What's happening
This bill requires New York to provide and annually update online resources to help veterans affected by military sexual trauma.
Why it matters
Centralizes Access to Help. By requiring a dedicated online portal for military sexual trauma (MST) resources, the bill ensures that veterans have a single, authoritative place to find information about support services, reducing confusion and making it easier to get help.
Connects Federal and State Programs. The portal is mandated to link to both federal and state resources, which can help veterans discover benefits or services they might otherwise overlook, and may streamline the process of seeking assistance across multiple agencies.
Promotes Accountability and Awareness. Annual updates and references in official reports to the governor and legislature mean that MST issues are regularly revisited by state leadership, encouraging ongoing attention to veterans’ needs and potentially driving improvements in services over time.
Encourages Interagency Collaboration. By allowing consultation with the Office of Mental Health and the Department of Health, the bill fosters a more comprehensive approach to supporting MST survivors, potentially leading to more holistic care and better-informed resource recommendations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Info for Military Survivors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Substituted by A2459A
- Ordered to third reading cal.1385
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 5006a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Help for Military Sexual Trauma
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Patricia Fahy
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5006--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 3, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PARKER, ADDABBO, BAILEY, COMRIE, SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to providing information on where to seek help in regards to military sexual trauma
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 24 to read as follows:
24. To provide information regarding resources that are available to assist veterans who experienced military sexual trauma while on active duty or during military training, by maintaining a military sexual trauma portal on the division's internet website. Such portal shall provide virtual links to appropriate governmental programs on the federal and state levels. The division may consult with the office of mental health and the department of health. The division shall make reference to this information provided pursuant to subdivisions four-a and four-b of this section and in the annual report to the governor and the legislature required pursuant to subdivision eleven of this section. Such information required under this subdivision shall be maintained and updated annually.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on or before its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01013-04-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to providing information on where to seek help in regards to military sexu- al trauma
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide information to veterans regarding resources that are avail- able to assist veterans who experienced military sexual trauma while on active duty or during military training, by maintaining a military sexu- al trauma portal on the division of veterans' affairs website.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 24.
Section 2: effective date.
Justification
In many instances those veterans who have returned home from combat and/or have completed their tour of duty have had a myriad of experi- ences that sometimes adversely affect them. The experiences and events they go through can sometimes lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
However, veterans can also go through traumatic experiences that are not discussed as often as PTSD. One trauma they go through in particular is Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The definition of MST used by the Depart- ment of Veteran Affairs is: psychological trauma, which in the judgment of a VA mental health professional, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the Veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training.
It is imperative that information of where to seek treatment and coun- seling for Military Sexual Trauma is afforded to veterans and posted on the Division of Veterans' Affairs website. Providing these veterans with this information will enable them to know where to go for help and services.
The Department of Veteran Affairs states that in a screening for mili- tary personnel seeking VA healthcare 1 in 5 women responded "yes" when screened for MST. However, according to pentagon statistics nearly 1 in 3 women in the military is at risk for sexual assault, twice as many as in the general population. In March 2008, the Department of Defense (DOD) released their fourth annual sexual assault report, which stated that there were 2,688 reports of sexual assault in 2007. Although this is down from the 2,947 allegations of sexual assaults reported in 2006, the DOD changed their reporting requirements from calendar year to fiscal year, so there is no way to tell if this reflects a decrease in sexual assaults or not.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: S.2514/A.1945 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs 2013-14: S.909A/A.6227 - Referred to Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
Fiscal implications
Undetermined at this time.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule and regulations necessary for the implementation of this act on or before its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.