A 8967: Renames the veterans' services law the veterans and military families law; renames the department of veterans' services the department of veterans and military families; requires the department of veterans and military families to provide certain services to military families.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8967 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY August 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. SLATER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, the banking law, the canna- bis law, the county law, the economic development law, the correction law, the civil service law, the domestic relations law, the education law, the election law, the environmental conservation law, the execu- tive law, the general business law, the general construction law, the general municipal law, the highway law, the insurance law, the judici- ary law, the labor law, the mental hygiene law, the military law, the not-for-profit corporation law, the parks, recreation, and historic preservation law, the public housing law, the public health law, the public officers law, the private housing finance law, the real proper- ty tax law, the social services law, the state finance law, the state technology law, the tax law, the town law, the vehicle and traffic law, the workers' compensation law, chapter 784 of the laws of 1951, constituting the New York state defense emergency act, chapter 174 of the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development corporation act, the administrative code of the city of New York, and the New York city charter, in relation to renaming the veterans' services law the veterans and military families law, renaming the department of veterans' services the department of veterans and mili- tary families, and requiring the department of veterans and military families to provide certain services to military families The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The chapter heading of chapter 13 of the consolidated laws 2 is amended to read as follows: 3 [VETERANS' SERVICES] VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES 4 § 2. The article heading of article 1 of the veterans' services law is 5 amended to read as follows: 6 DEPARTMENT OF [VETERANS' SERVICES] VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD10758-01-5 
 A. 8967 2 1 § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 1 of the veterans' services law is 2 amended to read as follows: 3 1. The term "department" means the department of [veterans' services] 4 veterans and military families. 5 § 4. Section 2 of the veterans' services law is amended to read as 6 follows: 7 § 2. Department of [veterans' services] veterans and military 8 families. There is hereby created a department of [veterans' services] 9 veterans and military families. The head of such department shall be 10 the New York state commissioner of [veterans' services] veterans and 11 military families who shall be a veteran. [He or she] The commissioner 12 shall be appointed by the governor and shall hold office [during his or 13 her] at the governor's pleasure. Such state commissioner shall receive 14 an annual salary to be fixed by the governor within the limitation 15 provided by law. [He or she] The commissioner shall also be entitled to 16 receive [his or her] expenses actually and necessarily incurred by [him 17 or her] them in the performance of [his or her] their duties. The state 18 commissioner, with the approval of the governor, may establish such 19 bureaus within the department as are necessary and appropriate to carry- 20 ing out its functions and may consolidate or abolish such bureaus. The 21 [state] commissioner may appoint such officers, consultants, clerks and 22 other employees and agents as [he or she] they may deem necessary, fix 23 their compensation within the limitation provided by law, and prescribe 24 their duties. 25 § 5. Subdivision 10 of section 4 of the veterans' services law is 26 amended and four new subdivisions 40, 41, 42, and 43 are added to read 27 as follows: 28 10. To prepare and submit a report, in consultation with the office of 29 temporary and disability assistance, department of labor, and office of 30 children and family services to determine the number of homeless persons 31 in New York state that are veterans. Such report shall include, but not 32 be limited to, the following information to the extent it is reasonably 33 accessible to the department: (a) an analysis of veterans in New York 34 state who are currently homeless, or have been homeless within five 35 years of being released from active duty including an analysis of gender 36 as it relates to homelessness of veterans; (b) data on the number of 37 children of homeless veterans, including the current placement of such 38 children; (c) cases of military sexual trauma experienced by homeless 39 veterans while on active duty or during military training, including a 40 breakdown of the collected data based upon the gender of the victim; and 41 (d) the unemployment rate for New York state veterans. The term "chil- 42 dren of homeless veterans" shall mean a person who is unmarried and who 43 is under the age of eighteen years, and is the biological or legally 44 adopted child of a veteran. The report shall be delivered to the gover- 45 nor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the 46 senate by June thirtieth, two thousand twenty and every three years 47 thereafter. Such report shall be publicly available and posted on the 48 [department of veterans' services] department's website. 49 40. To serve as liaison between the families of uniformed services 50 personnel and the department of defense. 51 41. To provide information to uniformed services families on family 52 assistance programs that are available from the state and federal 53 government. 54 42. To ensure that the families of uniformed services personnel 55 receive appropriate support and assistance. 
 A. 8967 3 1 43. To coordinate with family liaison officers designated under 2 section nineteen-a of the military law to provide assistance to the 3 families of those uniformed services personnel who have been deployed 4 for active military duty. 5 § 6. Section 7 of the veterans' services law, as amended by chapter 6 449 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as follows: 7 § 7. Information on status of veterans receiving assistance. Depart- 8 ments, divisions, bureaus, boards, commissions and agencies of the state 9 and political subdivisions thereof, which provide assistance, treatment, 10 counseling, care, supervision or custody in service areas involving 11 health, mental health, family services, criminal justice or employment, 12 including but not limited to the office of addiction services and 13 supports, office of mental health, office of probation and correctional 14 alternatives, office of children and family services, office of tempo- 15 rary and disability assistance, department of health, department of 16 labor, local workforce investment boards, office for people with devel- 17 opmental disabilities, and department of corrections and community 18 supervision, shall request assisted persons to provide information with 19 regard to their veteran status and military experiences. Individuals 20 identifying themselves as veterans, including individuals requesting and 21 obtaining a veteran notation on such individual's driver's license or 22 non-driver identification card pursuant to sections four hundred ninety 23 and five hundred two of the vehicle and traffic law, shall be advised 24 that the department [of veterans' services] and local veterans' service 25 agencies established pursuant to section fourteen of this article 26 provide assistance to veterans regarding benefits under federal and 27 state law. Information regarding veterans status and military service 28 provided by assisted persons solely to implement this section shall be 29 protected as personal confidential information under article six-A of 30 the public officers law against disclosure of confidential material, and 31 used only to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, assessment and handling 32 of the veteran's problems within the agency requesting such information 33 and in referring the veteran to the department [of veterans' services] 34 for information and assistance with regard to benefits and entitlements 35 under federal and state law. 36 § 7. Subdivision 2 of section 11 of the veterans' services law is 37 amended to read as follows: 38 2. Individuals identifying themselves as having served in the military 39 or a family member shall be advised that the department [of veterans' 40 services] and local veterans service agencies established pursuant to 41 section seventeen of this article provide assistance to veterans regard- 42 ing benefits under federal and state law. Information regarding veterans 43 and military status provided by assisted persons solely to implement 44 this section shall be protected as personal confidential material, and 45 used only to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, assessment and handling 46 of the veteran's or family member's problems within the agency request- 47 ing such information and in referring the veteran or family member to 48 the department [of veterans' services] for the information and assist- 49 ance with regard to benefits and entitlements under federal and state 50 law. 51 § 8. Subdivision 1 of section 19 of the veterans' services law is 52 amended to read as follows: 53 1. [Definitions. (a) "Veteran" shall have the same meaning as defined 54 in section one of this article. 55 (b) "Department" shall mean the state department of veterans' 56 services. 
 A. 8967 4 1 (c) "Women veterans coordinator"] The women veterans coordinator shall 2 be a veteran. 3 § 9. The opening paragraph of paragraph (a) of subdivision 9 and 4 subdivision 10 of section 20 of the veterans' services law is amended to 5 read as follows: 6 support and assist the department [of veterans' services] and the 7 women veterans coordinator pursuant to section nineteen of this article 8 in: 9 10. The department [of veterans' services] shall help support the 10 committee's activities. 11 § 10. Paragraph a of subdivision 1 of section 21 of the veterans' 12 services law is amended to read as follows: 13 a. Any veteran as defined in this article who has been or is hereafter 14 classified by the New York State commission for the visually handicapped 15 as a blind person as defined in section three of chapter four hundred 16 fifteen of the laws of nineteen hundred thirteen, as amended, and 17 continues to be a blind person within the meaning of that section, 18 shall, upon application to the commissioner [of the department of veter- 19 ans' services], be paid out of the treasury of the state for such term 20 as such veteran shall be entitled thereto under the provisions of this 21 article, the sum of one thousand dollars annually, plus any applicable 22 annual adjustment, as provided in this section. 23 § 11. The third undesignated paragraph and subparagraph (i) of para- 24 graph paragraph (a-2) of subdivision 2 of section 24 of the veterans' 25 services law are amended to read as follows: 26 The legislature additionally finds and determines that it is therefore 27 necessary to provide for the construction and establishment of one or 28 more New York state veterans' cemeteries, and that to thereafter, 29 provide for the expansion, improvement, support, operation, maintenance 30 and the provision of perpetual care of all such cemeteries so 31 constructed and established. The legislature also finds and determines 32 that it is appropriate to have the responsibility for the construction, 33 establishment, expansion, improvement, support, operation, maintenance 34 and the provision of perpetual care for veterans' cemeteries in this 35 state, to be under the oversight and direction of the state department 36 of [veterans' services] veterans and military families, and its commis- 37 sioner, individually, and as chair of the management board, for each 38 such veterans' cemetery so constructed and established. 39 (i) The commissioner [of the department of veterans' services], or 40 [his or her] their representative; 41 § 12. Subdivision 1 of section 29 of the veterans' services law is 42 amended to read as follows: 43 1. The department, in cooperation with the office of temporary and 44 disability assistance and any other state department, office, division 45 or agency the department deems necessary, shall require that all intake 46 forms for admission or residency to any temporary shelter that is reim- 47 bursed from state or state-administered grants or funds shall ask an 48 applicant: "Have you or anyone in your household ever been in the United 49 States military?". Each social services district or social services 50 district's designee shall in writing advise all individuals applying for 51 temporary housing assistance and identifying themselves as having been 52 in the United States military that the department [of veterans' 53 services] and local veterans' service agencies established pursuant to 54 section fourteen of this article provide assistance to veterans regard- 55 ing benefits available under federal and state law. Such written infor- 56 mation shall include the name, address and telephone number of the [New 
 A. 8967 5 1 York state] department [of veterans' services], the nearest department 2 [of veterans' services] office, the nearest county or city veterans' 3 service agency and the nearest accredited veterans' service officer. 4 Each social services district or social services district's designee, 5 with the permission of such individual's identifying themself as a 6 veteran, shall transmit such veteran's status information to the depart- 7 ment [of veterans' services]. 8 § 13. Subdivision 3 of section 34 of the veterans' services law is 9 amended to read as follows: 10 3. establish and maintain, together with the commissioner [of the 11 department of veterans' services], a program to educate separating 12 service members as to the benefits available to veterans under this 13 article. 14 § 14. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 41 of the veterans' 15 services law is amended to read as follows: 16 (c) Evaluate and assess availability of firms for the purpose of 17 increasing participation of such firms in state contracting in consulta- 18 tion with relevant state entities including, but not limited to, the 19 [New York state] department [of veterans' services]. 20 § 15. Section 6-p of the banking law, as added by chapter 102 of the 21 laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows: 22 § 6-p. Loan counseling for mortgages guaranteed by the Servicemen's 23 Readjustment Act of 1944. Every mortgage lending institution and mort- 24 gage banker which originates loans secured by real property used for 25 residential purposes located in this state which are to be guaranteed 26 under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 shall provide a separate 27 disclosure form with each application stating that a veteran seeking a 28 housing loan under chapter 37 of title 38 of the United States Code has 29 been offered loan counseling services. Such loan counseling services 30 shall be provided by the department of [veterans' services] veterans and 31 military families under section twenty-nine-a of the [veterans' 32 services] veterans and military families law upon request of an appli- 33 cant. The disclosure form required by this section shall be signed by 34 each applicant and shall include information detailing how to access 35 such counseling services. 36 § 16. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 5 of section 87 of the cannabis 37 law, as amended by section 29 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 38 2022, is amended to read as follows: 39 (f) "Service-disabled veterans" shall mean persons qualified under 40 article three of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 41 law. 42 § 17. Section 831 of the county law, as amended by section 32 of part 43 PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 44 § 831. Soldier burial plots in Dutchess county. The legislature of the 45 county of Dutchess may authorize the purchase of burial plots and 46 provide for marker settings and perpetual care and maintenance of such 47 plots in one or more of the cemeteries of the county of Dutchess for 48 deceased veterans, who, at the time of death, were residents of the 49 county of Dutchess and who (i) were discharged from the armed forces of 50 the United States either honorably or under honorable circumstances, or 51 (ii) had a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 52 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and received a 53 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, or (iii) were a 54 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 55 services] veterans and military families law, and received a discharge 
 A. 8967 6 1 other than bad conduct or dishonorable. The expense thereof shall be a 2 county charge. 3 § 18. Subdivision 6 of section 210 of the economic development law, as 4 amended by section 33 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 5 amended to read as follows: 6 6. "Veteran" shall mean a person who served in the United States army, 7 navy, air force, marines, coast guard, and/or reserves thereof, and/or 8 in the army national guard, air national guard, New York guard and/or 9 New York naval militia and who (a) has received an honorable or general 10 discharge from such service, or (b) has a qualifying condition, as 11 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 12 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 13 dishonorable from such service, or (c) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 14 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 15 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 16 dishonorable from such service. 17 § 19. Paragraph 1 of subdivision (a) of section 42 of the correction 18 law, as amended by section 34 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 19 2022, is amended to read as follows: 20 1. There shall be within the commission a citizen's policy and 21 complaint review council. It shall consist of nine persons to be 22 appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the 23 senate. One person so appointed shall have served in the armed forces of 24 the United States in any foreign war, conflict or military occupation, 25 who (i) was discharged therefrom under other than dishonorable condi- 26 tions, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of 27 the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 28 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 29 service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 30 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 31 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 32 such service, or shall be a duly licensed mental health professional who 33 has professional experience or training with regard to post-traumatic 34 stress syndrome. One person so appointed shall be an attorney admitted 35 to practice in this state. One person so appointed shall be a former 36 incarcerated individual of a correctional facility. One person so 37 appointed shall be a former correction officer. One person so appointed 38 shall be a former resident of a division for youth secure center or a 39 health care professional duly licensed to practice in this state. One 40 person so appointed shall be a former employee of the office of children 41 and family services who has directly supervised youth in a secure resi- 42 dential center operated by such office. In addition, the governor shall 43 designate one of the full-time members other than the chair of the 44 commission as chair of the council to serve as such at the pleasure of 45 the governor. 46 § 20. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section 50 of the civil 47 service law, as amended by section 1 of part EE of chapter 55 of the 48 laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows: 49 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivi- 50 sion, the state civil service department, subject to the approval of the 51 director of the budget, a municipal commission, subject to the approval 52 of the governing board or body of the city or county, as the case may 53 be, or a regional commission or personnel officer, pursuant to govern- 54 mental agreement, may elect to waive application fees, or to abolish 55 fees for specific classes of positions or types of examinations or 56 candidates, or to establish a uniform schedule of reasonable fees 
 A. 8967 7 1 different from those prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, 2 specifying in such schedule the classes of positions or types of exam- 3 inations or candidates to which such fees shall apply; provided, howev- 4 er, that fees shall be waived for candidates who certify to the state 5 civil service department, a municipal commission or a regional commis- 6 sion that they are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support 7 of a household, or are receiving public assistance. Provided further, 8 the state civil service department shall waive the state application fee 9 for examinations for original appointment for all veterans. Provided 10 further, the state civil service department shall, and a municipal 11 commission may, subject to the approval of the governing board or body 12 of the city or county, as the case may be, or a regional commission or 13 personnel officer, pursuant to governmental agreement, waive application 14 fees for all examinations held between July first, two thousand twenty- 15 three and December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-five. Notwithstand- 16 ing any other provision of law, for purposes of this section, the term 17 "veteran" shall mean a person who has served in the armed forces of the 18 United States or the reserves thereof, or in the army national guard, 19 air national guard, New York guard, or the New York naval militia, and 20 who (1) has been honorably discharged or released from such service 21 under honorable conditions, or (2) has a qualifying condition, as 22 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 23 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 24 dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 25 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 26 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 27 dishonorable from such service. The term "armed forces" shall mean the 28 army, navy, air force, marine corps, and coast guard. 29 § 20-a. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section 50 of the civil 30 service law, as amended by section 35 of part PP of chapter 56 of the 31 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 32 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subdivi- 33 sion, the state civil service department, subject to the approval of the 34 director of the budget, a municipal commission, subject to the approval 35 of the governing board or body of the city or county, as the case may 36 be, or a regional commission or personnel officer, pursuant to govern- 37 mental agreement, may elect to waive application fees, or to abolish 38 fees for specific classes of positions or types of examinations or 39 candidates, or to establish a uniform schedule of reasonable fees 40 different from those prescribed in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, 41 specifying in such schedule the classes of positions or types of exam- 42 inations or candidates to which such fees shall apply; provided, howev- 43 er, that fees shall be waived for candidates who certify to the state 44 civil service department, a municipal commission or a regional commis- 45 sion that they are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support 46 of a household, or are receiving public assistance. Provided further, 47 the state civil service department shall waive the state application fee 48 for examinations for original appointment for all veterans. Notwith- 49 standing any other provision of law, for purposes of this section, the 50 term "veteran" shall mean a person who has served in the armed forces of 51 the United States or the reserves thereof, or in the army national 52 guard, air national guard, New York guard, or the New York naval mili- 53 tia, and who (1) has been honorably discharged or released from such 54 service under honorable conditions, or (2) has a qualifying condition, 55 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 56 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 
