What's happening
This bill requires a toll-free helpline and crisis line for veterans and their families to access benefits, services, and support.
Why it matters
Expands support for veterans and their families. by offering a single, easy-to-access phone number for information on benefits, services, and crisis intervention, aiming to reduce confusion about where to turn for help.
Addresses both routine and emergency needs. , providing a referral clearinghouse for questions about benefits or services, as well as a crisis line modeled after the federal veterans' crisis line for urgent assistance.
Improves access during critical times. by requiring the line to be staffed not only during regular business hours but also on weekends and holidays, making support more available when veterans or their families might need it most.
Leverages trained personnel or volunteers from the Division of Veterans’ Services. , which could improve the quality and relevance of support by ensuring those answering calls are knowledgeable about veterans’ issues and resources.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Veterans Crisis Hotline Established
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–0
- Amended on third reading 2283a
- Ordered to third reading cal.338
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Veterans Crisis Hotline Established
In Assembly Committee · Veterans' Affairs · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2283--A Cal. No. 338
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -- committee discharged and said bill committed to the Committee on Rules -- ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to providing a help line/crisis line to assist veterans
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 3803 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 743 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
(b) establishment of a toll-free telephone hotline to provide information regarding health care providers and treatment centers with expertise in illnesses associated with military duty and a toll-free telephone number for use as (i) a clearinghouse by veterans, active members of the armed forces in this state, including the national guard, and their families to obtain, in response to their requests about benefits or services that may be available to such veterans, members or their families, referrals to entities that provide such benefits or services, and (ii) a crisis line to respond to requests for assistance from veterans that is modeled on the federal veterans' crisis line. The toll-free telephone number shall be staffed by employees of or trained volunteers working at the division of veterans' services on weekdays during regular business hours, and on weekends and holidays from nine o'clock a.m. to five o'clock p.m.; and
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07103-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to providing a help line/crisis line to assist veterans
Purpose
To provide a toll-free telephone number for use as a help and crisis line to assist veterans.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 3803 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 743 of the laws of 2006, providing for the establishment of a toll-free telephone number for use as (i) a clearinghouse by veterans, active members of the Armed Forces in New York and their families to obtain referrals to entities that provide benefits or services available to them; and
(ii) a crisis line to respond to requests for assistance from veterans modeled after the federal veterans' crisis line. The toll-free number shall be staffed by employees of or trained volunteers working at the Division of Veterans' Services on weekdays during regular business hours, and on weekends and holidays from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Section 2 provides this act shall take effect immediately.
Existing law
Existing state law establishes a toll-free telephone hotline to provide information regarding health care providers and treatment centers with expertise in illnesses associated with military duty. There is also a federal veterans' crisis line.
Justification
Veterans and members of the Armed Forces need more support from the state, including information on benefits and services available to them and their families, and a number they can call to speak with those qual- ified to help them in this state during times of crisis.
Legislative history
2016: S.7322 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS 2017: S.4524 REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS 2018: S.4524 PASSED SENATE
Fiscal implications
De Minimis cost
Local fiscal implications
None
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.