What's happening
This bill requires New York to create and maintain a public, real-time online database showing available openings and waiting lists at state veterans' homes.
Why it matters
Improves transparency and decision-making for veterans and families. By making real-time data about available beds and waiting lists at state veterans' homes public, families can make more informed choices and better plan for needed care, potentially reducing stress and confusion.
Highlights and addresses capacity issues. The requirement to track and display waiting lists draws attention to potential shortages in veterans’ home availability, which could drive future policy changes or resource allocation to address unmet demand.
Promotes accountability for state agencies. Mandating frequent updates and inter-agency cooperation ensures that the Division of Veterans' Affairs and Department of Health are actively managing and communicating capacity, making them more responsive to public needs.
Reduces administrative burdens and delays. With a centralized, up-to-date system, veterans and their advocates no longer have to call individual homes for information, streamlining the application process and minimizing the risk of outdated or inaccurate data.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Track Veterans' Home Openings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1357
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Delivered to assembly
Show 7 earlier actions
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1520
- Reported and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 307a
- Amend (t) and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military 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.
Track Veterans Home Openings
In Assembly Committee · Veterans' Affairs · Sponsor Michael G. Miller
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
307--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sens. MURPHY, CROCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law and the public health law, in relation to directing the division of veterans' affairs to establish and operate a publicly accessible electronic database of the availability of openings for admission to state veterans' homes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 24 to read as follows:
24. To, in consultation and cooperation with the department of health, establish and operate an internet website electronic database, accessible to the public, which provides the number of available openings for eligible individuals at each state veterans' home operated pursuant to article twenty-six-A of the public health law. In addition, such electronic database shall, for each such veterans' home, provide the number of eligible individuals who are on the waiting list for admission to the state veterans' home. The division and the department of health shall jointly ensure that the information posted on the electronic database established pursuant to this subdivision is maintained and updated on a real time basis as such information changes.
§ 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2636 to read as follows:
§ 2636. State veterans' home electronic database. The department shall fully cooperate with the division of veterans' affairs to establish and operate the electronic database provided for in subdivision twenty-four of section three hundred fifty-three of the executive law, and provide
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02323-02-7
S. 307--A 2
information relating to the state veterans' homes operated pursuant to this article to such division on a real time basis.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Provided, however that, effective immediately, any actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law and the public health law, in relation to directing the division of veterans' affairs to establish and operate a publicly accessible electronic database of the availability of openings for admission to state veterans' homes
Purpose
This bill directs the Division of Veterans' Affairs to establish and operate an electronic database of the number of available openings in each of the state run veterans' homes operated by the Department of Health and the number of persons on each waiting list.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends section 353 of the executive law, regarding the powers and duties of the Division of Veterans' Affairs, to require the Division, in cooperation with the Department of Health, to establish and operate an electronic database, accessible to the public, which provides the number of available openings or eligible individuals at each state run veterans' home. The database shall also provide the number of eligible individuals who are on the waiting list for admission. The Division and the Department of Health shall ensure that the information posted on the electronic database is maintained and updated on a real time basis as such information changes.
Section two establishes a new section 2636 of the public health law which directs the Department of Health to fully cooperate with the Division of Veterans' Affairs to establish and operate the electronic database, and provide information relating to the state veterans' homes operated by the Department.
Section three establishes the effective date.
Justification
According to 2014 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, New York State has the fifth largest veterans population in the country, with more than half of those veterans being sixty-five years of age and older. With such a large aging veterans population it is imperative that the proper services are available in order to care for these individuals in their later years. The state run veterans' homes are experts in providing such care; however, oftentimes it is difficult to navigate the state run system. This bill seeks to aid the aging veteran population and their caregivers by providing a simple mechanism to allow individuals to check available space, or the extent of the waitlist, at each of the five state run veterans' homes. With this information elderly veterans, and their caregivers, can make more informed decisions regarding long-term care options. Providing this information is just a small step the State can take in helping our aging veteran population secure the health care services they have valiantly earned.
Legislative history
2016: S.7480 - Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Provided, however that, effective immediately, any actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.