 A. 8967 8 1 or dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, 2 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 3 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 4 or dishonorable from such service. The term "armed forces" shall mean 5 the army, navy, air force, marine corps, and coast guard. 6 § 21. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 75 of the civil 7 service law, as amended by section 36 of part PP of chapter 56 of the 8 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 9 (b) a person holding a position by permanent appointment or employment 10 in the classified service of the state or in the several cities, coun- 11 ties, towns, or villages thereof, or in any other political or civil 12 division of the state or of a municipality, or in the public school 13 service, or in any public or special district, or in the service of any 14 authority, commission or board, or in any other branch of public 15 service, who was honorably discharged or released under honorable 16 circumstances from the armed forces of the United States including (i) 17 having a qualifying condition as defined in section one of the [veter- 18 ans' services] veterans and military families law, and receiving a 19 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 20 (ii) being a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 21 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and receiving a 22 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, 23 having served therein as such member in time of war as defined in 24 section eighty-five of this chapter, or who is an exempt volunteer fire- 25 fighter as defined in the general municipal law, except when a person 26 described in this paragraph holds the position of private secretary, 27 cashier or deputy of any official or department, or 28 § 22. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 85 of the civil 29 service law, as separately amended by section 37 of part PP of chapter 30 56 and chapter 669 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 31 (a) The terms "veteran" and "non-disabled veteran" mean a member of 32 the armed forces of the United States who was honorably discharged or 33 released under honorable circumstances from such service including (i) 34 having a qualifying condition as defined in section one of the [veter- 35 ans' services] veterans and military families law, and receiving a 36 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 37 (ii) being a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 38 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and receiving a 39 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, who 40 is a citizen of the United States or a noncitizen lawfully admitted for 41 permanent residence in the United States and who is a resident of the 42 state of New York at the time of application for appointment or 43 promotion or at the time of retention, as the case may be. 44 § 23. Section 86 of the civil service law, as amended by section 38 of 45 part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as 46 follows: 47 § 86. Transfer of veterans or exempt volunteer firefighters upon abol- 48 ition of positions. If the position in the non-competitive or in the 49 labor class held by any honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces 50 of the United States or by any veteran of the armed forces of the United 51 States released under honorable circumstances from such service includ- 52 ing (i) having a qualifying condition as defined in section one of the 53 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and receiving a 54 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 55 (ii) being a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 56 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and receiving a 
 A. 8967 9 1 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, who 2 served therein in time of war as defined in section eighty-five of this 3 chapter, or by an exempt volunteer firefighter as defined in the general 4 municipal law, shall become unnecessary or be abolished for reasons of 5 economy or otherwise, the honorably discharged veteran or exempt volun- 6 teer firefighter holding such position shall not be discharged from the 7 public service but shall be transferred to a similar position wherein a 8 vacancy exists, and shall receive the same compensation therein. It is 9 hereby made the duty of all persons clothed with the power of appoint- 10 ment to make such transfer effective. The right to transfer herein 11 conferred shall continue for a period of one year following the date of 12 abolition of the position, and may be exercised only where a vacancy 13 exists in an appropriate position to which transfer may be made at the 14 time of demand for transfer. Where the positions of more than one such 15 veteran or exempt volunteer firefighter are abolished and a lesser 16 number of vacancies in similar positions exist to which transfer may be 17 made, the veterans or exempt volunteer firefighters whose positions are 18 abolished shall be entitled to transfer to such vacancies in the order 19 of their original appointment in the service. Nothing in this section 20 shall be construed to apply to the position of private secretary, cash- 21 ier or deputy of any official or department. This section shall have no 22 application to persons encompassed by section eighty-a of this chapter. 23 § 24. Section 13-b of the domestic relations law, as separately 24 amended by section 39 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022 and 25 chapter 68 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows: 26 § 13-b. Time within which marriage may be solemnized. A marriage shall 27 not be solemnized within twenty-four hours after the issuance of the 28 marriage license, unless authorized by an order of a court of record as 29 hereinafter provided, nor shall it be solemnized after sixty days from 30 the date of the issuance of the marriage license unless authorized 31 pursuant to section ten of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 32 tary families law. Every license to marry hereafter issued by a town or 33 city clerk, in addition to other requirements specified by this chapter, 34 must contain a statement of the day and the hour the license is issued 35 and the period during which the marriage may be solemnized. It shall be 36 the duty of the [clergyman] clergyperson, magistrate, or one-day 37 marriage officiant, as designated by a town or city clerk pursuant to 38 section eleven-d of this article, performing the marriage ceremony, or 39 if the marriage is solemnized by written contract, of the judge before 40 whom the contract is acknowledged, to annex to or endorse upon the 41 marriage license the date and hour the marriage is solemnized. A judge 42 or justice of the supreme court of this state or the county judge of the 43 county in which either party to be married resides, or the judge of the 44 family court of such county, if it shall appear from an examination of 45 the license and any other proofs submitted by the parties that one of 46 the parties is in danger of imminent death, or by reason of other emer- 47 gency public interest will be promoted thereby, or that such delay will 48 work irreparable injury or great hardship upon the contracting parties, 49 or one of them, may, make an order authorizing the immediate solemniza- 50 tion of the marriage and upon filing such order with the [clergyman] 51 clergyperson, magistrate, or one-day marriage officiant performing the 52 marriage ceremony, or if the marriage is to be solemnized by written 53 contract, with the judge before whom the contract is acknowledged, such 54 [clergyman] clergyperson, magistrate or such one-day marriage officiant 55 may solemnize such marriage, or such judge may take such acknowledgment 56 as the case may be, without waiting for such three day period and twen- 
 A. 8967 10 1 ty-four hour period to elapse. The [clergyman] clergyperson, magistrate, 2 judge, or such one-day marriage officiant, as designated by a town or 3 city clerk pursuant to section eleven-d of this article, must file such 4 order with the town or city clerk who issued the license within five 5 days after the marriage is solemnized. Such town or city clerk must 6 record and index the order in the book required to be kept by [him or 7 her] them for recording affidavits, statements, consents and licenses, 8 and when so recorded the order shall become a public record and avail- 9 able in any prosecution under this section. A person who shall solemnize 10 a marriage in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor 11 and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars 12 for each offense, and in addition thereto, [his or her] their right to 13 solemnize a marriage shall be suspended for ninety days. 14 § 25. Paragraph a of subdivision 3 of section 14-a of the domestic 15 relations law, as amended by section 3 of part PP of chapter 56 of the 16 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 17 a. No fee shall be charged for any certificate when required by the 18 United States department of veterans affairs or by the department of 19 [veterans' services] veterans and military families of the state of New 20 York to be used in determining the eligibility of any person to partic- 21 ipate in the benefits made available by the United States department of 22 veterans affairs or by the state of New York. 23 § 26. Subdivision 1 of section 19 of the domestic relations law, as 24 amended by section 4 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 25 amended to read as follows: 26 1. Each town and city clerk hereby empowered to issue marriage 27 licenses shall keep a book supplied by the state department of health in 28 which such clerk shall record and index such information as is required 29 therein, which book shall be kept and preserved as a part of the public 30 records of [his or her] their office. Whenever an application is made 31 for a search of such records the city or town clerk, excepting the city 32 clerk of the city of New York, may make such search and furnish a 33 certificate of the result to the applicant upon the payment of a fee of 34 five dollars for a search of one year and a further fee of one dollar 35 for the second year for which such search is requested and fifty cents 36 for each additional year thereafter, which fees shall be paid in advance 37 of such search. Whenever an application is made for a search of such 38 records in the city of New York, the city clerk of the city of New York 39 may make such search and furnish a certificate of the result to the 40 applicant upon the payment of a fee of five dollars for a search of one 41 year and a further fee of one dollar for the second year for which 42 search is requested and fifty cents each additional year thereafter. 43 Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, no fee shall be 44 charged for any search or certificate when required by the United States 45 department of veterans affairs or by the department of [veterans' 46 services] veterans and military families of the state of New York to be 47 used in determining the eligibility of any person to participate in the 48 benefits made available by the United States department of veterans 49 affairs or by the state of New York. All such affidavits, statements and 50 consents, immediately upon the taking or receiving of the same by the 51 town or city clerk, shall be recorded and indexed as provided herein and 52 shall be public records and open to public inspection whenever the same 53 may be necessary or required for judicial or other proper purposes. At 54 such times as the commissioner shall direct, the said town or city 55 clerk, excepting the city clerk of the city of New York, shall file in 56 the office of the state department of health the original of each affi- 
 A. 8967 11 1 davit, statement, consent, order of a justice or judge authorizing imme- 2 diate solemnization of marriage, license and certificate, filed with or 3 made before such clerk during the preceding month. Such clerk shall not 4 be required to file any of said documents with the state department of 5 health until the license is returned with the certificate showing that 6 the marriage to which they refer has been actually performed. 7 The county clerks of the counties comprising the city of New York 8 shall cause all original applications and original licenses with the 9 marriage solemnization statements thereon heretofore filed with each, 10 and all papers and records and binders relating to such original docu- 11 ments pertaining to marriage licenses issued by said city clerk, in 12 their custody and possession to be removed, transferred, and delivered 13 to the borough offices of the city clerk in each of said counties. 14 § 27. Paragraph c of subdivision 1 of section 360 of the education 15 law, as amended by section 40 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 16 2022, is amended to read as follows: 17 c. Adopt and enforce campus rules and regulations not inconsistent 18 with the vehicle and traffic law relating to parking, vehicular and 19 pedestrian traffic, and safety. Such rules and regulations may include 20 provisions for the disposition of abandoned vehicles, removal by towing 21 or otherwise of vehicles parked in violation of such rules at the 22 expense of the owner, the payment of fees for the registration or park- 23 ing of such vehicles, provided that such campus rules and regulations 24 may provide that any veteran attending the state university as a student 25 shall be exempt from any fees for parking or registering a motor vehi- 26 cle, and the assessment of administrative fines upon the owner or opera- 27 tor of such vehicles for each violation of the regulations. However, no 28 such fine may be imposed without a hearing or an opportunity to be heard 29 conducted by an officer or board designated by the board of trustees. 30 Such fines, in the case of an officer or employee of state university, 31 may be deducted from the salary or wages of such officer or employee 32 found in violation of such regulations, or in the case of a student of 33 state university found in violation of such regulations, the university 34 may withhold [his or her] their grades and transcripts until such time 35 as any fine is paid. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "veter- 36 an" shall mean a member of the armed forces of the United States who 37 served in such armed forces in time of war and who (i) was honorably 38 discharged or released under honorable circumstances from such service, 39 or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 40 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 41 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 42 service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 43 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 44 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 45 such service. 46 § 28. The opening paragraph of subdivision 6, subdivision 7, paragraph 47 c of subdivision 9, the opening paragraph of paragraph a of subdivision 48 10, and the opening paragraph of paragraph a of subdivision 10-a of 49 section 503 of the education law, as amended by section 41 of part PP of 50 chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 51 Credit for service in war after world war I, which shall mean military 52 service during the period commencing the first day of July, nineteen 53 hundred forty, and terminating the thirtieth day of June, nineteen 54 hundred forty-seven, or during the period commencing the twenty-seventh 55 day of June, nineteen hundred fifty, and terminating the thirty-first 56 day of January, nineteen hundred fifty-five, or during both such peri- 
 A. 8967 12 1 ods, as a member of the armed forces of the United States, of any person 2 who (i) has been honorably discharged or released under honorable 3 circumstances from such service, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as 4 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 5 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 6 dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, 7 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 8 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 9 or dishonorable from such service, or service by one who was employed by 10 the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation or 11 their agents as a merchant [seaman] mariner documented by the United 12 States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant 13 employed by the United States Army Transport Service (later redesignated 14 as the United States Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the 15 Naval Transportation Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew 16 member during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen 17 hundred forty-one, to August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, 18 aboard merchant vessels in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or 19 coastwise service as such terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 20 10301 & 10501) and further to include "near foreign" voyages between the 21 United States and Canada, Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, 22 or public vessels in oceangoing service or foreign waters and who has 23 received a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a 24 discharge certificate, or an Honorable Service Certificate/Report of 25 Casualty, from the Department of Defense or who served as a United 26 States civilian employed by the American Field Service and served over- 27 seas under United States Armies and United States Army Groups in world 28 war II during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen 29 hundred forty-one through May eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and 30 (iv) who was discharged or released therefrom under honorable condi- 31 tions, or (v) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of 32 the [veterans' services] veterans military families law, and has 33 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 34 service, or (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one 35 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 36 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 37 service, or who served as a United States civilian Flight Crew and 38 Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan American World Airways or one of 39 its subsidiaries or its affiliates and served overseas as a result of 40 Pan American's contract with Air Transport Command or Naval Air Trans- 41 port Service during the period of armed conflict, December fourteenth, 42 nineteen hundred forty-one through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred 43 forty-five, and who (vii) was discharged or released therefrom under 44 honorable conditions, or (viii) has a qualifying condition, as defined 45 in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military fami- 46 lies law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 47 dishonorable from such service, or (ix) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 48 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 49 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 50 dishonorable from such service, and who was a teacher in the public 51 schools of this state at the time of [his or her] their entrance into 52 the armed forces of the United States, provided no compensation was 53 received under the provisions of section two hundred forty-two of the 54 military law, and who returned to public school teaching following 55 discharge or completion of advanced education provided under service- 56 men's readjustment act of nineteen hundred forty-four, or who following 
 A. 8967 13 1 such discharge or release entered into a service which would qualify 2 [him or her] them pursuant to section forty-three of the retirement and 3 social security law to transfer [his or her] their membership in the New 4 York state teachers' retirement system, shall be provided as follows, 5 any provisions of section two hundred forty-three of the military law to 6 the contrary notwithstanding. 7 7. A teacher, who was a member of the New York state teachers retire- 8 ment system but who withdrew [his or her] their accumulated contrib- 9 utions immediately prior to [his or her] their entry into, or during 10 [his or her] their service in the armed forces of the United States in 11 war after World War I, who (i) has been honorably discharged or released 12 from service, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 13 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 14 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 15 such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 16 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 17 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 18 from such service, provided no compensation was received under the 19 provisions of section two hundred forty-two of the military law, and who 20 returned to public school teaching in the state of New York following 21 such discharge or release, or following completion of advanced education 22 provided under servicemen's readjustment act of nineteen hundred forty- 23 four, any provisions of section two hundred forty-three of the military 24 law to the contrary notwithstanding, will be entitled to credit for 25 service in war after World War I, cost free, provided, however, that 26 such credit will not be allowed until [he or she claims and pays] they 27 claim and pay for all prior teaching service credited to [him or her] 28 them at the time of [his or her] their termination of membership in the 29 New York state teachers retirement system, and provided further that 30 claim for such service in war after World War I shall be filed by the 31 member with the retirement board before the first day of July, nineteen 32 hundred sixty-eight. 33 c. (i) has been honorably discharged or released under honorable 34 circumstances from such service, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as 35 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 36 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 37 dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, 38 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 39 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 40 or dishonorable from such service, and 41 In addition to credit for military service pursuant to section two 42 hundred forty-three of the military law and subdivisions six through 43 nine of this section, a member employed as a full-time teacher by an 44 employer as defined in subdivision three of section five hundred one of 45 this article and who joined the retirement system prior to July first, 46 nineteen hundred seventy-three, may obtain credit for military service 47 not in excess of three years and not otherwise creditable under section 48 two hundred forty-three of the military law and subdivisions six through 49 nine of this section, rendered on active duty in the armed forces of the 50 United States during the period commencing July first, nineteen hundred 51 forty, and terminating December thirty-first, nineteen hundred forty- 52 six, or on service by one who was employed by the War Shipping Adminis- 53 tration or Office of Defense Transportation or their agents as a 54 merchant [seaman] mariner documented by the United States Coast Guard or 55 Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant employed by the United 56 States Army Transport Service (later redesignated as the United States 
 A. 8967 14 1 Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation 2 Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew member during the peri- 3 od of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to 4 August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels 5 in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such 6 terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further 7 to include "near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, 8 Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in ocean- 9 going service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of 10 Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an 11 Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department of 12 Defense or on service by one who served as a United States civilian 13 employed by the American Field Service and served overseas under United 14 States Armies and United States Army Groups in world war II during the 15 period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one 16 through May eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (i) was 17 discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (ii) has 18 a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 19 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 20 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 21 (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 22 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 23 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 24 service, or on service by one who served as a United States civilian 25 Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan American World 26 Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affiliates and served overseas 27 as a result of Pan American's contract with Air Transport Command or 28 Naval Air Transport Service during the period of armed conflict, Decem- 29 ber fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one through August fourteenth, 30 nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (iv) was discharged or released 31 therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has a qualifying condition, 32 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 33 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 34 or dishonorable from such service, or (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, 35 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 36 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 37 or dishonorable from such service, by a person who was a resident of New 38 York state at the time of entry into such service and at the time of 39 being discharged therefrom under honorable circumstances, and who makes 40 the payments required in accordance with the provisions of this subdivi- 41 sion. 42 In addition to credit for military service pursuant to section two 43 hundred forty-three of the military law and subdivisions six through 44 nine of this section, a member who joined the retirement system prior to 45 July first, nineteen hundred seventy-three, and who was not eligible for 46 credit for military service under subdivision ten of this section as a 47 result of being on a leave of absence without pay between July twenti- 48 eth, nineteen hundred seventy-six and October fifteenth, nineteen 49 hundred seventy-seven or on leave of absence with less than full pay 50 between July twentieth, nineteen hundred seventy-six and October 51 fifteenth, nineteen hundred seventy-seven, may obtain credit for mili- 52 tary service not in excess of three years and not otherwise creditable 53 under section two hundred forty-three of the military law and subdivi- 54 sions six through nine of this section, rendered on active duty in the 55 armed forces of the United States during the period commencing July 56 first, nineteen hundred forty, and terminating December thirty-first, 
