What's happening
This bill establishes a Veterans Legal Services Assistance Fund to support and reimburse not-for-profits providing legal services to veterans in New York.
Why it matters
Addresses a key barrier for veterans. Many veterans face legal challenges related to housing, benefits, employment, and criminal records; this fund aims to make legal assistance more accessible, potentially improving veterans’ stability and well-being.
Supports not-for-profit legal providers. By reimbursing not-for-profit organizations and their staff for expenses incurred while serving veterans, the bill could help sustain or expand programs that might otherwise struggle for funding.
Enables both civil and criminal legal aid. The fund isn't limited to one area of law, allowing for broad support in issues ranging from eviction defense to criminal justice matters—reflecting the diverse legal needs veterans often encounter.
Establishes a dedicated and accountable funding stream. Placing the fund under the joint custody of state financial authorities and requiring legislative appropriation adds oversight and transparency, potentially building public trust in how resources are allocated.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Veterans Legal Aid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to veterans' affairs
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9550
IN ASSEMBLY
January 24, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. ASHBY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing a veterans legal services assistance fund
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 98-d to read as follows:
§ 98-d. Veterans legal services assistance fund. 1. There is hereby established in the joint custody of the state comptroller and the commissioner of the department of taxation and finance a fund to be known as the veterans legal services assistance fund.
2. Such fund shall consist of all moneys appropriated for the purpose of such fund, all other moneys required to be paid into or credited to such fund, and all moneys received by such fund or donated to it.
3. Moneys of the veterans legal services assistance fund shall be solely available, following appropriation by the legislature and in accordance with law to assist in the provision of and the reimbursement of expenses incurred by not-for-profit providers or their employees relating to providing criminal or civil legal services for veterans in New York state.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14199-01-9
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.