant to the provisions of  an  Act  of  Congress
    25  entitled  "Employee  Retirement  Income  Security  Act  of 1974" as such
    26  provisions may be amended from time to time, or  an  insurance  company;
    27  and  (b)(i)  is  licensed  or  chartered  by the department of financial
    28  services, (ii) is chartered by an  agency  of  the  federal  government,
    29  (iii)  is  subject  to the jurisdiction and regulation of the securities
    30  and exchange commission of the federal government, or (iv) is any  other
    31  entity  otherwise  authorized  to  act  in  this state as a trustee of a
    32  health savings account pursuant to the provisions of an act of  congress
    33  entitled the "Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization
    34  Act", as such provisions may be amended from time to time.
    35    5.  "Eligible  healthcare  institution"  shall  mean  any  institution
    36  licensed, certified or authorized by the  state  to  provide  healthcare
    37  services.
    38    6. "Member of family" shall mean a family member as defined in section
    39  529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
    40    7. "Program" shall mean the New York combat veterans healthcare choice
    41  account program established pursuant to this article.
    42    8.  "Qualified  healthcare  expenses"  shall  mean any medical expense
    43  deductible on federal income taxes.
    44    9. "Qualified state service" shall mean active duty  service  rendered
    45  while  being  ordered into a combat zone, designated by the president of
    46  the United States during Operation Enduring Freedom or  Operation  Iraqi
    47  Freedom,  for  three  hundred  sixty  days  or more by the governor, the
    48  commanding general of the New York army national guard,  the  commanding
    49  officer  of the New York air national guard or the commanding officer of
    50  the naval militia.
    51    10. "Qualified withdrawal" shall mean a withdrawal from an account  to
    52  pay  the qualified healthcare expenses of a service member or designated
    53  beneficiary of an account at an eligible healthcare institution.
    54    11. "Nonqualified withdrawal" shall mean a withdrawal from an  account
    55  which is not:
    56    a. a qualified withdrawal; or

        S. 2096--D                          5
 
     1    b.  a  withdrawal made as the result of the death or disability of the
     2  designated beneficiary of the account.
     3    12. "Division" shall mean the division of military and naval affairs.
     4    13. "Comptroller" shall mean the state comptroller.
     5    14.  "Management  contract"  shall  mean  the contract executed by the
     6  comptroller and a financial organization selected to act as a depository
     7  and manager of the program.
     8    15. "New York combat veterans  healthcare  choice  account  agreement"
     9  shall mean an agreement between the comptroller or a financial organiza-
    10  tion and an account owner.
    11    16.  "Program manager" shall mean a financial organization selected by
    12  the comptroller to act as depository and manager of the program.
    13    § 403. Functions of the comptroller and the  division.  1.  The  comp-
    14  troller and the division shall implement the program under the terms and
    15  conditions established by this article and a memorandum of understanding
    16  relating to any terms or conditions not otherwise expressly provided for
    17  in this article.
    18    2. In furtherance of such implementation the memorandum of understand-
    19  ing  shall  address  the authority and responsibility of the comptroller
    20  and the division to:
    21    a. develop and implement the program in a manner consistent  with  the
    22  provisions  of this article through rules and regulations established in
    23  accordance with the state administrative procedure act;
    24    b. engage the services of consultants on a contract basis for  render-
    25  ing professional and technical assistance and advice;
    26    c.  seek  rulings and other guidance from the United States Department
    27  of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service relating to the program;
    28    d. make changes to the program required for the  participants  in  the
    29  program  to obtain the federal income tax benefits or treatment provided
    30  for health savings accounts;
    31    e. charge, impose and collect administrative fees and service  charges
    32  in  connection  with  any agreement, contract or transaction relating to
    33  the program;
    34    f. develop marketing plans and promotion material;
    35    g. establish the methods by which the funds held in such  accounts  be
    36  dispersed;
    37    h.  establish  the method by which funds shall be allocated to pay for
    38  administrative costs; and
    39    i. do all things necessary and proper to carry  out  the  purposes  of
    40  this article.
    41    §  404.  Program  requirements;  New  York  combat veterans healthcare
    42  choice account. 1. New York combat veterans healthcare  choice  accounts
    43  established pursuant to the provisions of this article shall be governed
    44  by the provisions of this section.
    45    2.  A New York combat veterans healthcare choice account may be opened
    46  by any person who desires to save money for the payment of the qualified
    47  healthcare expenses of the designated beneficiary. An account owner  may
    48  designate  another  qualified  service  member as successor owner of the
    49  account in the event of the death of the original  account  owner.  Such
    50  person  who  opens an account or any successor owner shall be considered
    51  the account owner.
    52    a. An application for such account shall be in the form prescribed  by
    53  the program and contain the following:
    54    (i) the name, address and social security number or employer identifi-
    55  cation number of the account owner;
    56    (ii) the designation of a designated beneficiary;