 A. 8967 15 1 nineteen hundred forty-six, or on service by one who was employed by the 2 War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation or their 3 agents as a merchant [seaman] mariner documented by the United States 4 Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant employed by 5 the United States Army Transport Service (later redesignated as the 6 United States Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the Naval 7 Transportation Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew member 8 during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred 9 forty-one, to August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard 10 merchant vessels in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coast- 11 wise service as such terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 12 & 10501) and further to include "near foreign" voyages between the 13 United States and Canada, Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, 14 or public vessels in oceangoing service or foreign waters and who has 15 received a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a 16 discharge certificate, or an Honorable Service Certificate/Report of 17 Casualty, from the Department of Defense, or on service by one who 18 served as a United States civilian employed by the American Field 19 Service and served overseas under United States Armies and United States 20 Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed conflict, Decem- 21 ber seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May eighth, nineteen 22 hundred forty-five, and who (i) was discharged or released therefrom 23 under honorable conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as 24 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 25 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 26 dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, 27 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 28 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 29 or dishonorable from such service, or on service by one who served as a 30 United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee 31 of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affil- 32 iates and served overseas as a result of Pan American's contract with 33 Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period 34 of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one 35 through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (iv) was 36 discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has 37 a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 38 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 39 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 40 (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 41 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 42 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 43 service, by a person who was a resident of New York state at the time of 44 entry into such service and at the time of being discharged therefrom 45 under honorable circumstances, and who makes the payments required in 46 accordance with the provisions of this subdivision. 47 § 29. Subdivision 5 of section 605 of the education law, as amended by 48 section 42 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 49 read as follows: 50 5. Regents scholarships for war veterans. Regents scholarships for war 51 veterans shall be awarded on a competitive basis, for study beginning 52 with the college year nineteen hundred seventy-five--nineteen hundred 53 seventy-six. Six hundred such scholarships shall be awarded in such year 54 to veterans of the armed forces of the United States who have served on 55 active duty (other than for training) between October one, nineteen 56 hundred sixty-one and March twenty-nine, nineteen hundred seventy-three, 
 A. 8967 16 1 and who on the date by which applications are required to be submitted 2 (a) have been released from such active duty on conditions not other 3 than honorable, or (b) have a qualifying condition, as defined in 4 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 5 law, and have received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonor- 6 able from such service, or (c) are discharged LGBT veterans, as defined 7 in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military fami- 8 lies law, and have received a discharge other than bad conduct or 9 dishonorable from such service. Such scholarships shall be allocated to 10 each county in the state in the same ratio that the number of legal 11 residents in such county, as determined by the most recent federal 12 census, bears to the total number of residents in the state; provided, 13 however, that no county shall be allocated fewer scholarships than such 14 county received during the year nineteen hundred sixty-eight--sixty- 15 nine. 16 § 30. Subparagraph 3 of paragraph b of subdivision 3 of section 663 of 17 the education law, as amended by section 43 of part PP of chapter 56 of 18 the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 19 (3) The applicant was enlisted in full time active military service in 20 the armed forces of the United States and (i) has been honorably 21 discharged from such service, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as 22 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 23 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 24 dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, 25 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 26 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 27 or dishonorable from such service, and, provided, however, that the 28 applicant has not and will not be claimed as a dependent by either 29 parent for purposes of either federal or state income tax. 30 § 31. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 and paragraph (b) of subdivision 31 2 of section 668 of the education law, as amended by section 44 of part 32 PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 33 (b) December seven, nineteen hundred forty-one to December thirty-one, 34 nineteen hundred forty-six, or have been employed by the War Shipping 35 Administration or Office of Defense Transportation or their agents as a 36 merchant [seaman] mariner documented by the United States Coast Guard or 37 Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant employed by the United 38 States Army Transport Service (later redesignated as the United States 39 Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation 40 Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew member during the peri- 41 od of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to 42 August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels 43 in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such 44 terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further 45 to include "near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, 46 Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in ocean- 47 going service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of 48 Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an 49 Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department of 50 Defense or have served as a United States civilian employed by the Amer- 51 ican Field Service and served overseas under United States Armies and 52 United States Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed 53 conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May 54 eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (i) was discharged or 55 released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying 56 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 
 A. 8967 17 1 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 2 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged 3 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 4 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 5 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or have served as a 6 United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee 7 of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affil- 8 iates and served overseas as a result of Pan American's contract with 9 Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period 10 of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one 11 through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (iv) was 12 discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has 13 a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 14 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 15 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 16 (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 17 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 18 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 19 service. 20 (b) (i) is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States or 21 member of the armed forces of the United States, or (ii) has a qualify- 22 ing condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 23 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 24 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a 25 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 26 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 27 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, who 28 is a resident of the state of New York, and who has a current disability 29 of forty percent or more as a result of an injury or illness which is 30 incurred or was incurred during such military service; or 31 § 32. Subdivision 1 of section 668-c of the education law, as amended 32 by section 45 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended 33 to read as follows: 34 1. Eligible students. Awards shall be made to Vietnam veterans' resi- 35 dent children born with Spina Bifida enrolled in approved undergraduate 36 or graduate programs at degree granting institutions. For the purpose of 37 this section, "Vietnam veteran" shall mean a person who served in Indo- 38 china at any time from the first day of November, nineteen hundred 39 fifty-five, to and including the seventh day of May, nineteen hundred 40 seventy-five and (a) was honorably discharged from the armed forces of 41 the United States, or (b) has a qualifying condition, as defined in 42 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 43 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 44 from the armed forces of the United States, or (c) is a discharged LGBT 45 veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans 46 and military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 47 conduct or dishonorable from the armed forces of the United States; 48 "born with Spina Bifida" shall mean a diagnosis at birth of such disease 49 inclusive of all forms, manifestations, complications and associated 50 medical conditions thereof, but shall not include Spina Bifida Occulta. 51 Such diagnosis shall be in accordance with the provisions of the federal 52 Spina Bifida program and shall be documented by the United States Admin- 53 istration of Veterans' Affairs. 54 § 33. Paragraphs a, b, c, and d of subdivision 1 of section 669-a of 55 the education law, as amended by section 46 of part PP of chapter 56 of 56 the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 
 A. 8967 18 1 a. "Vietnam veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this 2 state, (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in Indo- 3 china at any time from the first day of November, nineteen hundred 4 fifty-five, to and including the seventh day of May, nineteen hundred 5 seventy-five, and (iii) who was either discharged therefrom under honor- 6 able conditions, including but not limited to honorable discharge, 7 discharge under honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a 8 qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 9 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 10 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 11 is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veter- 12 ans' services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 13 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service. 14 b. "Persian Gulf veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this 15 state (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in the 16 hostilities that occurred in the Persian Gulf from the second day of 17 August, nineteen hundred ninety through the end of such hostilities, and 18 (iii) who was either discharged therefrom under honorable conditions, 19 including but not limited to honorable discharge, discharge under honor- 20 able conditions, or general discharge, or has a qualifying condition, as 21 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 22 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 23 dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 24 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 25 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 26 dishonorable from such service. 27 c. "Afghanistan veteran" means (i) a person who is a resident of this 28 state (ii) who served in the armed forces of the United States in the 29 hostilities that occurred in Afghanistan from the eleventh day of 30 September, two thousand one, to the end of such hostilities, and (iii) 31 who was either discharged therefrom under honorable conditions, includ- 32 ing but not limited to honorable discharge, discharge under honorable 33 conditions, or general discharge, or has a qualifying condition, as 34 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 35 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 36 dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 37 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 38 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 39 dishonorable from such service. 40 d. "Other eligible combat veteran" means: an individual who (i) is a 41 resident of this state, (ii) served in the armed forces of the United 42 States in hostilities that occurred after February twenty-eighth, nine- 43 teen hundred sixty-one, as evidenced by their receipt of an Armed Forces 44 Expeditionary Medal, Navy Expeditionary Medal, or Marine Corps Expedi- 45 tionary Medal, and (iii) was either discharged under honorable condi- 46 tions, including but not limited to honorable discharge, discharge under 47 honorable conditions, or general discharge, or has a qualifying condi- 48 tion, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and 49 military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 50 conduct or dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT 51 veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans 52 and military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 53 conduct or dishonorable from such service. 54 § 33-a. Paragraph d of subdivision 1 of section 669-a of the education 55 law, as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 2024 and subparagraph (ii) 
 A. 8967 19 1 as amended by chapter 75 of the laws of 2025, is amended to read as 2 follows: 3 d. "Other eligible veteran" means: an individual who (i) is a resident 4 of this state, (ii) served in the armed forces of the United States (1) 5 on active duty for at least four years, or (2) in hostilities that 6 occurred after February twenty-eighth, nineteen hundred sixty-one, as 7 evidenced by their receipt of an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Navy 8 Expeditionary Medal, or Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, and (iii) was 9 either discharged under honorable conditions, including but not limited 10 to honorable discharge, discharge under honorable conditions, or general 11 discharge, or has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of 12 the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 13 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 14 service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of 15 the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 16 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 17 service. 18 § 34. Subdivision 1 of section 3202 of the education law, as amended 19 by section 47 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended 20 to read as follows: 21 1. A person over five and under twenty-one years of age who has not 22 received a high school diploma is entitled to attend the public schools 23 maintained in the district in which such person resides without the 24 payment of tuition. Provided further that such person may continue to 25 attend the public school in such district in the same manner, if tempo- 26 rarily residing outside the boundaries of the district when relocation 27 to such temporary residence is a consequence of such person's parent or 28 person in parental relationship being called to active military duty, 29 other than training. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 30 contrary, the school district shall not be required to provide transpor- 31 tation between a temporary residence located outside of the school 32 district and the school the child attends. A veteran of any age who 33 shall have served as a member of the armed forces of the United States 34 and who (a) shall have been discharged therefrom under conditions other 35 than dishonorable, or (b) has a qualifying condition, as defined in 36 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 37 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 38 from such service, or (c) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 39 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 40 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 41 from such service, may attend any of the public schools of the state 42 upon conditions prescribed by the board of education, and such veterans 43 shall be included in the pupil count for state aid purposes. A nonveter- 44 an under twenty-one years of age who has received a high school diploma 45 shall be permitted to attend classes in the schools of the district in 46 which such person resides or in a school of a board of cooperative 47 educational services upon payment of tuition under such terms and condi- 48 tions as shall be established in regulations promulgated by the commis- 49 sioner; provided, however, that a school district may waive the payment 50 of tuition for such nonveteran, but in any case such a nonveteran who 51 has received a high school diploma shall not be counted for any state 52 aid purposes. Nothing herein contained shall, however, require a board 53 of education to admit a child who becomes five years of age after the 54 school year has commenced unless [his or her] their birthday occurs on 55 or before the first of December. 
 A. 8967 20 1 § 35. Subdivision 1 of section 3308 of the education law, as amended 2 by section 5 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 3 read as follows: 4 1. Each member state shall, through the creation of a state council or 5 use of an existing body or board, provide for the coordination among its 6 agencies of government, local educational agencies and military instal- 7 lations concerning the state's participation in, and compliance with, 8 this compact and interstate commission activities. In New York, the 9 state council shall include the commissioner or [his or her] their 10 designee, the commissioner of the New York state department of [veter- 11 ans' services] veterans and military families or [his or her] their 12 designee, the adjutant general of the state of New York or [his or her] 13 their designee, a superintendent of a school district with a high 14 concentration of military children appointed by the commissioner, a 15 district superintendent of schools of a board of cooperative educational 16 services serving an area with a high concentration of military children 17 appointed by the commissioner, a representative from a military instal- 18 lation appointed by the governor, a representative of military families 19 appointed by the governor, a public member appointed by the governor and 20 one representative each appointed by the speaker of the assembly, the 21 temporary president of the senate and the governor. 22 § 36. Clause (h) of subparagraph 3 of paragraph b of subdivision 1 of 23 section 4402 of the education law, as amended by section 48 of part PP 24 of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 25 (h) Provide the form developed pursuant to subdivision twenty-two of 26 section four of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 27 law to the parent or person in parental relation of a child designated 28 by the committee as either disabled or emotionally disturbed. 29 § 37. Subdivision 1 of section 6505-c of the education law, as amended 30 by section 6 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 31 read as follows: 32 1. The commissioner shall develop, jointly with the commissioner of 33 the department of [veterans' services] veterans and military families, a 34 program to facilitate articulation between participation in the military 35 service of the United States or the military service of the state and 36 admission to practice of a profession. The commissioner and the commis- 37 sioner of [veterans' services] veterans and military families shall 38 identify, review and evaluate professional training programs offered 39 through either the military service of the United States or the military 40 service of the state which may, where applicable, be accepted by the 41 department as equivalent education and training in lieu of all or part 42 of an approved program. Particular emphasis shall be placed on the iden- 43 tification of military programs which have previously been deemed 44 acceptable by the department as equivalent education and training, 45 programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent education and 46 training for those professions which are critical to public health and 47 safety and programs which may provide, where applicable, equivalent 48 education and training for those professions for which shortages exist 49 in the state of New York. 50 § 38. Subdivision 15 of section 1-104 of the election law, as amended 51 by section 49 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended 52 to read as follows: 53 15. The term "veterans' hospital" means any sanitarium, hospital, 54 soldiers' and sailors' home, United States Veterans' Administration 55 Hospital, or other home or institution, which is used, operated and 56 conducted exclusively for the care, maintenance and treatment of persons 
 A. 8967 21 1 serving in the military or naval service or coast guard of the United 2 States or the state of New York, or persons who (a) were honorably 3 discharged from such service, or (b) have a qualifying condition, as 4 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 5 families law, and have received a discharge other than bad conduct or 6 dishonorable from such service, or (c) are a discharged LGBT veteran, as 7 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 8 families law, and have received a discharge other than bad conduct or 9 dishonorable from such service. 10 § 39. Subdivision 4 of section 5-210 of the election law, as separate- 11 ly amended by section 50 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022 12 and chapter 113 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows: 13 4. Any qualified person who has been honorably discharged from the 14 military after the twenty-fifth day before a general election, or who 15 has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 16 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 17 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from the military after 18 the twenty-fifth day before a general election, or who is a discharged 19 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 20 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 21 than bad conduct or dishonorable from the military after the twenty- 22 fifth day before a general election, or who has become a naturalized 23 citizen after the twenty-fifth day before a general election may 24 personally register at the board of elections in the county of their 25 residence and vote in the general election held at least ten days after 26 such registration. 27 § 40. The opening paragraph of section 5-211 of the election law, as 28 amended by section 7 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 29 amended to read as follows: 30 Each agency designated as a participating agency under the provisions 31 of this section shall implement and administer a program of distribution 32 of voter registration forms pursuant to the provisions of this section. 33 The following offices which provide public assistance and/or provide 34 state funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons 35 with disabilities are hereby designated as voter registration agencies: 36 designated as the state agencies which provide public assistance are the 37 office of children and family services, the office of temporary and 38 disability assistance and the department of health. Also designated as 39 public assistance agencies are all agencies of local government that 40 provide such assistance. Designated as state agencies that provide 41 programs primarily engaged in providing services to people with disabil- 42 ities are the department of labor, office for the aging, department of 43 [veterans' services] veterans and military families, office of mental 44 health, office of vocational and educational services for individuals 45 with disabilities, commission on quality of care for the mentally disa- 46 bled, office for people with developmental disabilities, commission for 47 the blind, office of addiction services and supports, the office of the 48 advocate for the disabled and all offices which administer programs 49 established or funded by such agencies. Additional participating agen- 50 cies designated as voter registration offices are the department of 51 state and the district offices of the workers' compensation board. Such 52 agencies shall be required to offer voter registration forms to persons 53 upon initial application for services, renewal or recertification for 54 services and upon change of address relating to such services. Such 55 agencies shall also be responsible for providing assistance to appli- 56 cants in completing voter registration forms, receiving and transmitting 
