What's happening
This bill amends the process for certifying sufficient funding for the operation and maintenance of a state veterans' cemetery in New York.
Why it matters
Removes the requirement that funding certification must occur before starting a study or investigation. into the feasibility of a state veterans' cemetery, which could allow preliminary steps to begin sooner and streamline the planning process.
Clarifies the roles of state officials (including Veterans' Affairs, Budget, State Comptroller, and Cemeteries Division). in certifying that the cemetery maintenance fund has enough money for at least 15 years of operation—potentially increasing oversight and accountability.
Specifies that projected funding must account for inflation and cannot include expected federal reimbursements or fees from non-veteran family members,. ensuring a more conservative and stable funding base for the cemetery's ongoing needs.
Outlines specific factors (such as cemetery size, staffing, and federal requirements). that must be considered in the funding certification process, likely leading to more comprehensive financial planning and sustainability for the cemetery.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund State Veterans Cemetery
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Referred 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.
Fund State Veterans' Cemetery
In Assembly Committee · Veterans' Affairs · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2033
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to a state veterans' cemetery
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 365 of the executive law, as added by section 5 of part W of chapter 57 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
(b) [Prior to the commencement of the investigation and study pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the] The director of the division of veterans' affairs, 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 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 moneys sufficient, adjusted to reflect projected future inflation, to fund the operation, maintenance and the provision of perpetual care of a state veterans' cemetery for a period of not less than fifteen 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. In making such a certification, the director of the division of veterans' affairs, the director of the division of the budget, the director of the department of state's division of cemeteries, and the office of the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03314-01-9
S. 2033 2
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 fiscal cost, charge or assessment that would be incurred by the cemetery.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 a state veterans' cemetery
Purpose
To ensure that the veterans remembrance and cemetery maintenance and operation fund contains moneys sufficient, adjusted to reflect projected future inflation, to fund the operation, maintenance and the provision of perpetual care of a state veterans' cemetery for a period of not less than fifteen years.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 allows the director of the division of veterans' affairs, 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 comp- troller 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 contains moneys sufficient, to adjust and reflect inflation, for perpet- ual care of a state veterans' cemetery for a period of not less than fifteen years, prior to the commencement of the investigation and study pursuant to paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 365 of the execu- tive law.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
Justification
This legislation ensures that the veterans remembrance and cemetery maintenance and operation fund contains moneys sufficient, adjusted to reflect inflation, in order to have proper, timely and necessary funding for state veterans' cemeteries, by amending the executive law, in the hopes of not further delaying an already encumbered process.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.9178/A.11387: Referred Rules; Referred Veterans' Affairs
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.