        S. 2096--D                          6
 
     1    (iii)  the name, address, and social security number of the designated
     2  beneficiary; and
     3    (iv) such other information as the program may require.
     4    b.  The  comptroller  and the division may establish a nominal fee for
     5  such application.
     6    3. Any person, including the account owner, may make contributions  to
     7  the account after the account is opened.
     8    4. Contributions to accounts may be made only in cash.
     9    5.  An account owner may make a qualified withdrawal of all or part of
    10  the balance from an account on sixty days notice or such shorter  period
    11  as may be authorized under rules governing the program. Such rules shall
    12  include  provisions  that  will generally enable the determination as to
    13  whether a withdrawal is a nonqualified withdrawal or a  qualified  with-
    14  drawal.
    15    6.  An  account  owner  may  change  the  designated beneficiary of an
    16  account to a service member who is a member of the family of  the  prior
    17  designated  beneficiary in accordance with procedures established by the
    18  memorandum of understanding pursuant to the provisions of  section  four
    19  hundred three of this article.
    20    7.  The  program shall provide separate accounting for each designated
    21  beneficiary.
    22    8. No account owner or designated beneficiary of any account shall  be
    23  permitted to direct the investment of any contributions to an account or
    24  the earnings thereon more than two times in any calendar year.
    25    9.  Neither  an  account owner nor a designated beneficiary may use an
    26  interest in an account as security for a loan. Any pledge of an interest
    27  in an account shall be of no force and effect.
    28    10. The comptroller shall promulgate rules or regulations  to  prevent
    29  contributions  on  behalf  of  a  designated beneficiary in excess of an
    30  amount that would cause the aggregate account balance for  all  accounts
    31  for  a  designated  beneficiary  to exceed a maximum account balance, as
    32  established from time to time by the comptroller and the division on the
    33  basis of healthcare costs in the  state,  with  adequate  safeguards  to
    34  prevent  more  contributions than necessary to provide for the qualified
    35  healthcare costs of the beneficiary, as required to maintain the program
    36  as a "qualified health savings program" pursuant to federal law.
    37    11. a. If there is any distribution from an account to any  individual
    38  or  for  the  benefit  of  any  individual  during a calendar year, such
    39  distribution shall be reported to the Internal Revenue Service  and  the
    40  account  owner,  the  designated  beneficiary, or the distributee to the
    41  extent required by federal law or regulation.
    42    b. Statements shall be provided to each account owner  at  least  once
    43  each  year within sixty days after the end of the twelve month period to
    44  which they relate. The statement shall identify the  contributions  made
    45  during  a preceding twelve month period, the total contributions made to
    46  the account through the end of the period, the value of the  account  at
    47  the  end  of  such period, distributions made during such period and any
    48  other information that the comptroller shall require to be  reported  to
    49  the account owner.
    50    c.  Statements  and information relating to accounts shall be prepared
    51  and filed to the extent required by federal and state tax law.
    52    12. a.  A  local  government  or  organization  described  in  section
    53  501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may open and
    54  become  the  account  owner  of  an account to fund qualified healthcare
    55  expenses for persons whose identity will be  determined  upon  disburse-
    56  ment.

