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.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1102
SPONSOR: Gray TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the governor's mili-
tary council
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would establish the "Governor's Military Council" which would
assist the Governor and Legislature with developing and reforming
certain aspects of military operations in New York.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the executive law by adding a new section 192 which
establishes the "Governor's Military Council"
Section 2 outlines the criteria for members of the military council as
well as outlining how individuals are selected to serve on the council.
Section 3 outlines the responsibilities and areas of concern in which
the council is able to assist the Governor and Legislature.
JUSTIFICATION:
The United States Military is the world's most supreme fighting force.
It's imperative that we do everything possible to ensure these brave men
and women have the essential resources to achieve their mission:
defending our country.
This Legislation would effectively establish a "Military Counsel," which
would be tasked with cultivating ways to protect and grow the military
installations that call New York State home. This council would help
leverage existing resources that would help create defense related jobs
and aim to bolster the overall quality of life for member of our
nation's armed forces and their families. The Council would consist of
twelve members, who would be appointed by the Executive, Temporary Pres-
ident and Minority Leader of the state Senate and the Speaker and Minor-
ity Leader of the state Assembly, and would serve a term lasting no
longer than three years.
In addition to strengthening the way of life for service members and
their families, the Military Council would also make recommendations to
the Legislature on topics consisting of, but not limited to the removal
of impediments, increasing operational efficiency and recruitment, work-
ing to build ties between installations and the public and private
sectors, among others.
When the State makes commitments that help foster an environment that
helps improve the efficiency of the brave men and women of the armed
forces, we are helping to keep them ready today and relevant tomorrow.
This bill will help accomplish that goal.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022 referred to governmental operations
2022 held for consideration in governmental operations
2023 referred to governmental operations
2024 referred to governmental operations
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Effective immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1102
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GRAY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
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,
25 and may designate other officers as deemed appropriate. Base or post
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02313-01-5
A. 1102 2
1 commanders may serve as ex-officio members of the council. Appointments
2 shall be made within sixty days of the effective date of this section.
3 Vacancies in the council shall be filled in the manner provided for
4 original appointments.
5 (b) The members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the
6 governor and shall receive no compensation for services performed or
7 reimbursement for expenses incurred pursuant to this section. The
8 members shall meet upon the call of the chairperson as necessary to
9 carry out the duties set forth in subdivision three of this section.
10 3. The duties of the governor's military council shall be to initiate,
11 study, and make recommendations to the governor and the legislature,
12 with respect to strategies to:
13 (a) optimize the military presence in this state through the removal
14 of operational impediments, increasing operating efficiencies, and
15 recruitment or acquisition of new missions and force structure;
16 (b) foster close, effective cooperation among the installations, and
17 public and private sectors throughout the state;
18 (c) pursue initiatives to enhance the quality of life for all active
19 and reserve component military personnel;
20 (d) explore and develop outreach opportunities for individuals
21 discharging or retiring from military service to use their talents and
22 skills as members of the state workforce;
23 (e) assist in the development, coordination, and execution of strate-
24 gies required by any future change in missions proposed by the depart-
25 ment of defense; and
26 (f) grow defense-related industries in areas around the state's mili-
27 tary bases and installations.
28 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
