Bill Text: NY S03144 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Relates to creating the women veterans advisory committee.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS [S03144 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-S03144-Amended.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3144--A 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 4, 2019 ___________ Introduced by Sen. KAPLAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi- ty and Military Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to creating the women veterans advisory committee The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. Women make up 15 percent of the 2 veterans of the armed forces of the United States and continue to be an 3 increasingly integral part of the operations of the armed forces of the 4 United States around the world. Few studies have been conducted to 5 determine and understand the unique challenges that women veterans may 6 have, both post deployment and following separation from active duty. 7 Many veterans who are women do not self-identify as veterans and may, 8 therefore, fail to consider various programs and benefits that are 9 available to them as a result of their military service. 10 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 361-c to 11 read as follows: 12 § 361-c. Women veterans advisory committee. 1. The women veterans 13 advisory committee is hereby created consisting of five members, with 14 one member appointed by each of the following: (a) the governor; (b) 15 the temporary president of the senate; (c) the speaker of the assembly; 16 (d) the minority leader of the senate; and (e) the minority leader of 17 the assembly. All appointed members must be women, and must be former 18 members of the armed forces of the United States, including, without 19 limitation, the New York Army National Guard and the New York Air 20 National Guard, who received, upon severance from service, an honorable 21 discharge, or other discharge under honorable conditions, including, but 22 not limited to, a general discharge. 23 2. In making appointments pursuant to subdivision one of this section, 24 the following shall be considered: 25 (a) the recommendations of the director of veterans' affairs; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD05748-02-9S. 3144--A 2 1 (b) whether the appointments provide a geographical balance between 2 the urban and rural areas of this state and represent the cultural 3 diversity of this state; and 4 (c) the level of activity of the woman in the veteran community. 5 3. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members. 6 4. After the initial terms, each member of the committee serves a term 7 of four years. 8 5. A vacancy on the committee must be filled for the remainder of the 9 unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. 10 6. The committee shall meet at least four times per year at the call 11 of the chair. 12 7. A majority of the members of the committee appointed constitutes a 13 quorum for the transaction of business. 14 8. Each member of the committee: 15 (a) serves without compensation, except that a member of the committee 16 who is a state officer or employee may receive her regular compensation 17 while engaging in the business of the committee; and 18 (b) while engaged in the business of the committee, is entitled to 19 receive the per diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state 20 officers and employees generally. 21 9. The committee shall: 22 (a) support and assist the division of veterans' affairs in: 23 (i) locating, educating and advocating for all women veterans in this 24 state; 25 (ii) determining the unique needs of women veterans; 26 (iii) conducting outreach and education through various means, includ- 27 ing, without limitation, the organization of statewide women veterans 28 events, the promotion of benefits and superior health care for women 29 veterans and the development of programs that inform pupils, business 30 leaders and educators about the important role women play in the armed 31 forces of the United States; 32 (iv) educating women veterans as to benefits and programs that are 33 available to them; 34 (v) at least annually, making such recommendations as may be deemed 35 necessary or advisable to the governor, the state legislature, the 36 office of the director of the division of veterans' affairs and such 37 other offices of this state as may be appropriate; and 38 (vi) advocating on behalf of women veterans to ensure that the 39 programs and policies of this state and of the United States department 40 of veterans' affairs remain open to women and mindful of the elements of 41 the experience of a veteran that are unique to women. 42 (b) submit a report on or before February fifteenth of each year, 43 outlining the activities of the committee during the preceding calendar 44 year and any recommendations of the committee to the governor and legis- 45 lature. The report must include, without limitation, information 46 pertaining to: 47 (i) the demographics of women veterans; 48 (ii) the contributions that women veterans have made on behalf of the 49 United States and this state; 50 (iii) the unique needs of the population of women veterans; and 51 (iv) steps taken to reduce misinformation and improve support for 52 programs for women veterans. 53 10. The division of veterans' affairs shall provide the personnel, 54 facilities, equipment and supplies required by the committee. 55 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
