What's happening
This bill allows a veteran’s close friend or family member familiar with their wishes to request burial in a veterans' cemetery.
Why it matters
Expands decision-making authority. By allowing a close friend or relative familiar with the veteran’s wishes to request burial, the bill recognizes important relationships beyond just next-of-kin, making it easier to honor veterans’ final preferences even if family is unavailable.
Reduces procedural barriers. The removal of the requirement for a written statement (previously needed from close friends or relatives) simplifies the process, potentially speeding up arrangements during a difficult time.
Prioritizes veterans’ expressed wishes. The bill ensures that a veteran’s desire for burial in a veterans’ cemetery can be fulfilled by someone who knows those wishes, helping prevent unwanted delays or disputes over burial location.
Could affect access and planning for veterans’ cemeteries. Broader eligibility for who can request burial may increase the number of requests, potentially impacting veterans’ cemetery administration and planning.
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Who cares
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Let Friends Request Veteran Burials
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Referred to veterans' affairs
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Let Friends Request Veterans' Burials
In Assembly Committee · Veterans' Affairs · Sponsor Rich Funke
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3083
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 26, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the public health law, in relation to authorizing a veteran's close friend or family member who is reasonably familiar with such veteran's wishes to request that such veteran be buried in a veterans' cemetery
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 368-a to read as follows:
§ 368-a. Burial rights of certain veterans. 1. For the purposes of this section, "agent in control of the disposition of remains" means the person responsible or designated to control the disposition of a deceased veteran's remains as defined and outlined in section forty-two hundred one of the public health law who has knowledge of a veteran's desire to be buried in a veterans' cemetery and can provide evidence of the military service of the decedent which shall be furnished in the manner and form prescribed by the state director.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of local law, law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any agent in control of the disposition of remains may request that a deceased veteran be buried in a veterans' cemetery.
§ 2. Subparagraph (ix) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2 of section 4201 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 401 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
(ix) a close friend or relative who is reasonably familiar with the decedent's wishes, including the decedent's religious or moral beliefs, when no one higher on this list is reasonably available, willing, or competent to act[, provided that such person has executed a written statement pursuant to subdivision seven of this section]; or
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04270-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.