What's happening
This bill requires state and local agencies to identify veterans and their families on new forms and protect their personal information, using it only to assist with services and benefits.
Why it matters
Expanding identification of veterans and their families on state/local forms could improve access to targeted benefits and services. by ensuring agencies systematically ask about military status, more veterans and families may be connected to resources they are eligible for but previously unaware of.
Strict confidentiality requirements limit the use of sensitive military status information. the bill mandates that this data can only be used to help with diagnosis, treatment, or referrals, reducing the risk of misuse or unauthorized sharing, which addresses privacy concerns.
Veterans and families will be explicitly informed about available assistance. agencies must advise those who identify as veterans or family members about state and federal benefits and the support offered by the Division of Veterans' Affairs, potentially increasing enrollment in key programs and support networks.
Standardization across agencies could lead to better coordination and resource allocation. by requiring all relevant agencies to collect the same information, the state can better understand the needs of its veteran community, which may inform future policy or funding decisions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Veterans’ Personal Information
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A1206
- Ordered to third reading cal.1762
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to rules
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.
Protect Veterans’ Private Information
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6610
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 7, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to personal confidential information obtained from veterans or family members of veterans receiving services from the state and political subdivisions thereof
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 354-e to read as follows:
§ 354-e. Use of personal confidential information obtained from veterans or family members of veterans receiving services from the state and political subdivisions thereof. 1. Departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, commissions and agencies of the state and political subdivisions thereof, which provide assistance, treatment, counseling, care, supervision or custody in service areas involving health, mental health, family services, criminal justice or employment shall be required to solicit information on whether their customer or client is a veteran as defined in section eighty-five of the civil service law or family member of a veteran. Any new forms created after the effective date of this section shall contain the following questions: "Have you served in the United States Armed Forces?" "Has someone in your family served in the United States military?"
2. Individuals identifying themselves as having served in the military or a family member shall be advised that the division of veterans' affairs and local veterans service agencies established pursuant to section three hundred fifty-seven of this article provide assistance to veterans regarding benefits under federal and state law. Information regarding veterans and military status provided by assisted persons solely to implement this section shall be protected as personal confidential material, and used only to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, assessment and handling of the veteran's or family member's problems
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00370-01-7
S. 6610 2
within the agency requesting such information and in referring the veteran or family member to the division of veterans' affairs for the information and assistance with regard to benefits and entitlements under federal and state law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided that any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date shall be promulgated 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, in relation to personal confidential information obtained from veterans or family members of veterans receiving services from the state and political subdivisions thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to inform veterans and their families of the many services and opportunities provided by the Division of Veteran's Affairs.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one requires all subdivisions of the state to, when dealing with a client or customer, inquire as to whether or not he/she or a family member is a veteran.
This information will be private, and will be used only for the sake of informing the veteran or his/her family member that veterans are enti- tled to additional assistance and other benefits through the Division of Veteran's affairs.
Section two is the effective date.
Justification
Pursuant to Executive Order 412, "Establishing the New York State Coun- cil on Returning Veterans and their Families" a report was issued with its results and recommendations. Among the recommendations to the Gover- nor was agencies at all levels of state and local government must better identify and track veterans within their programs and ensure that appro- priate services are being offered. Uniform methods of identifying veter- ans and their families should be developed. This bill is one step in that direction.
Veterans and their families often deal with numerous subdivisions of the state, from the DMV to Social Services. Often, they are not aware that in addition to the services they receive from these agencies, they are entitled to assistance through the Division of Veterans Affairs.
This bill will make sure that veterans and their families are notified whenever dealing with state agencies that they also have a tremendous additional resource in the Division of Veterans Affairs.
Prior legislative history
2017: S.6610 - Referred to Rules / A.1206 - Passed Assembly 2016: S. 2793A - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2015: S. 2793 - Referred to Veterans,Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2014: S. 6277 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs / A.3348 Passed Assembly 2013: A. 3348 - Passed Assembly 2012: S. 2826 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs 2011: S.3968 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs / A.2920 - Passed Assembly 2010: S.8075 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs / A.11154 - Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.