Bill A 6037 establishes a peer support program specifically for veterans dealing with mental illness, alcohol abuse, or substance dependence. The bill defines "veteran peer support services" as counseling provided by a veteran peer counselor to other veterans. It directs the Commissioner of Mental Hygiene, in consultation with other agencies, to develop recommended minimum qualifications for these veteran peer counselors and to create procedures for connecting them with training. This program aims to support veterans by leveraging the unique understanding and experiences of fellow veterans in recovery and support roles.
This bill (A 1794) requires a 120-day warning period before fines can be issued for most violations at facilities owned or operated by congressionally chartered veterans' groups (e.g., American Legion posts, VFW halls). It directly affects the owners or operators of these specific veterans' facilities, giving them 120 days to fix violations before fines apply, with an option to request a written extension if they’ve made progress. Exceptions include imminent life-threatening building or health code violations requiring emergency closure, and violations of alcohol laws. The bill applies only to facilities chartered under Title 36 of the U.S. Code and does not change existing rules for alcohol violations or emergencies.
Establishes the hire a vet grant program; provides grants to municipalities where a veteran is hired and employed, for not less than twelve continuous and uninterrupted months in a full-time or part-time position.
This bill requires the MTA to create a half-fare program for eligible New York State veterans using public transportation. It applies specifically to veterans who are New York residents, honorably discharged from U.S. military service, and possess a valid New York veteran ID card. The MTA must establish the program but cannot fund it from its regular operating or capital budgets; instead, it can only implement it using state funds specifically allocated for this purpose. The bill defines "veteran" clearly and mandates that the program be implemented with state appropriations.
Relates to establishing distinctive "Women Veterans" plates and the women veterans support fund; establishes that moneys of the fund will be used for women veteran homelessness, counseling and other programs that support women veterans.
Provides representation to veterans that are at or below four hundred percent of the federal poverty guidelines for matters involving children, sustenance and real property proceedings.
This bill expands property tax exemptions for veterans living together in the same household. It adds up to a 7.5% exemption (capped at $6,000) for non-combat veterans sharing a home, and up to a 5% exemption (capped at $4,000) for veterans who served in combat zones. Local governments must adopt these provisions through public hearings and local ordinances to implement the additional tax breaks. The changes directly affect qualifying veterans living with other veterans and require local jurisdictions to formally approve the exemptions.
Directs the department of veterans' services to establish and operate an electronic database of the number of openings in each of the 4 state veterans' homes and the number of persons on the waiting list for each such veterans' home.
Relates to preferences under the affordable home ownership development program for veterans with service-related disabilities; defines "veteran with a service-related disability".
Authorizes the Department of Veterans' Services to consult and collaborate with relevant offices in the federal department of veterans affairs, the department of health, the state office for the aging and other HCBS experts to develop educational materials for veterans and their families about the accessibility to home and community-based services.
