County and city veterans' service agencies are overseen by the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs pursuant to Article 17 of the Executive Law. Under current law, each county not wholly included within a city is required to establish a county veterans' service agency. There may be established within a city a city veterans' service agency that has jurisdiction throughout the territorial limits of such city. These agencies are partially funded by the State of New York based on a formula set forth in Section 359 of the Executive Law. This hearing will review how these entities, which are under the guidance of the New York State Division of Veterans' Affairs, operate and their current funding mechanisms.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to ten minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on county and city county veterans service agencies are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to: