S 9851 NY

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Bill No.: Summary Actions Committee&nbspVotes Floor&nbspVotes Memo Text LFIN Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript S09851 Summary: BILL NO S09851 &nbsp SAME AS SAME AS A10418

&nbsp SPONSOR SCARCELLA-SPANTON &nbsp COSPNSR ASHBY &nbsp MLTSPNSR &nbsp Amd §3, Veterans' Services L &nbsp Expands the veterans' services commission to include two additional members and several additional ex officio members.

Go to top S09851 Text:

STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________

9851

IN SENATE

April 8, 2026 ___________

Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Home- land Security and Military Affairs

AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to expanding the veterans' services commission

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows:

1 Section 1. Section 3 of the veterans' services law is amended to read 2 as follows: 3 § 3. Veterans' services commission. 1. There shall be in the depart- 4 ment a veterans' services commission, which shall consist of the members 5 and the ex officio members provided for in this section. 6 2. (a) There shall be [ thirteen ] fifteen members of the commission 7 [ who shall be veterans ] appointed by the governor . Thirteen members of 8 the commission shall be veterans , including two appointed on recommenda- 9 tion of the temporary president of the senate, one appointed on recom- 10 mendation of the minority leader of the senate, two appointed on recom- 11 mendation of the speaker of the assembly, and one appointed on 12 recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly. The appointment 13 of members made by the governor without recommendation shall be subject 14 to advice and consent of the senate. The members of the commission shall 15 serve for terms of three years each. Appointed members presently serving 16 on the commission shall continue to serve for the remainder of the term 17 appointed. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy of such an appointed 18 member occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be appointed 19 for the remainder of the unexpired term of the member whom [ he or she 20 is ] they are to succeed. Members appointed as provided in this subdivi- 21 sion shall receive no salary or other compensation, but each shall be 22 entitled to receive expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the 23 performance of their duties. 24 (b) The governor shall consider the following when making appointments 25 under this subdivision: 26 (i) members of congressionally chartered veterans' service organiza- 27 tions or organizations approved by the U.S. Secretary of Veterans

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD15093-02-6

S. 9851 2

1 Affairs pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 5902. The governor may solicit nomi- 2 nations for appointments from such organizations having a presence in 3 the state; 4 (ii) directors of local veterans' service agencies or their designees; 5 (iii) family members of veterans or service members; and 6 (iv) individuals having substantial training, professional experience 7 or knowledge in any of the following: 8 (A) the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; 9 (B) health care, including mental health care; 10 (C) education, including higher education, vocational education, or 11 adult education; 12 (D) career and employment services or business management; 13 (E) housing assistance and homelessness; and/or 14 (F) legal issues unique to veterans including United States Department 15 of Veterans Affairs benefit claims and appeals and veterans treatment 16 courts. 17 3. Ex officio members. (a) The adjutant general of the state of New 18 York , the commissioner of health, the commissioner of mental health, the 19 commissioner of homes and community renewal, the commissioner of labor, 20 and the commissioner of education shall be [ an ] ex officio [ member ] 21 members of the commission. 22 (b) In addition, the state commissioner may appoint the head of any 23 other state agency or their designee as a non-voting, ex officio member 24 of the commission. Such appointments shall expire annually on December 25 thirty-first unless such appointments are renewed by the state commis- 26 sioner. 27 4. One of the members of the commission, which shall include the adju- 28 tant general, shall be designated as chairperson by the governor. The 29 designation shall be in writing and shall be filed with the commission. 30 5. The commission shall meet at least quarterly or more frequently at 31 the call of the chairperson. A majority of the voting members of the 32 commission shall constitute a quorum. 33 6. The commission , in addition to other powers and duties that may be 34 assigned to it by law, shall have power, and it shall be its duty, to : 35 (a) assist the state commissioner in the formulation of policies 36 affecting veterans and in the coordination of all operations of state 37 agencies relating to veterans' services ; 38 (b) study issues of concern to veterans, service members and their 39 families; 40 (c) receive reports from the department with respect to the general 41 activities of the department and from other state agencies with respect 42 to activities specific to veterans and military families; and 43 (d) submit an annual report of its activities and policy or legisla- 44 tive recommendations to the governor and the legislature on or before 45 December thirty-first of each year . 46 7. The department shall maintain and regularly update a page on its 47 website regarding the commission that shall include, but not be limited 48 to: 49 (a) a list of all commission members including information about each 50 member's term, the official who appointed or recommended the member and 51 the member's contact information; 52 (b) the minutes and agenda of each meeting of the commission; and 53 (c) any additional information deemed relevant by the department or 54 commission. 55 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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