This bill (S 5733) changes how state funds cover maintenance and operation costs for local veterans' service agencies. County and city agencies will receive 50% of their approved costs from the state, with population-based limits: $25,000 for areas under 100,000 people, plus $5,000 for each additional 100,000 people in population. The state will allocate funds using 0.5% of the previous year’s veterans’ administration spending. It directly affects county and city veterans’ service agencies, ensuring predictable state reimbursement for operational costs. The bill amends existing law to clarify funding mechanisms without creating new programs.
Relates to defining veteran; includes national guard members who have served for at least twenty years, part of which was during any war or period of hostilities.
This bill creates the "Campaign Medal for Service" to honor New York residents or former residents who served in active duty in Iraq with the U.S. military (Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard). It authorizes the governor to award the medal to eligible individuals who completed their service with an honorable record, limiting recipients to one medal per person. The law also specifies that the medal may be presented to a designated representative of a deceased recipient and outlines requirements for the medal's design and ribbon. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on establishing this commemorative award without altering other policies.
Bill A 5943 provides veterans of the United States armed forces with free access to all state parks and recreational facilities. Under this bill, eligible veterans can obtain a lifetime pass that grants them admission without charge. These passes will be available at regional park headquarters and other designated locations. The relevant state office is responsible for determining the pass's form and developing the necessary rules for its implementation.
This bill (A 4302) grants recognized veterans' organizations free access to rent pavilions at state parks, recreational facilities, and historic sites. It requires state agencies to allow these groups to use pavilions under the same terms as the general public but without charging any rental fees or other fees. The provision applies to all pavilions managed by the state parks office or other relevant agencies. This is a direct policy change affecting eligible veterans' organizations by removing a financial barrier to using state facilities.
Directs the division of veterans' services to establish a searchable database of veteran-owned businesses; requires the use of a special mark to indicate service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
This bill requires New York employers to grant veterans unpaid leave on Veterans Day (November 11) if the employee provides written proof of veteran status by October 15. It applies to veterans who are New York residents, honorably discharged U.S. military members, or lawful permanent residents. Employers may deny the leave only if it causes undue hardship, and the leave must be taken as unpaid time off or charged against existing accrued leave. The policy does not affect employees covered by specific public officer laws or override existing union agreements.
S 2143 allows veterans who served in the U.S. military under honorable conditions but couldn't complete high school to receive a high school diploma based on their military experience. It repeals outdated provisions and creates a program where the education commissioner develops a process to award diplomas to eligible veterans. The bill directly affects veterans who were unable to finish secondary education due to military service, regardless of the conflict they served in. This replaces prior law that only covered World War II veterans, expanding eligibility to all qualifying veterans.
S 2600 waives renewal fees for vehicle operator licenses for veterans. It directly affects veterans who served in active U.S. military or naval service during a war, were honorably discharged, or were furloughed to reserve. The bill adds a new provision to vehicle and traffic law requiring license renewal fees to be waived for qualifying veterans. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.
This bill (S 1866) establishes a statewide "green alert" system for missing military members who have opted in and suffer from mental health conditions like PTSD or traumatic brain injury. It requires law enforcement to verify a member's military status, condition, and safety risk before activating the alert, which would then be broadcast through media and highway signs. The system includes privacy safeguards under HIPAA, an opt-out option for military members, and mandates coordination between state agencies and law enforcement. Alerts remain active only until the member is found or the designated notification period ends.
