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A9645Assembly2019-2020 Session

Extend Lawsuit Deadline for Veterans

Official title

“Extends time limitations for certain actions for an injury or death caused by contact with or exposure to phenoxy herbicides for certain persons”

Sponsor Pamela J. HunterAD-128+3 co-sponsorsAffects Local Government
Status
In Senate Committee
Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 5 of 7

In Senate · Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs

What's happening

This bill extends the deadline to file lawsuits for injuries from exposure to phenoxy herbicides during the Vietnam War to June 16, 2022.

Why it matters

  1. Allows more Vietnam veterans and their families to seek justice. By extending the deadline, those who may have previously missed their chance due to lack of awareness or delayed symptoms now have additional time to file lawsuits related to injuries from herbicide exposure.

  2. Addresses the long-term health effects of Agent Orange. Many diseases linked to phenoxy herbicides, such as Agent Orange, can take years or decades to appear. The extension recognizes the unique challenges in diagnosing and linking these health problems to service.

  3. Potentially impacts government and manufacturers financially and legally. More claims could increase liability for those responsible for manufacturing or using these chemicals, possibly leading to more settlements or changes in policy about veteran compensation and benefits.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Extend Lawsuit Deadline for Veterans

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Pamela J. Hunter

Assembly Member · Assembly District 128

History

  1. Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
  2. Delivered to senate
  3. Passed assembly
  4. Advanced to third reading cal.445
  5. Reported
  6. Referred to veterans' affairs

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

9645

IN ASSEMBLY

January 29, 2020

Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

AN ACT to amend chapter 266 of the laws of 1981, amending the civil practice law and rules relating to time limitations, in relation to extending time limitations for certain actions

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Section 4 of chapter 266 of the laws of 1981, amending the civil practice law and rules relating to time limitations, as amended by chapter 82 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:

§ 4. Every cause of action for an injury or death caused by contact with or exposure to phenoxy herbicides while serving as a member of the armed forces of the United States in Indo-China from February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975, which is or would be barred prior to June 16, 1985, because the applicable period of limitation has expired is hereby revived and extended and any action thereon may be commenced and prosecuted provided such action is commenced not later than June 16, [2020] 2022.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD14631-01-0

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.