What's happening
This bill updates funding requirements for New York state veterans' cemeteries and requires public access to related financial information.
Why it matters
Shortens the minimum funding period from 15 to 10 years. This change means that before a new state veterans' cemetery can be established, there only needs to be enough funds set aside to cover 10 years (instead of 15) of non-reimbursable operational and maintenance costs, potentially speeding up the creation of new cemeteries but possibly increasing long-term financial risk.
Clarifies what counts toward required cemetery funding. The bill specifies that only non-reimbursable costs (not those covered by federal grants or fees charged to non-veteran family members) need to be included in the funding calculation, which could reduce the amount of state money needed upfront and make the process more transparent.
Requires public disclosure of cemetery fund information. By mandating that detailed financial information about the veterans cemetery fund be published online and on mobile apps, the bill aims to promote transparency and allow the public to see how much money is available and how it is being used for veterans' cemeteries.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund State Veterans Cemeteries
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Substituted by S8791
- Rules report cal.362
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Reported referred to ways and means
- 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.
Fund State Veterans Cemeteries
Signed by Governor · Sponsor John E. Brooks
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10782
IN ASSEMBLY
July 10, 2020
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Barrett, Buttenschon) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to costs associated with the establishment of New York state veterans' cemeteries
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (g) of subdivision 2 of section 365 of the executive law, paragraph (b) as added by section 5 of part W of chapter 57 of the laws of 2013, the opening paragraph of paragraph (b) and paragraph (g) as amended by section 11 of part AA of chapter 56 of the laws of 2019, are amended to read as follows:
(b) [Prior to the commencement of the investigation and study pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the director of the division of veterans' services, the director of the division of the budget, the] The director of the department of state's division of cemeteries, and the office of the state comptroller must certify to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate finance committee and the chair of the assembly ways and means committee that [the veterans remembrance and cemetery maintenance and operation fund, created pursuant to section ninety-seven-mmmm of the state finance law, contains] at the commencement of the application process pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subdivision there are moneys sufficient, adjusted to reflect projected future inflation, to fund the non-reimbursable costs related to future operation[,] and maintenance [and the provision of perpetual care] of a state veterans' cemetery for a period of not less than [fifteen] ten years, provided that such amount shall not include [any amount that shall be reimbursed or contributed to the cemetery from the government of the United States or] any amount that would be recoverable by the cemetery pursuant to a charge of fee for the provision of a grave site for a non-veteran spouse or family member; provided further that such moneys may include the veterans remembrance and cemetery maintenance and operation fund created pursuant to section ninety-seven-mmmm of the state finance law. In making such a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16706-03-0
A. 10782 2
certification, the director of the division of veterans' services, the director of the division of the budget, the director of the department of state's division of cemeteries, and the office of the state comptroller shall consider, but are not limited to, the following factors:
(i) physical attributes of the veterans cemetery, including size, location, and terrain;
(ii) [management and operation, including] staffing costs, cost of equipment and equipment maintenance, and security costs;
(iii) relevant state and federal requirements and specifications for interment and perpetual care;
(iv) estimates provided by the United States department of veterans affairs;
(v) any other non-reimbursable fiscal cost, charge or assessment that would be incurred by the cemetery.
(g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the division of veterans' services to [commence an investigation and study pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, issuing a request for proposals pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subdivision, selecting a site for the first New York state veterans' cemetery pursuant to paragraph (d) of this subdivision, or submitting] submit any application for funding from the government of the United States in accordance with the grant requirements specified in section 2408 of title 38 of the United States code, part 30 of title 38 of the code of federal regulations, and other relevant federal statutes or regulations, for the purpose of seeking funds to support the construction, establishment, expansion, improvement, support, operation, or maintenance [and the provision of perpetual care] of New York state's [first] veterans' cemetery pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subdivision until the [funds in the veterans remembrance and cemetery maintenance and operation fund have been certified] completion of the certification pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision.
§ 2. Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 25 to read as follows:
25. To make widely available to the public via, among other things, publication on the division's website and free mobile application pursuant to subdivision fourteen-a of this section, information regarding the veterans remembrance and cemetery maintenance and operation fund established pursuant to section ninety-seven-mmmm of the state finance law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.