 A. 8967 22 1 the completed application form from all applicants who wish to have such 2 form transmitted to the appropriate board of elections. The state board 3 of elections shall, together with representatives of the United States 4 department of defense, develop and implement procedures for including 5 recruitment offices of the armed forces of the United States as voter 6 registration offices when such offices are so designated by federal law. 7 The state board of elections shall also make request of the United 8 States Citizenship and Immigration Services to include applications for 9 registration by mail with any materials which are given to new citizens. 10 § 41. Subdivision 16 of section 11-0305 of the environmental conserva- 11 tion law, as amended by section 51 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws 12 of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 13 16. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, to authorize 14 free sport fishing clinics. A free sport fishing clinic shall include, 15 but not be limited to, instruction provided by employees of the depart- 16 ment or its designee in recreational angling, including its benefits and 17 values, and may also include instruction and other information relevant 18 to an understanding of fisheries management, ethics and aquatic ecology 19 and habitat. No license or recreational marine fishing registration is 20 required to take fish by angling while participating in a fishing clinic 21 conducted by the department or its designee that has been designated by 22 the commissioner as a free sport fishing clinic. Such clinics shall be 23 implemented consistent with department standards and in a manner deter- 24 mined by the department to best provide public notice thereof and to 25 maximize public participation therein, so as to promote the recreational 26 opportunities afforded by sport fishing. Further, the commissioner may 27 designate additional fishing events organized through the department 28 that provide physical or emotional rehabilitation for veterans, as 29 defined in subdivision three of section one of the [veterans' services] 30 veterans and military families law, or active duty members of the armed 31 forces of the United States. No license or recreational marine fishing 32 registration shall be required for such veterans or active duty members 33 to take fish by angling while participating in these events. 34 § 42. Subdivision 4 of section 11-0715 of the environmental conserva- 35 tion law, as amended by section 52 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws 36 of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 37 4. A person, resident in the state for at least thirty days immediate- 38 ly prior to the date of application, who (a) has been honorably 39 discharged from service in the armed forces of the United States, or (b) 40 has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 41 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 42 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 43 (c) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 44 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 45 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 46 service, and is certified as having a forty percent or greater service- 47 connected disability is entitled to receive all licenses, privileges, 48 tags, and permits authorized by this title for which [he or she is] they 49 are eligible, except turkey permits, renewable each year for a five 50 dollar fee. 51 § 43. Paragraphs (o) and (p) of subdivision 5 of section 94-b of the 52 executive law, as added by chapter 625 of the laws of 2024, are amended 53 to read as follows: 54 (o) Encourage the development of and provide for the establishment of 55 a state military immigrant family legacy program liaison, as provided in 
 A. 8967 23 1 section twenty-nine-b of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 2 families law; and 3 (p) Request individuals seeking assistance from the office answer the 4 following questions: "Have you served in the United States military?" 5 "Has someone in your family served in the United States military?" 6 Individuals identifying themselves or a family member as "intended 7 recipients" of the staff sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York state mili- 8 tary immigrant family legacy program as such term is defined in para- 9 graph (e) of subdivision one of section [twenty-nine-b] twenty-nine-d of 10 the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, shall be 11 advised of such program. In addition, such individuals shall be informed 12 that the department of [veterans' services] veterans and military fami- 13 lies and local veterans' service agencies established pursuant to 14 section seventeen of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 15 families law provide assistance to uniformed service members, veterans 16 and their families regarding benefits available under federal and state 17 law. Information regarding veterans and military status provided by 18 assisted individuals shall be protected as personal confidential materi- 19 al, and used only to identify such individuals as "intended recipients" 20 of the staff sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York State military immigrant 21 family legacy program, and to assist such individuals in matters relat- 22 ing to immigration status and citizenship, and in referring such indi- 23 viduals to the department of [veterans' services] veterans and military 24 families or local veterans' service agencies for information and assist- 25 ance with regard to benefits and entitlements under federal and state 26 law. 27 § 44. Subdivision 1 of section 130 of the executive law, as amended by 28 section 54 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 29 read as follows: 30 1. The secretary of state may appoint and commission as many notaries 31 public for the state of New York as in [his or her] their judgment may 32 be deemed best, whose jurisdiction shall be co-extensive with the bound- 33 aries of the state. The appointment of a notary public shall be for a 34 term of four years. An application for an appointment as notary public 35 shall be in form and set forth such matters as the secretary of state 36 shall prescribe. Every person appointed as notary public must, at the 37 time of [his or her] their appointment, be a resident of the state of 38 New York or have an office or place of business in New York state. A 39 notary public who is a resident of the state and who moves out of the 40 state but still maintains a place of business or an office in New York 41 state does not vacate [his or her] their office as a notary public. A 42 notary public who is a nonresident and who ceases to have an office or 43 place of business in this state, vacates [his or her] their office as a 44 notary public. A notary public who is a resident of New York state and 45 moves out of the state and who does not retain an office or place of 46 business in this state shall vacate [his or her] their office as a nota- 47 ry public. A non-resident who accepts the office of notary public in 48 this state thereby appoints the secretary of state as the person upon 49 whom process can be served on [his or her] their behalf. Before issuing 50 to any applicant a commission as notary public, unless [he or she] they 51 are be an attorney and counsellor at law duly admitted to practice in 52 this state or a court clerk of the unified court system who has been 53 appointed to such position after taking a civil service promotional 54 examination in the court clerk series of titles, the secretary of state 55 shall satisfy [himself or herself] themself that the applicant is of 56 good moral character, has the equivalent of a common school education 
 A. 8967 24 1 and is familiar with the duties and responsibilities of a notary public; 2 provided, however, that where a notary public applies, before the expi- 3 ration of [his or her] their term, for reappointment with the county 4 clerk or where a person whose term as notary public shall have expired 5 applies within six months thereafter for reappointment as a notary 6 public with the county clerk, such qualifying requirements may be waived 7 by the secretary of state, and further, where an application for reap- 8 pointment is filed with the county clerk after the expiration of the 9 aforementioned renewal period by a person who failed or was unable to 10 re-apply by reason of [his or her] their induction or enlistment in the 11 armed forces of the United States, such qualifying requirements may also 12 be waived by the secretary of state, provided such application for reap- 13 pointment is made within a period of one year after the military 14 discharge of the applicant under conditions other than dishonorable, or 15 if the applicant has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one 16 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, within a 17 period of one year after the applicant has received a discharge other 18 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or if the applicant 19 is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veter- 20 ans' services] veterans and military families law, within a period of 21 one year after the applicant has received a discharge other than bad 22 conduct or dishonorable from such service. In any case, the appointment 23 or reappointment of any applicant is in the discretion of the secretary 24 of state. The secretary of state may suspend or remove from office, for 25 misconduct, any notary public appointed by [him or her] them but no such 26 removal shall be made unless the person who is sought to be removed 27 shall have been served with a copy of the charges against [him or her] 28 them and have an opportunity of being heard. No person shall be 29 appointed as a notary public under this article who has been convicted, 30 in this state or any other state or territory, of a crime, unless the 31 secretary makes a finding in conformance with all applicable statutory 32 requirements, including those contained in article twenty-three-A of the 33 correction law, that such convictions do not constitute a bar to 34 appointment. 35 § 45. Subdivision 1 of section 191 of the executive law, as amended by 36 section 10 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 37 read as follows: 38 1. There is hereby established within the division of military and 39 naval affairs a temporary advisory committee on the restoration and 40 display of New York state's military battle flags (hereinafter referred 41 to as the "committee"). The committee shall have thirteen members as 42 follows: the adjutant general, the director of the New York state mili- 43 tary heritage museum, the commissioners of education and parks, recre- 44 ation and historic preservation and the commissioner of the department 45 of [veterans' services] veterans and military families, or their desig- 46 nated representatives, two members appointed each by the governor, 47 speaker of the assembly and majority leader of the senate and one member 48 each appointed by the minority leaders of the senate and assembly and 49 shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Appointed 50 members shall include individuals with experience in restoration of 51 historical memorabilia, expertise in military history, or a background 52 in historical restoration or fine arts conservation. No appointed member 53 shall be a member of the executive, legislative or judicial branch of 54 the state government at the time of [his/her] their appointment. The 55 advisory committee shall meet at least four times a year. No members 56 shall receive any compensation, but members who are not state officials 
 A. 8967 25 1 may receive actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of 2 their duties. 3 § 46. Subdivision 1 of section 643 of the executive law, as amended by 4 section 11 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 5 read as follows: 6 1. As used in this section, "crime victim-related agency" means any 7 agency of state government which provides services to or deals directly 8 with crime victims, including (a) the office of children and family 9 services, the office for the aging, the department of [veterans' 10 services] veterans and military families, the office of probation and 11 correctional alternatives, the department of corrections and community 12 supervision, the office of victim services, the department of motor 13 vehicles, the office of vocational rehabilitation, the workers' compen- 14 sation board, the department of health, the division of criminal justice 15 services, the office of mental health, every transportation authority 16 and the division of state police, and (b) any other agency so designated 17 by the governor within ninety days of the effective date of this 18 section. 19 § 47. Subdivision 1 of section 32 of the general business law, as 20 amended by section 55 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 21 amended to read as follows: 22 1. Every member of the armed forces of the United States who (a) was 23 honorably discharged from such service, or (b) has a qualifying condi- 24 tion, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and 25 military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 26 conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (c) is a discharged LGBT 27 veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans 28 and military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 29 conduct or dishonorable from such service, and who is a resident of this 30 state and a veteran of any war, or who shall have served in the armed 31 forces of the United States overseas, and the surviving spouse of any 32 such veteran, if a resident of the state, shall have the right to hawk, 33 peddle, vend and sell goods, wares or merchandise or solicit trade upon 34 the streets and highways within the county of [his or her] their resi- 35 dence, as the case may be, or if such county is embraced wholly by a 36 city, within such city, by procuring a license for that purpose to be 37 issued as herein provided. No part of the lands or premises under the 38 jurisdiction of the division of the state fair in the department of 39 agriculture and markets, shall be deemed a street or highway within the 40 meaning of this section. 41 § 48. Section 35 of the general business law, as amended by section 56 42 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as 43 follows: 44 § 35. Municipal regulations. This article shall not affect the appli- 45 cation of any ordinance, by-law or regulation of a municipal corporation 46 relating to hawkers and peddlers within the limits of such corporations, 47 but the provisions of this article are to be complied with in addition 48 to the requirements of any such ordinance, by-law or regulation; 49 provided, however, that no such by-law, ordinance or regulation shall 50 prevent or in any manner interfere with the hawking or peddling, without 51 the use of any but a hand driven vehicle, in any street, avenue, alley, 52 lane or park of a municipal corporation, by any honorably discharged 53 member of the armed forces of the United States who (1) was honorably 54 discharged from such service, or (2) has a qualifying condition, as 55 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 56 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 
 A. 8967 26 1 dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 2 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 3 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 4 dishonorable from such service, and who is physically disabled as a 5 result of injuries received while in the service of said armed forces 6 and the holder of a license granted pursuant to section thirty-two of 7 this article. 8 § 49. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 35-a of the general 9 business law, as amended by section 57 of part PP of chapter 56 of the 10 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 11 (a) In cities having a population of one million or more, the official 12 designated by a local law or ordinance to issue a local license to hawk, 13 peddle, vend and sell goods, wares or merchandise or solicit trade upon 14 the streets and highways within such city shall issue specialized vend- 15 ing licenses to members of the armed forces of the United States who (i) 16 were honorably discharged from such service, or (ii) have a qualifying 17 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 18 ans and military families law, and received a discharge other than bad 19 conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) are a discharged 20 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 21 veterans and military families law, and received a discharge other than 22 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, and who are physically 23 disabled as a result of injuries received while in the service of said 24 armed forces and who are eligible to hold licenses granted pursuant to 25 section thirty-two of this article. Such specialized vending licenses 26 shall authorize holders thereof to hawk or peddle within such city in 27 accordance with the provisions contained in this section. Specialized 28 vending licenses issued under this section shall permit the holders 29 thereof to vend on any block face, and no licensee authorized under this 30 section shall be restricted in any way from vending in any area, except 31 as provided in this section. 32 § 50. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section 69-p of the general 33 business law, as amended by section 58 of part PP of chapter 56 of the 34 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 35 (b) In the case of persons who are or were in the military service and 36 (i) have been or will be discharged under conditions other than 37 dishonorable, or (ii) have a qualifying condition, as defined in section 38 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 39 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 40 service, or (iii) are discharged LGBT veterans, as defined in section 41 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 42 have received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 43 such service, the period of two years specified in subdivision one of 44 this section need not be continuous. The length of time such person was 45 engaged in the business of installing, servicing or maintaining security 46 or fire alarm systems before entering the military service may be added 47 to any period of time during which such person was or is engaged in the 48 business of installing, servicing or maintaining security or fire alarm 49 systems after the termination of military service. 50 § 51. The closing paragraph of section 435 of the general business 51 law, as amended by section 59 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 52 2022, is amended to read as follows: 53 In the case of persons who are or were in the military service and (a) 54 have been or will be discharged under conditions other than dishonor- 55 able, or (b) have a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of 56 the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 
 A. 8967 27 1 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 2 service, or (c) are discharged LGBT veterans, as defined in section one 3 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and have 4 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 5 service, the period of one year specified in subdivision one of this 6 section and the period of six months specified in subdivision two of 7 this section need not be continuous. The length of time such person was 8 engaged in the practice of barbering before entering the military 9 service may be added to any period of time during which such person was 10 or is engaged in the practice of barbering after the termination of 11 military service. 12 § 52. Section 13-a of the general construction law, as amended by 13 section 60 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 14 read as follows: 15 § 13-a. Armed forces of the United States. "Armed forces of the United 16 States" means the army, navy, marine corps, air force and coast guard 17 including all components thereof, and the national guard when in the 18 service of the United States pursuant to call as provided by law. 19 Pursuant to this definition no person shall be considered a member or 20 veteran of the armed forces of the United States unless [his or her] 21 their service therein is or was on a full-time active duty basis, other 22 than active duty for training or [he or she was] they were employed by 23 the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation or 24 their agents as a merchant [seaman] mariner documented by the United 25 States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant 26 employed by the United States Army Transport Service (later redesignated 27 as the United States Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the 28 Naval Transportation Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew 29 member during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen 30 hundred forty-one, to August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, 31 aboard merchant vessels in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or 32 coastwise service as such terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 33 10301 & 10501) and further to include "near foreign" voyages between the 34 United States and Canada, Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, 35 or public vessels in oceangoing service or foreign waters and who has 36 received a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a 37 discharge certificate, or an Honorable Service Certificate/Report of 38 Casualty, from the Department of Defense or [he or she] they served as a 39 United States civilian employed by the American Field Service and served 40 overseas under United States Armies and United States Army Groups in 41 world war II during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, 42 nineteen hundred forty-one through May eighth, nineteen hundred forty- 43 five, and (i) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable 44 conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 45 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 46 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 47 such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 48 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 49 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 50 from such service, or [he or she] they served as a United States civil- 51 ian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan American 52 World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affiliates and served 53 overseas as a result of Pan American's contract with Air Transport 54 Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period of armed 55 conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one through August 56 fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and (iv) was discharged or 
 A. 8967 28 1 released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has a qualifying 2 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 3 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 4 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (vi) is a discharged 5 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 6 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 7 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service. 8 § 53. Subdivision 1 of section 77 of the general municipal law, as 9 amended by section 61 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 10 amended to read as follows: 11 1. A municipal corporation may lease, for not exceeding five years, to 12 a post or posts of the Grand Army of the Republic, Veterans of Foreign 13 Wars of the United States, American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Inc., 14 Disabled American Veterans, the Army and Navy Union, U.S.A., Marine 15 Corps League, AMVETS, American Veterans of World War II, Jewish War 16 Veterans of the United States, Inc., Italian American War Veterans of 17 the United States, Incorporated, Masonic War Veterans of the State of 18 New York, Inc., Veterans of World War I of the United States of America 19 Department of New York, Inc., Polish-American Veterans of World War II, 20 Amsterdam, N.Y., Inc., Polish-American Veterans of World War II, Sche- 21 nectady, N.Y., Inc., Polish Legion of American Veterans, Inc., Vietnam 22 Veterans of America or other veteran organization of members of the 23 uniformed services of the United States who (a) were honorably 24 discharged from such service or (b) have a qualifying condition, as 25 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 26 families law, and received a discharge other than bad conduct or 27 dishonorable from such service, or (c) are discharged LGBT veterans, as 28 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 29 families law, and received a discharge other than bad conduct or 30 dishonorable from such service, or to an incorporated organization or an 31 association of either active or exempt volunteer firefighters, a public 32 building or part thereof, belonging to such municipal corporation, 33 except schoolhouses in actual use as such, without expense, or at a 34 nominal rent, fixed by the board or council having charge of such build- 35 ings and provide furniture and furnishings, and heat, light and janitor 36 service therefor, in like manner. 37 § 54. Section 99-v of the general municipal law, as amended by section 38 12 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as 39 follows: 40 § 99-v. Veterans services; display of events. Each county, city, town 41 or village may adopt a local law to provide a bulletin board to be 42 conspicuously displayed in such county, city, town or village building 43 holding its local legislative body or municipal offices. Such bulletin 44 board shall be used by veterans organizations, the New York state 45 department of [veterans' services] veterans and military families, the 46 county veterans service agency or city veterans service agency to 47 display information regarding veterans in such county, city, town or 48 village. Such information may include, but not be limited to, benefits 49 or upcoming veterans related events in the community. 50 § 55. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 and paragraph (a) of subdivision 51 1-a of section 148 of the general municipal law, paragraph (a) of subdi- 52 vision 1 as amended by section 62 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws 53 of 2022 and paragraph (a) of subdivision 1-a as amended by chapter 620 54 of the laws of 2023, are amended to read as follows: 55 (a) The board of supervisors in each of the counties, or the board of 56 estimate in the city of New York, shall designate some proper person, 