        S. 2096--D                          7

     1    b.  In  the case of any account opened pursuant to paragraph a of this
     2  subdivision the requirement set forth in subdivision two of this section
     3  that a designated beneficiary be designated when an  account  is  opened
     4  shall  not  apply  and  each individual who receives an interest in such
     5  account  as  a  qualified healthcare expense grant shall be treated as a
     6  designated beneficiary with respect to such interest.
     7    13. An annual fee may be imposed upon the account owner for the  main-
     8  tenance of the account.
     9    14. The program shall disclose the following information in writing to
    10  each  account  owner  and prospective account owner of a New York combat
    11  veterans healthcare choice account:
    12    a. the terms and conditions for purchasing a New York combat  veterans
    13  healthcare choice account;
    14    b. any restrictions on the substitution of beneficiaries;
    15    c.  the  person  or  entity  entitled to terminate the New York combat
    16  veterans healthcare choice account agreement;
    17    d. the period of time during which a beneficiary may receive  benefits
    18  under the New York combat veterans healthcare choice account agreement;
    19    e.  the  terms  and  conditions  under  which  money  may be wholly or
    20  partially withdrawn from the program, including, but not limited to, any
    21  reasonable charges and fees that may be imposed for withdrawal;
    22    f. the probable tax consequences associated with contributions to  and
    23  distributions from accounts; and
    24    g. all other rights and obligations pursuant to New York combat veter-
    25  ans  healthcare  choice  account agreements, and any other terms, condi-
    26  tions, and provisions deemed necessary and appropriate by the  terms  of
    27  the  memorandum  of  understanding entered into pursuant to section four
    28  hundred three of this article.
    29    15. New York combat  veterans  healthcare  choice  account  agreements
    30  shall  be  subject  to  section  fourteen-c  of  the banking law and the
    31  "truth-in-savings" regulations promulgated thereunder.
    32    16. Nothing in this article or in any New York combat veterans health-
    33  care choice account agreement entered  into  pursuant  to  this  article
    34  shall be construed as a guarantee by the state or any healthcare provid-
    35  er  that a beneficiary will be admitted to an eligible healthcare insti-
    36  tution, or, upon admission to an eligible healthcare institution will be
    37  permitted to remain in such eligible healthcare institution.
    38    § 405. Program limitations; New York combat veterans healthcare choice
    39  account. 1. Nothing in this article shall be construed to:
    40    a. give any designated beneficiary any rights or legal  interest  with
    41  respect  to  an account unless the designated beneficiary is the account
    42  owner;
    43    b. guarantee that a designated beneficiary  will  be  admitted  to  an
    44  eligible healthcare institution;
    45    c.  create  state residency for an individual merely because the indi-
    46  vidual is a designated beneficiary; or
    47    d. guarantee that amounts saved pursuant to the program will be suffi-
    48  cient to cover the qualified healthcare expenses of a designated benefi-
    49  ciary.
    50    2. a. Nothing in this article shall create or be construed  to  create
    51  any  obligation  of the comptroller, the state, or any agency or instru-
    52  mentality of the state to guarantee for the benefit of any account owner
    53  or designated beneficiary with respect to:
    54    (i) the rate of interest or other return on any account; and
    55    (ii) the payment of interest or other return on any account.

        S. 2096--D                          8

     1    b. The comptroller and  the  division  by  rule  or  regulation  shall
     2  provide that every contract, application, deposit slip, or other similar
     3  document  that  may  be  used  in  connection  with a contribution to an
     4  account clearly indicate that the account is not insured  by  the  state
     5  and neither the principal deposited nor the investment return is guaran-
     6  teed by the state.
     7    §  4.  The  state finance law is amended by adding a new section 82 to
     8  read as follows:
     9    § 82. New York combat veterans healthcare choice program  trust  fund.
    10  1.  There  is  hereby established in the sole custody of the state comp-
    11  troller a special fund to be known  as  the  New  York  combat  veterans
    12  healthcare  choice program trust fund. All payments from such fund shall
    13  be made in accordance with article fourteen of the military law and  the
    14  memorandum  of  understanding entered into pursuant thereto on the audit
    15  of the state comptroller.
    16    2. The fund shall be a trust fund and shall consist of a trust account
    17  and an operating  account.  The  trust  account  shall  include  amounts
    18  received  by  the  New  York  combat  veterans healthcare choice program
    19  pursuant to New York combat veterans healthcare  choice  account  agree-
    20  ments,  administrative  charges, fees, and all other amounts received by
    21  the program from other  sources,  and  interest  and  investment  income
    22  earned by the trust fund. The comptroller shall, from time to time, make
    23  transfers  from the trust account to the operating account for the imme-
    24  diate payment of obligations under New York combat  veterans  healthcare
    25  choice  account  agreements, operating expenses and administrative costs
    26  of the New York combat veterans healthcare choice  account.  Administra-
    27  tive  costs  shall be paid out of the operating account according to the
    28  terms and conditions established pursuant to the provisions  of  section
    29  four hundred three of the military law.
    30    3.  (a)  The  comptroller,  as trustee, shall invest the assets of the
    31  trust fund in investments authorized by article four-A of the retirement
    32  and social security law, provided however, that:
    33    (i) the provisions of paragraph (a) of subdivision two of section  one
    34  hundred  seventy-seven  of  the retirement and social security law shall
    35  not apply except for the first clause of subparagraph (ii) of such para-
    36  graph; and
    37    (ii) notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision  seven  of  section
    38  one  hundred  seventy-seven of the retirement and social security law or
    39  any other law to the contrary, the assets  of  the  trust  fund  may  be
    40  invested  in  any  funding  agreement  issued in accordance with section
    41  three thousand two hundred twenty-two of the insurance law by a domestic
    42  life insurance company or a foreign life insurance company  doing  busi-
    43  ness in this state, subject to the following:
    44    (1) such a funding agreement may provide for a guaranteed minimum rate
    45  of return;
    46    (2)  such  a  funding  agreement may be allocated as either a separate
    47  account or a general account of  the  issuer,  as  the  comptroller  may
    48  decide;
    49    (3)  total investments of the trust fund pursuant to this paragraph in
    50  any funding agreements issued by a single life insurance  company  which
    51  are  allocated  as  a  general  account  of the issuer shall not, in the
    52  aggregate, exceed three hundred fifty million dollars; and
    53    (4) no assets of the trust fund shall be invested in any such  funding
    54  agreement  unless,  at  the  time  of such investment, the general obli-
    55  gations or financial strength of the issuer  have  received  either  the
    56  highest  or  second  highest  rating by two nationally recognized rating

