Veterans

This bill amends Senate Resolution R1397 to allow the suballocation or transfer of funds originally appropriated for human services and veterans community services organizations between agencies (like the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Department of Veterans' Services). It requires any reallocation plan to include either an itemized list of grantees with specific amounts or a clear methodology for distributing funds. Such plans must be approved by the Senate Temporary President, Budget Director, and a majority vote of all senators via roll call. The bill directly affects community organizations receiving these funds, as it modifies the process for how their grants are allocated and approved.

This bill establishes the "Staff Sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York State Military Immigrant Family Legacy Program" within the Office for New Americans. It directly assists military-connected immigrants, including active service members, veterans (including LGBT veterans), reserve members, their family members (spouses, children, parents), and next-of-kin of service members who died in service. The key mechanism designates liaisons between military offices (like the Division of Military and Naval Affairs) and the Office for New Americans to refer eligible individuals to existing immigration legal services, including citizenship assistance. The program coordinates with federal agencies and community partners to help intended recipients navigate immigration processes, and requires annual reporting on program activity and demographics.