 A. 8967 29 1 association or commission, other than that designated for the care of 2 burial of public charges or criminals, who shall cause to be interred 3 the body of any member of the uniformed services of the United States 4 who (i) was honorably discharged from such service or (ii) had a quali- 5 fying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 6 veterans and military families law, and received a discharge other than 7 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) was a discharged 8 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 9 veterans and military families law, and received a discharge other than 10 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or the body of any minor 11 child or either parent, or the spouse or unremarried surviving spouse of 12 any such member of the uniformed services of the United States, if such 13 person shall hereafter die in a county or in the city of New York with- 14 out leaving sufficient means to defray [his or her] their funeral 15 expenses. 16 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in the case 17 of a veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 18 veterans and military families law, or who has a qualifying condition as 19 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 20 families law and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 21 dishonorable, or is a discharged LGBT veteran as defined in section one 22 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law and has 23 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, who died in 24 a county or the city of New York leaving no funds or insurance suffi- 25 cient to pay funeral and burial expenses of such veteran and such veter- 26 an has no next of kin or person of record previously designated to 27 control [his or her] their final disposition pursuant to section four 28 thousand two hundred one of the public health law, such county or the 29 city of New York shall request a congressionally chartered veterans' 30 organization within the county or the city of New York where the dece- 31 dent resided at the time of death, to engage the services of a funeral 32 firm to conduct the funeral and burial services. 33 § 56. Section 117-c of the highway law, as amended by section 63 of 34 part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as 35 follows: 36 § 117-c. Hawking, peddling, vending, sale of goods, wares or merchan- 37 dise; Erie county; certain areas. Notwithstanding any law to the contra- 38 ry, except section thirty-five of the general business law, the county 39 of Erie shall have the power to enact a local law prohibiting hawking, 40 peddling, vending and sale of goods, wares or merchandise or solicita- 41 tion of trade in the right-of-way of county roads adjacent to arenas, 42 stadiums, auditoriums or like facilities, which contain fifty thousand 43 or more seats, which are used for events likely to attract large numbers 44 of spectators, including but not limited to home games of a National 45 Football League franchise. Provided, however, that the power to enact 46 such local law shall be subject to the requirement that provision be 47 made, by lease agreement, regulation or otherwise, for the hawking, 48 peddling, vending and sales of goods, wares or merchandise or solicita- 49 tion of trade in designated vending areas on the ground of county-owned 50 lands leased for use as an arena, stadium or auditorium or like facility 51 which contain fifty thousand or more seats; and further provided that 52 members of the armed forces of the United States who (a) were honorably 53 discharged from such service, or (b) have a qualifying condition, as 54 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 55 families law, and received a discharge other than bad conduct or 56 dishonorable from such service, or (c) are discharged LGBT veterans, as 
 A. 8967 30 1 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 2 families law, and received a discharge other than bad conduct or 3 dishonorable from such service, and who are entitled to hawk, vend, sell 4 or peddle merchandise in the public right-of-way pursuant to sections 5 thirty-two and thirty-five of the general business law, shall be given 6 first preference in any assignment or vending locations or in the allo- 7 cation of such locations. 8 § 57. Paragraph 11 of subsection (j) of section 2103 of the insurance 9 law, as amended by section 64 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 10 2022, is amended to read as follows: 11 (11) No license fee shall be required of any person who served as a 12 member of the armed forces of the United States at any time and who (A) 13 shall have been discharged therefrom, under conditions other than 14 dishonorable, or (B) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 15 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 16 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 17 such service, or (C) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 18 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 19 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 20 such service, in a current licensing period, for the duration of such 21 period. 22 § 58. Subparagraph (F) of paragraph 3 of subsection (e) and paragraph 23 2 of subsection (f) of section 2104 of the insurance law, as amended by 24 section 65 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 25 read as follows: 26 (F) served as a member of the armed forces of the United States at any 27 time, and shall (i) have been discharged under conditions other than 28 dishonorable, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 29 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 30 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 31 such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 32 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 33 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 34 from such service, and who within three years prior to [his or her] 35 their entry into the armed forces held a license as insurance broker for 36 similar lines, provided [his or her] their application for such license 37 is filed before one year from the date of final discharge; or 38 (2) No license fee shall be required of any person who served as a 39 member of the armed forces of the United States at any time, and who (A) 40 shall have been discharged, under conditions other than dishonorable, or 41 (B) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veter- 42 ans' services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 43 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 44 (C) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 45 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 46 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 47 service, in a current licensing period, for the duration of such period. 48 § 59. Paragraph 2 of subsection (i) of section 2108 of the insurance 49 law, as amended by section 66 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 50 2022, is amended to read as follows: 51 (2) No license fee shall be required of any person who served as a 52 member of the armed forces of the United States at any time and who (A) 53 shall have been discharged, under conditions other than dishonorable, or 54 (B) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veter- 55 ans' services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 56 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 
 A. 8967 31 1 (C) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 2 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 3 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 4 service, in a current licensing period, for the duration of such period. 5 § 60. Paragraph 10 of subsection (h) of section 2137 of the insurance 6 law, as amended by section 67 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 7 2022, is amended to read as follows: 8 (10) No license fee shall be required of any person who served as a 9 member of the armed forces of the United States at any time and who (A) 10 shall have been discharged therefrom, under conditions other than 11 dishonorable, or (B) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 12 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 13 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 14 such service, or (C) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 15 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 16 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 17 such service, in a current licensing period, for the duration of such 18 period. 19 § 61. Paragraph 11 of subsection (i) of section 2139 of the insurance 20 law, as amended by section 68 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 21 2022, is amended to read as follows: 22 (11) No license fee shall be required of any person who served as a 23 member of the armed forces of the United States at any time, and who (A) 24 shall have been discharged therefrom under conditions other than 25 dishonorable, or (B) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 26 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 27 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 28 such service, or (C) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 29 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 30 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 31 such service, in a current licensing period for the duration of such 32 period. 33 § 62. Subdivision 2 of section 466 of the judiciary law, as amended by 34 section 69 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 35 read as follows: 36 2. Any person now in actual service in the armed forces of the United 37 States or whose induction or enlistment therein is imminent, or within 38 sixty days after such person (1) has been honorably discharged, or (2) 39 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 40 such service, if such person has a qualifying condition, as defined in 41 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 42 law, or (3) has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonor- 43 able from such service, if such person is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 44 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 45 families law, if the appellate division of the supreme court in the 46 department in which such person resides is not in session, may subscribe 47 and take the oath before a justice of that court, with the same force 48 and effect as if it were taken in open court, except that in the first 49 department the oath must be taken before the presiding justice or, in 50 [his or her] their absence, before the senior justice. 51 § 63. Subdivision 1 of section 168 of the labor law, as amended by 52 section 13 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 53 read as follows: 54 1. This section shall apply to all persons employed by the state in 55 the ward, cottage, colony, kitchen and dining room, and guard service 56 personnel in any hospital, school, prison, reformatory or other institu- 
 A. 8967 32 1 tion within or subject to the jurisdiction, supervision, control or 2 visitation of the department of corrections and community supervision, 3 the department of health, the department of mental hygiene, the depart- 4 ment of social welfare or the department of [veterans' services] veter- 5 ans and military families, and engaged in the performance of such duties 6 as nursing, guarding or attending the incarcerated individuals, 7 patients, wards or other persons kept or housed in such institutions, or 8 in protecting and guarding the buildings and/or grounds thereof, or in 9 preparing or serving food therein. 10 § 64. Subdivision 6 of section 224-d of the labor law, as amended by 11 section 30 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 12 read as follows: 13 6. Each owner and developer subject to the requirements of this 14 section shall comply with the objectives and goals of certified minority 15 and women-owned business enterprises pursuant to article fifteen-A of 16 the executive law and certified service-disabled veteran-owned busi- 17 nesses pursuant to article three of the [veterans' services] veterans 18 and military families law. The department in consultation with the 19 commissioner of the division of minority and women's business develop- 20 ment and the director of the division of service-disabled veterans' 21 business development shall make training and resources available to 22 assist minority and women-owned business enterprises and service-disa- 23 bled veteran-owned business enterprises on covered renewable energy 24 systems to achieve and maintain compliance with prevailing wage require- 25 ments. The department shall make such training and resources available 26 online and shall afford minority and women-owned business enterprises 27 and service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprises an opportunity 28 to submit comments on such training. 29 § 65. Paragraph 5 of subdivision (b) of section 5.06 of the mental 30 hygiene law, as separately amended by sections 14 and 14-a of part PP of 31 chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 32 (5) one member appointed on the recommendation of the state commis- 33 sioner of the department of [veterans' services] veterans and military 34 families and one member appointed on the recommendation of the adjutant 35 general of the division of military and naval affairs, at least one of 36 whom shall be a current or former consumer of mental health services or 37 substance use disorder services who is a veteran who has served in a 38 combat theater or combat zone of operations and is a member of a veter- 39 ans organization; 40 § 66. Subdivision (l) of section 7.09 of the mental hygiene law, as 41 separately amended by section 15 of part PP of chapter 56 and chapter 42 363 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 43 (l) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the 44 commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of the office of 45 addiction services and supports and the director of the department of 46 [veterans' services] veterans and military families shall develop a 47 public education initiative designed to eliminate stigma and misinforma- 48 tion about mental illness and substance use among service members, 49 veterans, and their families, improve their understanding of mental and 50 substance use disorders and the existence of effective treatment, and 51 provide information regarding available resources and how to access 52 them. These public education initiatives may include the use of the 53 internet, including the use of social networking sites. 54 § 67. Subdivision 3 of section 20 of the military law, as amended by 55 section 70 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 56 read as follows: 
 A. 8967 33 1 3. Any person who has served as a commissioned or warrant officer in 2 the organized militia or in the armed forces of the United States and 3 (a) has been honorably discharged therefrom, or (b) has a qualifying 4 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 5 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 6 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (c) is a discharged 7 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 8 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 9 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, may be commissioned 10 and placed on the state reserve list in the highest grade previously 11 held by [him or her] them after complying with such conditions as may be 12 prescribed by regulations issued pursuant to this chapter. 13 § 68. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 1 and subparagraphs 1 and 14 2 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 4-b of section 243 of the military 15 law, as amended by section 71 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 16 2022, are amended to read as follows: 17 (b) The term "military duty" shall mean military service in the mili- 18 tary, naval, aviation or marine service of the United States subsequent 19 to July first, nineteen hundred forty, or service under the selective 20 training and service act of nineteen hundred forty, or the national 21 guard and reserve officers mobilization act of nineteen hundred forty, 22 or any other act of congress supplementary or amendatory thereto, or any 23 similar act of congress hereafter enacted and irrespective of the fact 24 that such service was entered upon following a voluntary enlistment 25 therefor or was required under one of the foregoing acts of congress, or 26 service with the United States public health service as a commissioned 27 officer, or service with the American Red Cross while with the armed 28 forces of the United States on foreign service, or service with the 29 special services section of the armed forces of the United States on 30 foreign service, or service in the merchant marine which shall consist 31 of service as an officer or member of the crew on or in connection with 32 a vessel documented under the laws of the United States or a vessel 33 owned by, chartered to, or operated by or for the account or use of the 34 government of the United States, or service by one who was employed by 35 the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense Transportation or 36 their agents as a merchant [seaman] mariner documented by the United 37 States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant 38 employed by the United States Army Transport Service (later redesignated 39 as the United States Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the 40 Naval Transportation Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew 41 member during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen 42 hundred forty-one, to August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, 43 aboard merchant vessels in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or 44 coastwise service as such terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 45 10301 & 10501) and further to include "near foreign" voyages between the 46 United States and Canada, Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, 47 or public vessels in oceangoing service or foreign waters and who has 48 received a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a 49 discharge certificate, or an Honorable Service Certificate/Report of 50 Casualty, from the Department of Defense, or who served as a United 51 States civilian employed by the American Field Service and served over- 52 seas under United States Armies and United States Army Groups in world 53 war II during the period of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen 54 hundred forty-one through May eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and 55 who (i) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, 56 or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 
 A. 8967 34 1 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 2 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 3 service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 4 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 5 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 6 such service, or who served as a United States civilian Flight Crew and 7 Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan American World Airways or one of 8 its subsidiaries or its affiliates and served overseas as a result of 9 Pan American's contract with Air Transport Command or Naval Air Trans- 10 port Service during the period of armed conflict, December fourteenth, 11 nineteen hundred forty-one through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred 12 forty-five, and who (iv) was discharged or released therefrom under 13 honorable conditions, or (v) has a qualifying condition, as defined in 14 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 15 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 16 from such service, or (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 17 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 18 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 19 from such service; or service in police duty on behalf of the United 20 States government in a foreign country, if such person is a police offi- 21 cer, as defined by section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, and if 22 such police officer obtained the prior consent of [his or her] their 23 public employer to absent [himself or herself] themself from [his or 24 her] their position to engage in the performance of such service; or as 25 an enrollee in the United States maritime service on active duty and, to 26 such extent as may be prescribed by or under the laws of the United 27 States, any period awaiting assignment to such service and any period of 28 education or training for such service in any school or institution 29 under the jurisdiction of the United States government, but shall not 30 include temporary and intermittent gratuitous service in any reserve or 31 auxiliary force. It shall include time spent in reporting for and 32 returning from military duty and shall be deemed to commence when the 33 public employee leaves [his or her] their position and to end when [he 34 or she is] they are reinstated to [his or her] their position, provided 35 such reinstatement is within ninety days after the termination of mili- 36 tary duty, as hereinafter defined. Notwithstanding the foregoing 37 provisions of this paragraph, the term "military duty" shall not include 38 any of the foregoing services entered upon voluntarily on or after Janu- 39 ary first, nineteen hundred forty-seven and before June twenty-fifth, 40 nineteen hundred fifty; and, on or after July first, nineteen hundred 41 seventy, the term "military duty" shall not include any voluntary 42 service in excess of four years performed after that date, or the total 43 of any voluntary services, additional or otherwise, in excess of four 44 years performed after that date, shall not exceed five years, if the 45 service in excess of four years is at the request and for the conven- 46 ience of the federal government, except if such voluntary service is 47 performed during a period of war, or national emergency declared by the 48 president. 49 (c) The term "termination of military duty" shall mean the date of a 50 certificate of honorable discharge or a certificate of completion of 51 training and service as set forth in the selective training and service 52 act of nineteen hundred forty, and the national guard and reserve offi- 53 cers mobilization act of nineteen hundred forty [or], or a certificate 54 of release or discharge from active duty where an employee (i) has a 55 qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 56 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 