        S. 2096--D                          9
 
     1  services or by one nationally recognized rating  service  in  the  event
     2  that only one such service rates such obligations.
     3    (b)  Trust fund assets shall be kept separate and shall not be commin-
     4  gled with other assets, except as provided in this  section.  The  comp-
     5  troller  may  enter  into contracts to provide for investment advice and
     6  management, custodial services, and other professional services for  the
     7  administration and investment of the program. Administrative fees, costs
     8  and expenses, including investment fees and expenses, shall be paid from
     9  the assets of the fund.
    10    4.  The  comptroller shall provide for the administration of the trust
    11  fund,  including  maintaining  participant  records  and  accounts,  and
    12  providing  annual  audited  reports.  The  comptroller  may  enter  into
    13  contracts to provide administrative services and reporting.
    14    § 5. Section 5205 of the civil practice law and rules  is  amended  by
    15  adding a new subdivision (p) to read as follows:
    16    (p)  Exemption  for New York combat veterans healthcare choice program
    17  trust fund payment monies. Monies in  an  account  created  pursuant  to
    18  article  fourteen of the military law are exempt from application to the
    19  satisfaction of a money judgment.
    20    § 6. Subsection (b) of section 612 of the tax law is amended by adding
    21  a new paragraph 43 to read as follows:
    22    (43) Distributions received during the taxable year by a  distribution
    23  of  a  New  York  combat  veterans healthcare choice account established
    24  pursuant to article fourteen of the military law,  to  the  extent  such
    25  distributions are not qualified withdrawals within the meaning of subdi-
    26  vision ten of section four hundred two of the military law.
    27    § 7. Subsection (c) of section 612 of the tax law is amended by adding
    28  two new paragraphs 44 and 45 to read as follows:
    29    (44) Contributions made during the taxable year by an account owner to
    30  one  or  more New York combat veterans healthcare choice accounts estab-
    31  lished pursuant to article fourteen of the military law, to  the  extent
    32  not  deductible  or eligible for credit for federal income tax purposes,
    33  provided, however, the exclusion provided for in  this  paragraph  shall
    34  not exceed five thousand dollars for an individual or head of household,
    35  and for married couples who file joint tax returns, shall not exceed ten
    36  thousand dollars; provided, further, that such exclusion shall be avail-
    37  able only to the account owner and not to any other person.
    38    (45)  Distributions  from a New York combat veterans healthcare choice
    39  account established pursuant to article fourteen of the military law, to
    40  the extent includible in gross income for federal income tax purposes.
    41    § 8. Subsection (d) of section 658 of the tax law is amended by adding
    42  a new paragraph 4 to read as follows:
    43    (4) The commissioner may by  regulation  or  instruction  require  the
    44  filing of a report annually by the comptroller or program manager of the
    45  New   York combat veterans healthcare choice program, or their designee,
    46  setting forth the names and identification numbers  of  account  owners,
    47  designated  beneficiaries  and  distributees of New York combat veterans
    48  healthcare choice program accounts,  the  amounts  contributed  to  such
    49  accounts,  the  amounts distributed from such accounts and the nature of
    50  such distributions as qualified withdrawals or as withdrawals other than
    51  qualified withdrawals, and any such other information as the commission-
    52  er may require regarding the taxation  under  this  article  of  amounts
    53  contributed  to  or  withdrawn  from such accounts. The commissioner may
    54  require that any such report also be made to the account  owner,  desig-
    55  nated beneficiary or distributee of any such account.

        S. 2096--D                         10
 
     1    §  9.  Section  190  of  the  executive law is amended by adding a new
     2  subdivision 6 to read as follows:
     3    6.  The  division  of  military  and naval affairs shall establish and
     4  maintain a voluntary registry  of  state  residents  who  are  honorably
     5  discharged  veterans  of  the armed forces of the United States, and who
     6  served on regular active duty (other than for training) during  part  of
     7  one of the following periods:
     8    (a)  from  September eighteenth, two thousand one until the end of the
     9  United States military efforts in Afghanistan; or
    10    (b) from October sixteenth, two thousand two  until  the  end  of  the
    11  United States military efforts in Iraq.
    12    The information in such registry shall be deemed confidential, and may
    13  only  be  accessed  by  such veteran for purposes of proof of his or her
    14  military service.
    15    § 10. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to  taxa-
    16  ble years beginning after December 31, 2018.
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