Department of New York Legislative Goals

Goal No.1, S. 3408 by Senator Addabbo and A. 2445 by Assemblyman Miller will acquire funding for our VFW Service Officers and allow the State’s VSO Service Officers to increase the revenue they generate in the form of VA Compensation for New York’s veterans. Last year they generated $57,180,718 in compensation which was spent in New York’s economy. Additionally we worked with Department Senior Vice Commander Mike Pascal and the Senate Veterans Committee to secure another grant to fund this years’ Service Officer operations.
Status: Pre-filed for 2013 in both the Senate and Assembly.  Needs to be read on the floor of the Senate and Assembly!
 
Goal No. 2 Under Committee review.
Status: Pending input from VFW membership.
 
Goal No. 3 S.3038 will provide all veteran owned businesses and enterprises the same emphasis for bidding on state contracts as those offered to other minorities and protected classes. This amendment would add the class of “wartime and disabled veterans” to NYS Executive Law, Article 15A and 5NYCRR, part 140-144.
Status: Pre-filed for 2013 in the Senate.
 
Goal No.4, S.3931 would amend subdivision 1 of section 458-a of the real property tax law by adding a new paragraph, defining “active duty member of the military”.
Status: Pre-filed for 2013 in the Senate.
 
Goal No. 5, S. 2651 and A. 2942 will allow the newest veterans and veterans who received expeditionary medals to buy back service time on government pensions. This will include all expeditionary service.
Status: Pre-filed for 2013 in both the Senate and Assembly. Needs to be read on the floor of the Senate and Assembly.
 
Goal No. 6, Veterans Courts Support the establishment of a Veterans’ Court in each of New York State’s 13 Judicial Districts.
Status: Needs to be introduced in both Veterans Committees.
 
Goal No. 7, PFC Joseph Dwyer Veterans' peer-to-peer support program Expand the PFC Joseph Dwyer Veterans' peer-to-peer support program for Veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress to all Counties in the State of New York. The current pilot program was implemented in 4 Counties in the state of New York: Jefferson, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Suffolk Counties. Each of the 4 counties will receive $200,000 for their Veterans' peer-to-peer support program.Status: Needs to be introduced in both Veterans Committees.