 A. 8967 35 1 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 2 (ii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 3 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 4 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 5 service, or in the event of the incurrence of a temporary disability 6 arising out of and in the course of such military duty, the date of 7 termination of such disability. The existence and termination of such 8 temporary disability, in the case of a public employee occupying a posi- 9 tion in the classified civil service or of a person on an eligible list 10 for a position in such service, shall be determined by the civil service 11 commission having jurisdiction over such position and, in the case of a 12 public employee occupying a position not in the classified civil 13 service, shall be determined by the officer or body having the power of 14 appointment. 15 (1) "New York city veteran of world war II". Any member of the New 16 York city employees' retirement system in city-service who, after [his 17 or her] their last membership in such system began, served as a member 18 of the armed forces of the United States during the period beginning on 19 December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one and ending on December 20 thirty-first, nineteen hundred forty-six, and (i) was honorably 21 discharged or released under honorable circumstances from such service, 22 or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 23 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 24 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 25 service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 26 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 27 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 28 such service. 29 (2) "New York city veteran of the Korean conflict." Any member of the 30 New York city employees' retirement system in city-service who, after 31 [his or her] their last membership in such system began, served as a 32 member of the armed forces of the United States during the period begin- 33 ning on the twenty-seventh of June, nineteen hundred fifty and ending on 34 the thirty-first day of January, nineteen hundred fifty-five, and (i) 35 was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from 36 such service, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 37 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 38 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 39 such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 40 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 41 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 42 from such service. 43 § 69. Section 245 of the military law, as amended by section 72 of 44 part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as 45 follows: 46 § 245. Retirement allowances of certain war veterans. 1. Any member of 47 a teachers' retirement system to which the city of New York is required 48 by law to make contributions on account of such member who (i) is an 49 honorably discharged member of any branch of the armed forces of the 50 United States, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 51 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 52 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, or 53 (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 54 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 55 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, having 56 served as such during the time of war and who has attained the age of 
 A. 8967 36 1 fifty years, may retire upon [his or her] their own request upon written 2 application to the board setting forth at what time not less than thirty 3 days subsequent to the execution and filing thereof [he or she desires] 4 they desire to be retired, provided that such member at the time so 5 specified for [his or her] their retirement shall have completed at 6 least twenty-five years of allowable service. Upon retirement such 7 member shall receive an annuity of equivalent actuarial value to [his or 8 her] their accumulated deductions, and, in addition, a pension beginning 9 immediately, having a value equal to the present value of the pension 10 that would have become payable had [he or she] they continued at [his or 11 her] their current salary to the age at which [he or she] they would 12 have first become eligible for service retirement, provided, however, 13 that the said member on making application for retirement shall pay into 14 the retirement fund a sum of money which calculated on an actuarial 15 basis, together with [his or her] their prior contributions and other 16 accumulations in said fund then to [his or her] their credit, shall be 17 sufficient to entitle the said member to the same annuity and pension 18 that [he or she] they would have received had [he or she] they remained 19 in the service of the city until [he or she] they had attained the age 20 at which [he or she] they otherwise would have first become eligible for 21 service retirement. 22 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or of any 23 general, special or local law or code to the contrary, a member of any 24 such teachers' retirement system who (i) is separated or discharged 25 under honorable conditions from any branch of the armed forces of the 26 United States, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 28 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, or 29 (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 30 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 31 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable, having 32 served as such during the time of war and who has attained the age of 33 fifty years, may retire upon [his or her] their own request upon written 34 application to the board setting forth at what time, not less than thir- 35 ty days subsequent to the execution and filing thereof, [he or she 36 desires] they desire to be retired, provided that such member at that 37 time so specified for [his or her] their retirement shall have completed 38 at least twenty-five years of allowable service. Upon reaching [his or 39 her] their previously selected minimum retirement age, such member shall 40 receive an annuity of equivalent actuarial value, at that time, to [his 41 or her] their accumulated deductions, and, in addition, a pension based 42 upon [his or her] their credited years of allowable service, plus the 43 pension-for-increased-take-home-pay, if any. Should such member die 44 before reaching [his or her] their retirement age, then any beneficiary 45 under a selected option shall be eligible for benefits under such option 46 at the date upon which the member would have reached [his or her] their 47 selected retirement age. 48 § 70. Subdivisions 1-b, 1-f, and 1-f of section 247 of the military 49 law, subdivision 1-b as amended by section 73 of part PP of chapter 56 50 of the laws of 2022, subdivision 1-f as added by chapter 609 of the laws 51 of 2023, and subdivision 1-f as amended by chapter 610 of the laws of 52 2023, are amended to read as follows: 53 1-b. The adjutant general is hereby authorized to present in the name 54 of the legislature of the state of New York, a certificate, to be known 55 as the "Cold War Certificate", bearing a suitable inscription, to any 56 person: (i) who is a citizen of the state of New York or (ii) who was a 
 A. 8967 37 1 citizen of the state of New York while serving in the armed forces of 2 the United States; (iii) who served in the United States Armed Forces 3 during the period of time from September second, nineteen hundred 4 forty-five through December twenty-sixth, nineteen hundred ninety-one, 5 commonly known as the Cold War Era; and (iv) who was honorably 6 discharged or released under honorable circumstances during the Cold War 7 Era, or has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 8 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and received a 9 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable during the Cold War 10 Era, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 11 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and received a 12 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable during the Cold War 13 Era. Not more than one Cold War Certificate shall be awarded or 14 presented, under the provisions of this subdivision, to any person whose 15 entire service subsequent to the time of the receipt of such medal shall 16 not have been honorable. In the event of the death of any person during 17 or subsequent to the receipt of such certificate it shall be presented 18 to such representative of the deceased as may be designated. The adju- 19 tant general, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of 20 [veterans' services] veterans and military families, shall make such 21 rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary for the proper presen- 22 tation and distribution of the certificate. 23 1-f. The governor is hereby authorized to present in the name of the 24 legislature of the state of New York, a medal, to be known as the "New 25 York State Iraq War Commemorative Medal", bearing a suitable 26 inscription, to any person: (i) who is a resident of the state of New 27 York or who was a resident of the state of New York while serving in the 28 armed forces of the United States; (ii) who served in the United States 29 Armed Forces, defined as army, air force, navy, marine corps or coast 30 guard, on active duty in Iraq at any time during the period of March 31 twentieth, two thousand three through December thirty-first, two thou- 32 sand twenty-one; and (iii) who was discharged under honorable conditions 33 or who has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 34 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and received a 35 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable discharge, or is a 36 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 37 services] veterans and military families law and received a discharge 38 other than bad conduct or dishonorable discharge. No person shall 39 receive more than one New York State Iraq War Commemorative Medal. In 40 the event of the death of any eligible person prior to the receipt of 41 such commemorative medal, such commemorative medal shall be presented to 42 the designated representative of the deceased. The adjutant general, in 43 consultation with the commissioner of the department of [veterans' 44 services] veterans and military families, shall make such rules and 45 regulations as may be deemed necessary for the proper presentation and 46 distribution of such medals. 47 1-f. The governor is hereby authorized to present in the name of the 48 legislature of the state of New York, a medal, to be known as the "New 49 York State Afghanistan War Commemorative Medal", bearing a suitable 50 inscription, to any person: (i) who is a resident of the state of New 51 York; or who was a resident of the state of New York while serving in 52 the armed forces of the United States; (ii) who served in the United 53 States Armed Forces, defined as army, air force, navy, marine corps, or 54 coast guard, on active duty in Afghanistan at any time during the period 55 from October seventh, two thousand one through August thirtieth, two 56 thousand twenty-one; and (iii) who was discharged under honorable condi- 
 A. 8967 38 1 tions or who has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of 2 the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 3 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable discharge, 4 or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 5 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and received a 6 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable discharge. No person 7 shall receive more than one New York State Afghanistan War Commemorative 8 Medal. In the event of the death of any eligible person prior to the 9 receipt of such commemorative medal, such commemorative medal shall be 10 presented to the designated representative of the deceased. The adjutant 11 general, in consultation with the commissioner of the department of 12 [veterans' services] veterans and military families, shall make such 13 rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary for the proper presen- 14 tation and distribution of such medals. 15 § 71. Section 249 of the military law, as amended by section 74 of 16 part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as 17 follows: 18 § 249. State and municipal officers and employees granted leaves of 19 absence on July fourth in certain cases. Each officer and employee of 20 the state or of a municipal corporation or of any other political subdi- 21 vision thereof who was a member of the national guard or naval militia 22 or a member of the reserve corps at a time when the United States was 23 not at war and who (i) has been honorably discharged therefrom, or (ii) 24 has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 25 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 26 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 27 (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 28 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 29 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 30 service, shall, in so far as practicable, be entitled to absent [himself 31 or herself] themself from duties or service, with pay, on July fourth of 32 each year. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or 33 local law or the provisions of any city charter, no such officer or 34 employee shall be subjected by any person whatever directly or indirect- 35 ly by reason of such absence to any loss or diminution of vacation or 36 holiday privilege or be prejudiced by reason of such absence with refer- 37 ence to promotion or continuance in office or employment or to reap- 38 pointment to office or to re-employment. 39 § 72. Section 256 of the military law, as added by chapter 625 of the 40 laws of 2024, is amended to read as follows: 41 § 256. State military immigrant family legacy program support. The 42 adjutant general shall encourage the development of and provide for the 43 establishment of a state military immigrant family legacy program liai- 44 son, as provided in section twenty-nine-b of the [veterans' services] 45 veterans and military families law. 46 § 73. Subdivision (g) of section 202 of the not-for-profit corporation 47 law, as amended by section 16 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 48 2022, is amended to read as follows: 49 (g) Every corporation receiving any kind of state funding shall ensure 50 the provision on any form required to be completed at application or 51 recertification for the purpose of obtaining financial assistance pursu- 52 ant to this chapter, that the application form shall contain a check-off 53 question asking whether the applicant or recipient or a member of [his 54 or her] their family served in the United States military, and an option 55 to answer in the affirmative. Where the applicant or recipient answers 56 in the affirmative to such question, the not-for-profit corporation 
 A. 8967 39 1 shall ensure that contact information for the state department of 2 [veterans' services] veterans and military families is provided to such 3 applicant or recipient in addition to any other materials provided. 4 § 74. Subdivision (b) of section 1401 of the not-for-profit corpo- 5 ration law, as amended by section 17 of part PP of chapter 56 of the 6 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 7 (b) Removal of remains from private cemeteries to other cemeteries. 8 The supervisor of any town containing a private cemetery may remove any 9 body interred in such cemetery to any other cemetery within the town, if 10 the owners of such cemeteries and the next of kin of the deceased 11 consent to such removal. The owners of a private cemetery may remove the 12 bodies interred therein to any other cemetery within such town, or to 13 any cemetery designated by the next of kin of the deceased. Notice of 14 such removal shall be given within twenty days before such removal 15 personally or by certified mail to the next of kin of the deceased if 16 known and to the clerk and historian of the county in which such real 17 property is situated and notice shall be given to the New York state 18 department of state, division of cemeteries. If any of the deceased are 19 known to be veterans, the owners shall also notify the department of 20 [veterans' services] veterans and military families. In the absence of 21 the next of kin, the county clerk, county historian or the department of 22 [veterans' services] veterans and military families may act as a guardi- 23 an to ensure proper reburial. 24 § 75. Subdivision 2 of section 13.19 of the parks, recreation and 25 historic preservation law, as amended by chapter 103 of the laws of 26 2024, is amended to read as follows: 27 2. For the purposes of this section (a) "veteran" shall mean a resi- 28 dent of this state who is: (i) a veteran as such term is defined in 29 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 30 law; or (ii) a person who has served on active duty for the state as a 31 member of the state organized militia as defined in subdivision nine of 32 section one of the military law and who was discharged or released ther- 33 efrom under conditions other than dishonorable; or (iii) a person who 34 has served on active duty in the uniformed services of the United States 35 or on active duty for the state as a member of the organized militia and 36 has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 37 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 38 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 39 is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veter- 40 ans' services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 41 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service; and 42 (b) "member of a Gold Star family" shall mean a resident of this state 43 who is a gold star parent as defined in section twenty-six of the 44 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, the spouse or 45 domestic partner, or the biological, step, or legally adopted minor 46 child of a veteran whose death qualified the parent for an annuity. 47 § 76. Subparagraph 2 of paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 156 of 48 the public housing law, as amended by section 75 of part PP of chapter 49 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 50 (2) (i) have been thereafter discharged or released therefrom under 51 conditions other than dishonorable, or (ii) have a qualifying condition, 52 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 53 tary families law, and have received a discharge other than bad conduct 54 or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) are discharged LGBT veter- 55 ans, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and 56 military families law, and have received a discharge other than bad 
 A. 8967 40 1 conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iv) died in such service, 2 not more than five years prior to the time of application for admission 3 to such project, and 4 § 77. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 1 of section 2509-d of the 5 public health law, as added by chapter 623 of the laws of 2024, is 6 amended to read as follows: 7 (b) "Women veterans coordinator" shall mean the women veterans coordi- 8 nator appointed pursuant to section nineteen of the [veterans' services] 9 veterans and military families law. 10 (c) "Veteran" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in 11 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 12 law and shall also include a veteran who has a qualifying condition, as 13 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 14 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 15 dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 16 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 17 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 18 dishonorable from such service. 19 § 78. Subdivision (i) of section 2522 of the public health law, as 20 added by chapter 623 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as follows: 21 (i) promotion of training and continuing medical education opportu- 22 nities in military cultural competency for providers of prenatal care to 23 veterans. For purposes of this subdivision, the term "veteran" shall 24 have the same meaning as such term is defined in section one of the 25 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law and shall also 26 include a veteran who has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 27 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 28 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 29 such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one 30 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 31 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 32 service. 33 § 79. The opening paragraph and paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of 34 section 2632 of the public health law, as amended by section 76 of part 35 PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 36 Every veteran of the armed forces of the United States, who (i) (A) 37 was separated or discharged under honorable conditions after serving on 38 active duty therein for a period of not less than thirty days, or (B) 39 has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 40 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 41 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable after serving on active 42 duty therein for a period of not less than thirty days, or (C) is a 43 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 44 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 45 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable after serving on active 46 duty therein for a period of not less than thirty days, or (ii) (A) was 47 separated or discharged under honorable conditions after serving on 48 active duty therein for a period of not less than thirty days or (B) has 49 a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 50 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 51 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable after serving on active 52 duty therein for a period of not less than thirty days, or (C) is a 53 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 54 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 55 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable after serving on active 56 duty therein for a period of not less than thirty days, and who was a 
 A. 8967 41 1 recipient of the armed forces expeditionary medal, navy expeditionary 2 medal or marine corps expeditionary medal for participation in oper- 3 ations in Lebanon from June first, nineteen hundred eighty-three to 4 December first, nineteen hundred eighty-seven, in Grenada from October 5 twenty-third, nineteen hundred eighty-three to November twenty-first, 6 nineteen hundred eighty-three, or in Panama from December twentieth, 7 nineteen hundred eighty-nine to January thirty-first, nineteen hundred 8 ninety, or in Bosnia and Herzgegovina from November twenty-first, nine- 9 teen hundred ninety-five to November first, two thousand seven, or was a 10 recipient of the Kosovo campaign medal or (iii) (A) was separated or 11 discharged under honorable conditions after serving on active duty ther- 12 ein for a period of not less than thirty days or (B) has a qualifying 13 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 14 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 15 bad conduct or dishonorable after serving on active duty therein for a 16 period of not less than thirty days, or (C) is a discharged LGBT veter- 17 an, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and 18 military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 19 conduct or dishonorable after serving on active duty therein for a peri- 20 od of not less than thirty days, and who served during the period of 21 actual hostilities of either 22 (d) world war II between December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one 23 and December thirty-first, nineteen hundred forty-six, both inclusive, 24 or who was employed by the War Shipping Administration or Office of 25 Defense Transportation or their agents as a merchant [seaman] mariner 26 documented by the United States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, 27 or as a civil servant employed by the United States Army Transport 28 Service (later redesignated as the United States Army Transportation 29 Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation Service; and who 30 served satisfactorily as a crew member during the period of armed 31 conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to August 32 fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels in 33 oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such 34 terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further 35 to include "near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, 36 Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in ocean- 37 going service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of 38 Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an 39 Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department of 40 Defense, or who served as a United States civilian employed by the Amer- 41 ican Field Service and served overseas under United States Armies and 42 United States Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed 43 conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May 44 eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (i) was discharged or 45 released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying 46 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 47 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 48 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged 49 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 50 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 51 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or who served as a 52 United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee 53 of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affil- 54 iates and served overseas as a result of Pan American's contract with 55 Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period 56 of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one 
