STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5931--A Cal. No. 426 2017-2018 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 17, 2017 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. RAMOS, ORTIZ, CUSICK, MAGNARELLI, LUPARDO, TITONE, AUBRY, WEPRIN, McDONALD -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. PERRY, SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs -- ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading 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 368-a to 11 read as follows: 12 § 368-a. 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 16 provided by the provisions of this section and any other provision of 17 law. 18 1. As used in this section the following terms shall mean: EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00716-10-8A. 5931--A 2 1 (a) "council" means the New York state interagency coordinating coun- 2 cil for service-disabled veterans; 3 (b) "veteran" means a person, male or female, resident of this state, 4 who has served in the active military, naval, or air service of the 5 United States during a war in which the United States engaged and who 6 has been released from such service otherwise than by dishonorable 7 discharge, or who has been furloughed to the reserve; and 8 (c) "service-disabled veteran" means a veteran with a disability that 9 was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, 10 naval, or air service. 11 2. The council shall consist of the following ten agency heads or 12 their designees: director of the division of veterans' affairs, who 13 shall serve as chair of the council, the commissioner of the office of 14 general services, the commissioner of the department of health, the 15 commissioner of the office of mental health, the commissioner of the 16 office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, the commissioner of 17 the department of labor, the commissioner of the division of housing and 18 community renewal, the commissioner of the education department, the 19 commissioner of the department of transportation, and the director of 20 the office for the aging. In addition, the council shall consist of nine 21 service-disabled veterans, three to be appointed by the governor, two to 22 be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, two to be 23 appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one to be appointed by the 24 minority leader of the senate and one to be appointed by the minority 25 leader of the assembly. The members of the council shall serve terms of 26 two years; provided, however, that of the members first appointed, the 27 members appointed by the governor shall serve for terms of three years 28 and the remaining members, appointed by the legislative leaders, shall 29 serve for terms of two years. Members of the council shall receive no 30 compensation for their services but shall be allowed their actual and 31 necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their functions here- 32 under. 33 3. The council shall have the following powers and duties: 34 (a) to promote the implementation of a comprehensive statewide program 35 of coordinated services for service-disabled veterans that includes: (1) 36 matters pertaining to educational training and retraining services and 37 facilities, (2) health, medical and rehabilitation services and facili- 38 ties, (3) employment and re-employment services including small business 39 opportunities, (4) housing options, (5) transportation options, (6) long 40 term care, (7) personal care, (8) day program services, (9) family 41 outreach and (10) other essential services that maximize existing 42 resources and administrative mechanisms; 43 (b) to disseminate general information about available services to 44 service-disabled veterans and how such services can be accessed. Such 45 information shall be posted on the division's website or be available in 46 printed form; 47 (c) to receive complaints in matters affecting service-disabled veter- 48 ans and to refer such complaints to the appropriate regulatory agencies 49 where it deems necessary or appropriate; and 50 (d) to conduct an ongoing evaluation of the needs of service-disabled 51 veterans. 52 4. The council shall meet as necessary to carry out its functions, 53 powers and duties, but such meetings shall occur at least once each 54 quarter. Furthermore, the council shall seek to consult with the network 55 directors of the veterans integrated service networks, VISN 2 and VISN 56 3.A. 5931--A 3 1 5. The council shall provide a report to the governor, the temporary 2 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on or before 3 April first of each year, beginning in two thousand twenty. Such report 4 shall summarize the council's activity during the previous fiscal year 5 and detailing legislative recommendations appropriate to effectuate the 6 purposes of this section, and any other recommendations for improving 7 service delivery and coordination, reducing duplication and fragmenta- 8 tion and facilitating the most efficient use of existing resources. Such 9 report shall also include a proposed agenda consisting of specific 10 issues that the council plans to address during the current fiscal year. 11 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 12 have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the 13 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary 14 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized 15 and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.