Creates the service related disabled veteran owned business enterprise act to promote such business enterprises

Section 2 amends the heading of Article 15-A of the executive law to include and define the term "service related disabled veterans".

Sections 3 through 40 make amendments to Article 15-A of the Executive law, Section 136-B, 139-1,213, and 218 of the State Finance Law, Section 3.07 of the Arts and Cultural Affairs law, Sections 115, 118, 210, and 231 of the Economic Development Law, Section 52-0113 of the Environmental Conservation Law, Section 2879 of the Public Authorities Law, Sections 957, 959, 961, 962, 963, 964, and 970-r of the General Municipal Law, Section 454 of the Banking Law, Section 9-B of the Facilities Development Corporation Act, Section 16-B of the New York State Medical Care Facilities Finance Agency Act, and Section 1 of the New York State Urban Development Corporation Act to extend all of the state benefits now offered to minority and women owned business enterprises to service related disabled veteran owned business enterprises.

Section 41 establishes the effective date.

Justification

Significant numbers of American service men and women are now returning from military operations connected with the Global War on Terror, both in Iraq and other locations around the globe. Unfortunately, many of these service members have suffered significant injuries during the course of these operations, and many of these injuries have or will in the future cause permanent disabilities to these brave men and women that will last the rest of their lives. It is a moral imperative that the various levels of government do all that is within their power to help these men and women recover from their injuries, learn to cope with hardships related to their injuries, and go on to lead rewarding and productive lives.

One of the ways that New York State can meet this moral obligation is to assist disabled veterans in the creation and establishment of their own businesses. This will not only assist the veterans in question but also help New York's economy by generating more of the economic activity that leads to prosperity and jobs. Article 15-A of the Executive Law created the Division of Minority and Women's Business Development within Empire State Development in 1988, to promote the participation of minority and women owned businesses in the state contracting and procurement process. This law was designed to help enterprises owned by members of groups previously unfairly discriminated against receive their fair share of state business, and assist the owners of these businesses with state procurement law compliance. It is more than reasonable that disabled veterans be afforded the same considerations and assistance afforded to these other New Yorkers. With the exception of those troops killed in action, no Americans have sacrificed more for their country than disabled vets, nor are any more deserving of our help. The Service Related Disabled Veterans Owned Business Enterprise Act creates no new government program or expenditure, but simply changes definitions in the current law to make service related disabled veterans eligible for all of the same benefits now available to businesses owned by women or members of identified minority groups through the Division of Minority and Women's Business Development. It does not reduce in any way the assistance afforded to women or minorities, but rather extends those same benefits to these very deserving New Yorkers.

Legislative history

S.7276/A.9348 of 2006 S.3547/A.7734 of 2007-2008

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

Immediately.