 A. 8967 42 1 through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (iv) was 2 discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (v) has 3 a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 4 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 5 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 6 (vi) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 7 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 8 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 9 service; or 10 § 80. Subdivision 5 of section 2805-b of the public health law, as 11 amended by section 77 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 12 amended to read as follows: 13 5. The staff of a general hospital shall: (a) inquire whether or not 14 the person admitted has served in the United States armed forces. Such 15 information shall be listed on the admissions form; (b) notify any 16 admittee who is a veteran of the possible availability of services at a 17 hospital operated by the United States veterans health administration, 18 and, upon request by the admittee, such staff shall make arrangements 19 for the individual's transfer to a United States veterans health admin- 20 istration hospital, provided, however, that transfers shall be author- 21 ized only after it has been determined, according to accepted clinical 22 and medical standards, that the patient's condition has stabilized and 23 transfer can be accomplished safely and without complication; and (c) 24 provide any admittee who has served in the United States armed forces 25 with a copy of the "Information for Veterans concerning Health Care 26 Options" fact sheet, maintained by the department of [veterans' 27 services] veterans and military families pursuant to subdivision twen- 28 ty-nine of section four of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 29 tary families law prior to discharging or transferring the patient. The 30 commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations for notifying such 31 admittees of possible available services and for arranging a requested 32 transfer. 33 § 81. Subdivision 2 of section 2805-o of the public health law, as 34 amended by section 78 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 35 amended to read as follows: 36 2. Every nursing home, residential health care facility and every 37 adult care facility licensed and certified by the department pursuant to 38 title two of article seven of the social services law or article forty- 39 six-B of this chapter, including all adult homes, enriched housing 40 programs, residences for adults, assisted living programs, and assisted 41 living residences shall in writing advise all individuals identifying 42 themselves as veterans or spouses of veterans that the department of 43 [veterans' services] veterans and military families and local veterans' 44 service agencies established pursuant to section fourteen of the [veter- 45 ans' services] veterans and military families law to provide assistance 46 to veterans and their spouses regarding benefits under federal and state 47 law. Such written information shall include the name, address and tele- 48 phone number of the New York state department of [veterans' services] 49 veterans and military families, the nearest department of [veterans' 50 services] veterans and military families office, the nearest county or 51 city veterans' service agency and the nearest accredited veterans' 52 service officer. 53 § 82. Subdivision 3 of section 3422 of the public health law, as 54 amended by section 79 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 55 amended to read as follows: 
 A. 8967 43 1 3. A candidate who fails to attain a passing grade on [his or her] 2 their licensing examination is entitled to a maximum of three re-exami- 3 nations; provided, however, that if such candidate fails to attain a 4 passing grade within three years after completion of [his or her] their 5 training, [he or she] they must requalify in accordance with the 6 provisions of the public health law and rules and regulations promulgat- 7 ed thereunder existing and in force as of the date of subsequent appli- 8 cation for licensing examination, except that a satisfactorily completed 9 required course of study need not be recompleted. A candidate inducted 10 into the armed forces of the United States during or after completion of 11 training may (a) after honorable discharge or (b) after a discharge 12 other than bad conduct or dishonorable where the candidate (i) has a 13 qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 14 services] veterans and military families law, or (ii) is a discharged 15 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 16 veterans and military families law, and upon proper application as 17 required by the department be eligible for an exemption with respect to 18 time served in such service. 19 § 83. Subdivision 2 of section 3802 of the public health law, as 20 amended by section 18 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 21 amended to read as follows: 22 2. In the exercise of the foregoing powers and duties the commissioner 23 shall consult with the commissioner of the department of [veterans' 24 services] veterans and military families and the heads of state agencies 25 charged with responsibility for [manpower] workforce and health 26 resources. 27 § 84. Subdivision 3 of section 3803 of the public health law, as 28 amended by section 19 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 29 amended to read as follows: 30 3. In exercising any of [his or her] their powers under this section, 31 the commissioner shall consult with appropriate health care profes- 32 sionals, providers, veterans or organizations representing them, the 33 department of [veterans' services] veterans and military families, the 34 United States department of veterans affairs and the United States 35 defense department. 36 § 85. Section 63 of the public officers law, as amended by section 80 37 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as 38 follows: 39 § 63. Leave of absence for veterans on Memorial day and Veterans' day. 40 It shall be the duty of the head of every public department and of every 41 court of the state of New York, of every superintendent or [foreman] 42 foreperson on the public works of said state, of the county officers of 43 the several counties of said state, of the town officers of the various 44 towns in this state, of the fire district officers of the various fire 45 districts in this state, and of the head of every department, bureau and 46 office in the government of the various cities and villages in this 47 state, and the officers of any public benefit corporation or any public 48 authority of this state, or of any public benefit corporation or public 49 authority of any county or subdivision of this state, to give leave of 50 absence with pay for twenty-four hours on the day prescribed by law as a 51 public holiday for the observance of Memorial day and on the eleventh 52 day of November, known as Veterans' day, to every person in the service 53 of the state, the county, the town, the fire district, the city or 54 village, the public benefit corporation or public authority of this 55 state, or any public benefit corporation or public authority of any 56 county or subdivision of this state, as the case may be, (i) who served 
 A. 8967 44 1 on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during world war 2 I or world war II, or who was employed by the War Shipping Adminis- 3 tration or Office of Defense Transportation or their agents as a 4 merchant [seaman] mariner documented by the United States Coast Guard or 5 Department of Commerce, or as a civil servant employed by the United 6 States Army Transport Service (later redesignated as the United States 7 Army Transportation Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation 8 Service; and who served satisfactorily as a crew member during the peri- 9 od of armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to 10 August fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels 11 in oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such 12 terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further 13 to include "near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, 14 Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in ocean- 15 going service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of 16 Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an 17 Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the Department of 18 Defense, or who served as a United States civilian employed by the Amer- 19 ican Field Service and served overseas under United States Armies and 20 United States Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed 21 conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May 22 eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (a) was discharged or 23 released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (b) has a qualifying 24 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 25 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 26 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (c) is a discharged 27 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 28 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 29 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service or who served as a 30 United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee 31 of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affil- 32 iates and served overseas as a result of Pan American's contract with 33 Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period 34 of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one 35 through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (d) was 36 discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (e) has 37 a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 38 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 39 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 40 (f) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 41 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 42 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 43 service or during the period of the Korean conflict at any time between 44 the dates of June twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred fifty and January 45 thirty-first, nineteen hundred fifty-five, or during the period of the 46 Vietnam conflict from the first day of November, nineteen hundred 47 fifty-five to the seventh day of May, nineteen hundred seventy-five, or 48 (ii) who served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States 49 and who was a recipient of the armed forces expeditionary medal, navy 50 expeditionary medal or marine corps expeditionary medal for partic- 51 ipation in operations in Lebanon from June first, nineteen hundred 52 eighty-three to December first, nineteen hundred eighty-seven, in Grena- 53 da from October twenty-third, nineteen hundred eighty-three to November 54 twenty-first, nineteen hundred eighty-three, or in Panama from December 55 twentieth, nineteen hundred eighty-nine to January thirty-first, nine- 56 teen hundred ninety, or (iii) who served in the armed forces of a 
 A. 8967 45 1 foreign country allied with the United States during world war I or 2 world war II, or during the period of the Korean conflict at any time 3 between June twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred fifty and January thirty- 4 first, nineteen hundred fifty-five, or during the period of the Vietnam 5 conflict from the first day of November, nineteen hundred fifty-five to 6 the seventh day of May, nineteen hundred seventy-five, or during the 7 period of the Persian Gulf conflict from the second day of August, nine- 8 teen hundred ninety to the end of such conflict, or who served on active 9 duty in the army or navy or marine corps or air force or coast guard of 10 the United States, and who (a) was honorably discharged or separated 11 from such service under honorable conditions, or (b) has a qualifying 12 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 13 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 14 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (c) is a discharged 15 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 16 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 17 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service except where such 18 action would endanger the public safety or the safety or health of 19 persons cared for by the state, in which event such persons shall be 20 entitled to leave of absence with pay on another day in lieu thereof. 21 All such persons who are compensated on a per diem, hourly, semi-monthly 22 or monthly basis, with or without maintenance, shall also be entitled to 23 leave of absence with pay under the provisions of this section and no 24 deduction in vacation allowance or budgetary allowable number of working 25 days shall be made in lieu thereof. A refusal to give such leave of 26 absence to one entitled thereto shall be neglect of duty. 27 § 86. Subdivision 3 of section 1271 of the private housing finance 28 law, as amended by section 81 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 29 2022, is amended to read as follows: 30 3. "Veteran" shall mean a veteran as defined in section one of the 31 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, or is a 32 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 33 services] veterans and military families law, who is a resident of the 34 state and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonor- 35 able from such service. 36 § 87. Subdivisions 2 and 4-a of section 458 of the real property tax 37 law, as amended by section 82 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 38 2022, is amended to read as follows: 39 2. Real property purchased with moneys collected by popular 40 subscription in partial recognition of extraordinary services rendered 41 by any veteran of world war one, world war two, or of the hostilities 42 which commenced June twenty-seventh, nineteen hundred fifty, who (a) was 43 honorably discharged from such service, or (b) has a qualifying condi- 44 tion, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and 45 military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 46 conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (c) is a discharged LGBT 47 veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans 48 and military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 49 conduct or dishonorable from such service, and who sustained permanent 50 disability while on military duty, either total or partial, and owned by 51 the person who sustained such injuries, or by [his or her] their spouse 52 or unremarried surviving spouse, or dependent [father or mother] parent, 53 is subject to taxation as herein provided. Such property shall be 54 assessed in the same manner as other real property in the tax district. 55 At the meeting of the assessors to hear complaints concerning the 56 assessments, a verified application for the exemption of such real prop- 
 A. 8967 46 1 erty from taxation may be presented to them by or on behalf of the owner 2 thereof, which application must show the facts on which the exemption is 3 claimed, including the amount of moneys so raised and used in or toward 4 the purchase of such property. No exemption on account of any such gift 5 shall be allowed in excess of five thousand dollars. The application for 6 exemption shall be presented and action thereon taken in the manner 7 provided by subdivision one of this section. If no application for 8 exemption be granted, the property shall be subject to taxation for all 9 purposes. The provisions herein, relating to the assessment and 10 exemption of property purchased with moneys raised by popular 11 subscription, apply and shall be enforced in each municipal corporation 12 authorized to levy taxes. 13 4-a. For the purposes of this section, the term "military or naval 14 services" shall be deemed to also include service: (a) by a person who 15 was employed by the War Shipping Administration or Office of Defense 16 Transportation or their agents as a merchant [seaman] mariner documented 17 by the United States Coast Guard or Department of Commerce, or as a 18 civil servant employed by the United States Army Transport Service 19 (later redesignated as the United States Army Transportation Corps, 20 Water Division) or the Naval Transportation Service; and who served 21 satisfactorily as a crew member during the period of armed conflict, 22 December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to August fifteenth, nine- 23 teen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels in oceangoing, i.e., 24 foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such terms are defined 25 under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further to include "near 26 foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, Mexico, or the 27 West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in oceangoing service or 28 foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of Release or 29 Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an Honorable 30 Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the department of defense; 31 (b) service by a United States civilian employed by the American Field 32 Service who served overseas under United States Armies and United States 33 Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed conflict, Decem- 34 ber seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May eighth, nineteen 35 hundred forty-five, and who (i) was discharged or released therefrom 36 under honorable conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as 37 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 38 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 39 dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, 40 as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 41 tary families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct 42 or dishonorable from such service; or (c) service by a United States 43 civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee of Pan Ameri- 44 can World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affiliates who 45 served overseas as a result of Pan American's contract with Air Trans- 46 port Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period of armed 47 conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one through August 48 fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (i) was discharged or 49 released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying 50 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 51 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 52 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged 53 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 54 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 55 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service. 
 A. 8967 47 1 § 88. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 and subdivisions 9 and 10 of 2 section 458-a of the real property tax law, paragraph (e) of subdivision 3 1 as amended by chapter 611 of the laws of 2023 and subdivisions 9 and 4 10 as amended by section 83 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 5 2022, are amended to read as follows: 6 (e) "Veteran" means a person (i) who served in the active military, 7 naval, or air service during a period of war, or who was a recipient of 8 the armed forces expeditionary medal, navy expeditionary medal, marine 9 corps expeditionary medal, or global war on terrorism expeditionary 10 medal, and who (1) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable 11 conditions, or (2) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one 12 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 13 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 14 service, or (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one 15 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 16 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 17 service, (ii) who was employed by the War Shipping Administration or 18 Office of Defense Transportation or their agents as a merchant [seaman] 19 mariner documented by the United States Coast Guard or Department of 20 Commerce, or as a civil servant employed by the United States Army 21 Transport Service (later redesignated as the United States Army Trans- 22 portation Corps, Water Division) or the Naval Transportation Service; 23 and who served satisfactorily as a crew member during the period of 24 armed conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one, to August 25 fifteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, aboard merchant vessels in 26 oceangoing, i.e., foreign, intercoastal, or coastwise service as such 27 terms are defined under federal law (46 USCA 10301 & 10501) and further 28 to include "near foreign" voyages between the United States and Canada, 29 Mexico, or the West Indies via ocean routes, or public vessels in ocean- 30 going service or foreign waters and who has received a Certificate of 31 Release or Discharge from Active Duty and a discharge certificate, or an 32 Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty, from the department of 33 defense, (iii) who served as a United States civilian employed by the 34 American Field Service and served overseas under United States Armies 35 and United States Army Groups in world war II during the period of armed 36 conflict, December seventh, nineteen hundred forty-one through May 37 eighth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (1) was discharged or 38 released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (2) has a qualifying 39 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 40 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 41 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a discharged 42 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 43 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 44 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, (iv) who served as a 45 United States civilian Flight Crew and Aviation Ground Support Employee 46 of Pan American World Airways or one of its subsidiaries or its affil- 47 iates and served overseas as a result of Pan American's contract with 48 Air Transport Command or Naval Air Transport Service during the period 49 of armed conflict, December fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-one 50 through August fourteenth, nineteen hundred forty-five, and who (1) was 51 discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or (2) has 52 a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 53 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 54 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 55 (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 56 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 
 A. 8967 48 1 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 2 service, (v) notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, 3 who are members of the reserve components of the armed forces of the 4 United States who (1) received an honorable discharge or release there- 5 from under honorable conditions, or (2) has a qualifying condition, as 6 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 7 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 8 dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as 9 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 10 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 11 dishonorable from such service, but are still members of the reserve 12 components of the armed forces of the United States provided that such 13 members meet all other qualifications under the provisions of this 14 section, or (vi) who shall be considered to have been discharged or 15 released from active military service of the United States under honor- 16 able conditions if: (1) the individual served in the active military 17 service of the United States for the period of time such individual was 18 obligated to serve at the time of entry into service; (2) the individual 19 was not discharged or released from such service at the time of complet- 20 ing such period of obligation due to an intervening enlistment or reen- 21 listment; (3) the individual would have been eligible for a discharge or 22 release under conditions other than dishonorable at such time except for 23 such intervening enlistment or reenlistment; and (4) the individual 24 served in the active military service of the United States for a period 25 of at least ten years, provided that such individual meets all other 26 qualifications under the provisions of this section. 27 9. The commissioner shall develop in consultation with the commission- 28 er of the New York state department of [veterans' services] veterans and 29 military families a listing of documents to be used to establish eligi- 30 bility under this section, including but not limited to a certificate of 31 release or discharge from active duty also known as a DD-214 form or an 32 Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty from the department of 33 defense. Such information shall be made available to each county, city, 34 town or village assessor's office, or congressional chartered veterans 35 service officers who request such information. The listing of acceptable 36 military records shall be made available on the internet websites of the 37 department of [veterans' services] veterans and military families and 38 the office of real property tax services. 39 10. A county, city, town, village or school district may adopt a local 40 law or resolution to include those military personnel who served in the 41 Reserve component of the United States Armed Forces that were deemed on 42 active duty under Executive Order 11519 signed March twenty-third, nine- 43 teen hundred seventy, 35 Federal Register 5003, dated March twenty- 44 fourth, nineteen hundred seventy and later designated by the United 45 States Department of Defense as Operation Graphic Hand, if such member 46 (1) was discharged or released therefrom under honorable conditions, or 47 (2) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veter- 48 ans' services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 49 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 50 (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 51 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 52 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 53 service, provided that such veteran meets all other qualifications of 54 this section. 
 A. 8967 49 1 § 89. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 and subdivision 8 of section 2 458-b of the real property tax law, as amended by section 84 of part PP 3 of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 4 (a) "Cold War veteran" means a person[, male or female,] who served on 5 active duty in the United States armed forces, during the time period 6 from September second, nineteen hundred forty-five to December twenty- 7 sixth, nineteen hundred ninety-one, and (i) was discharged or released 8 therefrom under honorable conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying condi- 9 tion, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and 10 military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 11 conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT 12 veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans 13 and military families law, and has received a discharge other than bad 14 conduct or dishonorable from such service. 15 8. The commissioner shall develop in consultation with the commission- 16 er of the New York state department of [veterans' services] veterans and 17 military families a listing of documents to be used to establish eligi- 18 bility under this section, including but not limited to a certificate of 19 release or discharge from active duty also known as a DD-214 form or an 20 Honorable Service Certificate/Report of Casualty from the department of 21 defense. Such information shall be made available to each county, city, 22 town or village assessor's office, or congressional chartered veterans 23 service officers who request such information. The listing of acceptable 24 military records shall be made available on the internet websites of the 25 department of [veterans' services] veterans and military families and 26 the office of real property tax services. 27 § 90. Paragraph (j) of subdivision 3 of section 20 of the social 28 services law, as amended by section 20 of part PP of chapter 56 of the 29 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 30 (j) to ensure the provision, on any form required to be completed at 31 application or recertification for the purpose of obtaining financial 32 assistance pursuant to this chapter, the form shall contain a check-off 33 question asking whether the applicant or recipient or a member of [his 34 or her] their family served in the United States military, and an option 35 to answer in the affirmative. Where the applicant or recipient answers 36 in the affirmative to such question, the office of temporary and disa- 37 bility assistance shall ensure that contact information for the state 38 department of [veterans' services] veterans and military families is 39 provided to such applicant or recipient in addition to any other materi- 40 als provided. 41 § 91. Subparagraph (v) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 42 122 of the social services law, as separately amended by section 85 of 43 part PP of chapter 56 and chapter 669 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 44 read as follows: 45 (v) any noncitizen lawfully residing in the state who is on active 46 duty in the armed forces (other than active duty for training) or who 47 (1) has received an honorable discharge (and not on account of nonciti- 48 zen status) from the armed forces, or (2) has a qualifying condition, as 49 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 50 families law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or 51 dishonorable (and not on account of noncitizen status) from the armed 52 forces, or (3) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one 53 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 54 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable (and not on 55 account of noncitizen status) from the armed forces, or the spouse, 56 unremarried surviving spouse or unmarried dependent child of any such 
 A. 8967 50 1 noncitizen, if such noncitizen, spouse or dependent child is a qualified 2 alien as defined in section 431 of the federal personal responsibility 3 and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996 (8 U.S. Code 1641), as 4 amended; 5 § 92. Subdivision 1 of section 168 of the social services law, as 6 amended by chapter 445 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as 7 follows: 8 1. Veteran means a person who has served in the armed forces of the 9 United States or who was a recipient of the armed forces expeditionary 10 medal, navy expeditionary medal or marine corps expeditionary medal for 11 participation in operations in Lebanon from June first, nineteen hundred 12 eighty-three to December first, nineteen hundred eighty-seven, in Grena- 13 da from October twenty-third, nineteen hundred eighty-three to November 14 twenty-first, nineteen hundred eighty-three, or in Panama from December 15 twentieth, nineteen hundred eighty-nine to January thirty-first, nine- 16 teen hundred ninety, and who (a) has been honorably discharged or 17 released under honorable circumstances from such service or furloughed 18 to the reserve, or (b) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 19 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 20 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 21 such service, or (c) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 22 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 23 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 24 such service. 25 § 93. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 95-f of the state finance law, 26 as amended by section 21 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, 27 are amended to read as follows: 28 3. Monies of the fund shall be expended for the provision of veterans' 29 counseling services provided by local veterans' service agencies pursu- 30 ant to section fourteen of the [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 31 tary families law under the direction of the department of [veterans' 32 services] veterans and military families. 33 4. To the extent practicable, the commissioner of the department of 34 [veterans' services] veterans and military families shall ensure that 35 all monies received during a fiscal year are expended prior to the end 36 of that fiscal year. 37 § 94. The opening paragraph of subdivision 2-a and subdivision 5 of 38 section 97-mmmm of the state finance law, as amended by section 22 of 39 part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as 40 follows: 41 On or before the first day of February each year, the commissioner of 42 the New York state department of [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 43 tary families shall provide a written report to the temporary president 44 of the senate, speaker of the assembly, chair of the senate finance 45 committee, chair of the assembly ways and means committee, chair of the 46 senate committee on veterans, homeland security and military affairs, 47 chair of the assembly veterans' affairs committee, the state comptroller 48 and the public. Such report shall include how the monies of the fund 49 were utilized during the preceding calendar year, and shall include: 50 5. Moneys shall be payable from the fund on the audit and warrant of 51 the comptroller on vouchers approved and certified by the commissioner 52 of the department of [veterans' services] veterans and military 53 families. 54 § 95. The opening paragraph of subdivision 2-a and subdivision 4 of 55 section 99-v of the state finance law, as amended by section 23 of part 56 PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 
 A. 8967 51 1 On or before the first day of February each year, the commissioner of 2 the New York state department of [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 3 tary families shall provide a written report to the temporary president 4 of the senate, speaker of the assembly, chair of the senate finance 5 committee, chair of the assembly ways and means committee, chair of the 6 senate committee on veterans, homeland security and military affairs, 7 chair of the assembly veterans' affairs committee, the state comptroller 8 and the public. Such report shall include how the monies of the fund 9 were utilized during the preceding calendar year, and shall include: 10 4. Moneys of the fund shall be expended only for the assistance and 11 care of homeless veterans, for housing and housing-related expenses, as 12 determined by the department of [veterans' services] veterans and mili- 13 tary families. 14 § 96. Subdivision 1 of section 143 of the state finance law, as 15 amended by section 27 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 16 amended to read as follows: 17 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general or 18 special law, the board, division, department, bureau, agency, officer or 19 commission of the state charged with the duty of preparing plans and 20 specifications for and awarding or entering into contracts for the 21 performance of public work may require the payment of a fixed sum of 22 money, not exceeding one hundred dollars, for each copy of such plans 23 and specifications, by persons or corporations desiring a copy thereof. 24 Any person or corporation desiring a copy of such plans and specifica- 25 tions and making the deposit required by this section shall be furnished 26 with one copy of the plans and specifications. Notwithstanding the fore- 27 going, where payment is required it shall be waived upon request by 28 minority- and women-owned business enterprises certified pursuant to 29 article fifteen-A of the executive law or by service-disabled veteran- 30 owned business enterprises certified pursuant to article three of the 31 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law. Such payment 32 may also be waived when such plans and specifications are made available 33 and obtained electronically or in any non-paper form from the board, 34 division, department, bureau, agency, officer or commission of the 35 state. 36 § 97. Paragraph j of subdivision 1, paragraph (d) of subdivision 6, 37 and subdivision 6-d of section 163 of the state finance law, paragraph j 38 of subdivision 1 and subdivision 6-d as amended by section 28 of part PP 39 of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022 and paragraph (d) of subdivision 6 as 40 amended by chapter 110 of the laws of 2024, are amended to read as 41 follows: 42 j. "Best value" means the basis for awarding contracts for services to 43 the offerer which optimizes quality, cost and efficiency, among respon- 44 sive and responsible offerers. Such basis shall reflect, wherever possi- 45 ble, objective and quantifiable analysis. Such basis may also identify a 46 quantitative factor for offerers that are small businesses, certified 47 minority- or women-owned business enterprises as defined in subdivisions 48 one, seven, fifteen and twenty of section three hundred ten of the exec- 49 utive law or service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprises as 50 defined in subdivision one of section forty of the [veterans' services] 51 veterans and military families law to be used in evaluation of offers 52 for awarding of contracts for services. 53 (d) state agencies may purchase commodities or services from those 54 certified pursuant to article fifteen-A of the executive law and article 55 three of the [veterans' service] veterans and military families law in 
 A. 8967 52 1 an amount not exceeding seven hundred fifty thousand dollars without a 2 formal competitive process; and 3 6-d. Pursuant to the authority provided in subdivision six of this 4 section, state agencies shall report annually on a fiscal year basis by 5 July first of the ensuing year to the director of the division of minor- 6 ity and women-owned business development the total number and total 7 value of contracts awarded to businesses certified pursuant to article 8 fifteen-A of the executive law, and with respect to contracts awarded to 9 businesses certified pursuant to article three of the [veterans' 10 services] veterans and military families law such information shall be 11 reported to the division of service-disabled veteran-owned business 12 enterprises for inclusion in their respective annual reports. 13 § 98. Subdivision 26 of section 213 of the state finance law, as 14 amended by chapter 409 of the laws of 2023, is amended to read as 15 follows: 16 26. "Certified service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprise" 17 means any service-disabled veteran-owned business enterprise as provided 18 for in article three of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 19 families law. 20 § 99. Subdivision 3 of section 103-a of the state technology law, as 21 amended by section 31 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 22 amended to read as follows: 23 3. The director shall conduct an outreach campaign informing the 24 public of the iCenter and shall conduct specific outreach to minority 25 and women-owned business enterprises certified pursuant to article 26 fifteen-A of the executive law, small businesses as such term is defined 27 in section one hundred thirty-one of the economic development law, and 28 service disabled veteran owned business enterprises certified pursuant 29 to article three of the [veterans' services] veterans and military fami- 30 lies law to inform such businesses of iCenter initiatives. 31 § 100. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 29 of section 32 210-B of the tax law, as separately amended by section 87 of part PP of 33 chapter 56 and section 1 of part H of chapter 59 of the laws of 2022, is 34 amended to read as follows: 35 (1) who served on active duty in the United States army, navy, air 36 force, space force, marine corps, coast guard or the reserves thereof, 37 or who served in active military service of the United States as a 38 member of the army national guard, air national guard, New York guard or 39 New York naval militia, or who served in the active uniformed services 40 of the United States as a member of the commissioned corps of the 41 national oceanic and atmospheric administration or the commissioned 42 corps of the United States public health service; who (i) was released 43 from such service, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in 44 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 45 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 46 from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 47 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 48 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 49 from such service; 50 § 101. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 2 of subsection (a-2) of section 51 606 of the tax law, as separately amended by section 88 of part PP of 52 chapter 56 and section 2 of part H of chapter 59 of the laws of 2022, is 53 amended to read as follows: 54 (A) who served on active duty in the United States army, navy, air 55 force, space force, marine corps, coast guard or the reserves thereof, 56 or who served in active military service of the United States as a 
 A. 8967 53 1 member of the army national guard, air national guard, New York guard or 2 New York naval militia, or who served in the active uniformed services 3 of the United States as a member of the commissioned corps of the 4 national oceanic and atmospheric administration or the commissioned 5 corps of the United States public health service; who (i) was released 6 from active duty by general or honorable discharge, or (ii) has a quali- 7 fying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 8 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 9 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a 10 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 11 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 12 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service; 13 § 102. Paragraph 18-a of subdivision (a) of section 1115 of the tax 14 law, as amended by section 89 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 15 2022, is amended to read as follows: 16 (18-a) Tangible personal property manufactured and sold by a veteran, 17 as defined in section twenty-two of the [veterans' services] veterans 18 and military families law, for the benefit of a veteran's service organ- 19 ization, provided that such person or any member of [his or her] their 20 household does not conduct a trade or business in which similar items 21 are sold, the first two thousand five hundred dollars of receipts from 22 such sales in a calendar year. 23 § 103. Subparagraph (A) of paragraph 2 of subdivision (g-1) of section 24 1511 of the tax law, as separately amended by section 90 of part PP of 25 chapter 56 and section 3 of part H of chapter 59 of the laws of 2022, is 26 amended to read as follows: 27 (A) who served on active duty in the United States army, navy, air 28 force, space force, marine corps, coast guard or the reserves thereof, 29 or who served in active military service of the United States as a 30 member of the army national guard, air national guard, New York guard or 31 New York naval militia, or who served in the active uniformed services 32 of the United States as a member of the commissioned corps of the 33 national oceanic and atmospheric administration or the commissioned 34 corps of the United States public health service; who (i) was released 35 from active duty by general or honorable discharge, or (ii) has a quali- 36 fying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 37 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 38 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a 39 discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 40 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 41 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service; 42 § 104. Section 295 of the town law, as amended by section 91 of part 43 PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 44 § 295. Removal of remains of deceased members of armed forces. Upon a 45 verified petition presented to a judge of a court of record by any armed 46 forces' organization in any town or city in this state by a majority of 47 its officers, or a majority of any memorial committee in any town or 48 city where there are two or more veteran armed forces' organizations, or 49 in towns or cities where there are no veteran armed forces' organiza- 50 tions, upon the petition of five or more veterans of the armed forces, 51 the judge to whom said verified petition is presented shall make an 52 order to show cause, returnable before [him or her] them at a time and 53 place within the county in not less than fourteen or more than twenty 54 days from the date of presentation of said petition, why the remains of 55 any deceased members of the armed forces buried in potter's field, or in 56 any neglected or abandoned cemeteries, should not be removed to and 
 A. 8967 54 1 reinterred in a properly kept incorporated cemetery in the same town or 2 city or in a town adjoining the town or city in which the remains of a 3 deceased member of the armed forces are buried, and to fix the amount of 4 the expenses for such removal and reinterment, and the order to show 5 cause shall provide for its publication in a newspaper, to be designated 6 in the order, which is published nearest to the cemetery from which the 7 removal is sought to be made, once in each week for two successive 8 weeks. The verified petition presented to the judge shall show that the 9 petitioners are a majority of the officers of a veteran armed forces 10 organization, or a majority of a memorial committee in towns or cities 11 where two or more veteran armed forces organizations exist, or that the 12 petitioners are honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces in 13 towns or cities where no veteran armed forces organization exists, or 14 that the petitioners have a qualifying condition, as defined in section 15 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 16 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 17 service and are in towns or cities where no veteran armed forces organ- 18 izations exist, or that the petitioners are discharged LGBT veterans, as 19 defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military 20 families law, and received a discharge other than bad conduct or 21 dishonorable from such service and are in towns and cities where no 22 veteran armed forces organizations exist, and (1) the name of the 23 deceased member or members of the armed forces, whose remains are sought 24 to be removed, and if known the unit in which [he, she or] they served; 25 (2) the name and location of the cemetery in which [he or she is] they 26 are interred and from which removal is asked to be made; (3) the name 27 and location of the incorporated cemetery to which the remains are 28 desired to be removed and reinterred; (4) the facts showing the reasons 29 for such removal. Upon the return day of the order to show cause and at 30 the time and place fixed in said order, upon filing proof of publication 31 of the order to show cause with the judge, if no objection is made ther- 32 eto, [he or she] they shall make an order directing the removal of the 33 remains of said deceased member or members of the armed forces to the 34 cemetery designated in the petition within the town or city or within a 35 town adjoining the town or city in which the remains are then buried and 36 shall specify in the order the amount of the expenses of such removal, 37 which expenses of removal and reinterment, including the expense of the 38 proceeding under this section, shall be a charge upon the county in 39 which the town or city is situated from which the removal is made and 40 such expenses shall be a county charge and audited by the board of 41 supervisors of the county and paid in the same manner as other county 42 charges. On and after the removal and reinterment of the remains of the 43 deceased member or members of the armed forces in the armed forces' 44 plot, the expenses for annual care of the grave in the armed forces' 45 burial plot to which the removal is made shall be annually provided by 46 the town or city in which the remains were originally buried, at the 47 rate of not to exceed twenty dollars per grave, and shall be paid annu- 48 ally to the incorporated cemetery association to which the remains of 49 each deceased member of the armed forces may be removed and reinterred. 50 The petition and order shall be filed in the county clerk's office of 51 the county in which the remains of the deceased member of the armed 52 forces were originally interred, and the service of a certified copy of 53 the final order upon the cemetery association shall be made prior to any 54 removal. Any relative of the deceased member or members of the armed 55 forces, or the officer of any cemetery association in which the remains 56 of the deceased member or members of the armed forces were originally 
 A. 8967 55 1 interred, or the authorities of the county in which the member or 2 members of the armed forces were originally buried, may oppose the 3 granting of said order and the judge shall summarily hear the statement 4 of the parties and make such order as the justice and equity of the 5 application shall require. Any headstone or monument which marks the 6 grave of the deceased member of the armed forces shall be removed and 7 reset at the grave in the cemetery in which the removal is permitted to 8 be made and in each case the final order shall provide the amount of the 9 expenses of such removals and reinterment and resetting of the headstone 10 or monument, including the expenses of the proceedings under this 11 section; except that where provision is otherwise made for the purchase 12 or erection of a new headstone, monument or marker at the grave in the 13 cemetery to which such removal is permitted, such old headstone or monu- 14 ment need not be so removed and reset, in which case such final order 15 shall not provide for the expense of resetting. The order shall desig- 16 nate the person or persons having charge of the removals and reinter- 17 ments. Upon completion of the removal, reinterment and resetting of the 18 headstones or monuments, the person or persons having charge of the same 19 shall make a verified report of the removal, reinterment and resetting 20 of the headstone or monument and file the report in the clerk's office 21 of the proper county. The words "member of the armed forces" shall be 22 construed to mean a member of the armed forces who served in the armed 23 forces of the United States and who (5) was honorably discharged from 24 such service, or (6) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section 25 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 26 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 27 such service, or (7) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 28 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 29 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 30 such service, and the words "armed forces plot" shall be construed to 31 mean a plot of land in any incorporated cemetery set apart to be exclu- 32 sively used as a place for interring the remains of deceased veterans of 33 the armed forces of the United States. 34 § 105. Subdivision 2 of section 404-v of the vehicle and traffic law, 35 as amended by section 92 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, 36 is amended to read as follows: 37 2. The distinctive plate authorized pursuant to this section shall be 38 issued upon proof, satisfactory to the commissioner, that the applicant 39 is a veteran who served in the United States Naval Armed Guard and who 40 (1) was honorably discharged from such service, or (2) has a qualifying 41 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 42 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 43 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (3) is a discharged 44 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 45 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 46 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service. 47 § 106. Subdivision 3 of section 404-v of the vehicle and traffic law, 48 as amended by section 93 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, 49 is amended to read as follows: 50 3. A distinctive plate issued pursuant to this section shall be issued 51 in the same manner as other number plates upon the payment of the regu- 52 lar registration fee prescribed by section four hundred one of this 53 article, provided, however, that an additional annual service charge of 54 fifteen dollars shall be charged for such plate. Such annual service 55 charge shall be deposited to the credit of the Eighth Air Force Histor- 56 ical Society fund established pursuant to section ninety-five-f of the 
 A. 8967 56 1 state finance law and shall be used for veterans' counseling services 2 provided by local veterans' service agencies pursuant to section four- 3 teen of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law 4 under the direction of the department of [veterans' services] veterans 5 and military families. Provided, however, that one year after the effec- 6 tive date of this section funds in the amount of five thousand dollars, 7 or so much thereof as may be available, shall be allocated to the 8 department to offset costs associated with the production of such 9 license plates. 10 § 107. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 1 of section 404-w of the 11 vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 94 of part PP of chapter 12 56 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 13 (a) a person who served in the armed forces of the United States in 14 the hostilities that occurred in the Persian Gulf from the eleventh day 15 of September, two thousand one, to the end of such hostilities, who (i) 16 was discharged therefrom under other than dishonorable conditions, or 17 (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 18 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 19 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 20 service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 21 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 22 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 23 such service; or 24 (b) a person who served in the armed forces of the United States, in 25 the hostilities that occurred in Afghanistan from the eleventh day of 26 September, two thousand one, to the end of such hostilities, who (i) was 27 discharged therefrom under other than dishonorable conditions, or (ii) 28 has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' 29 services] veterans and military families law, and has received a 30 discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or 31 (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the 32 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 33 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 34 service. 35 § 108. Subdivision 3 of section 404-w of the vehicle and traffic law, 36 as amended by section 95 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, 37 is amended to read as follows: 38 3. For the purposes of this section, "Persian Gulf veteran" shall mean 39 a person who is a resident of this state, who served in the armed forces 40 of the United States in the hostilities that occurred in the Persian 41 Gulf from the second day of August, nineteen hundred ninety to the end 42 of such hostilities, and was (a) honorably discharged from the military, 43 or (b) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 44 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 45 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 46 service, or (c) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section one 47 of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 48 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 49 service. 50 § 109. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subdivision 3 of section 404-y of the 51 vehicle and traffic law, as amended by section 96 of part PP of chapter 52 56 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 53 (a) "Veteran of the Iraq War" shall mean a person who is a resident of 54 this state, who served in the armed forces of the United States in the 55 hostilities that occurred in Iraq from the sixteenth day of October, two 56 thousand two to the end of such hostilities who (i) was discharged ther- 
 A. 8967 57 1 efrom under other than dishonorable conditions or (ii) has a qualifying 2 condition, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] veter- 3 ans and military families law, and has received a discharge other than 4 bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or (iii) is a discharged 5 LGBT veteran, as defined in section one of the [veterans' services] 6 veterans and military families law, and has received a discharge other 7 than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service; and 8 (b) "Veteran of the Afghanistan War" shall mean a person who is a 9 resident of this state, who served in the armed forces of the United 10 States in the hostilities that occurred in Afghanistan from the seventh 11 day of October, two thousand one to the end of such hostilities who (i) 12 was discharged therefrom under other than dishonorable conditions or 13 (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of the 14 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 15 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 16 service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 17 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 18 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 19 such service. 20 § 110. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 3 of section 490 of the vehicle 21 and traffic law, as amended by section 97 of part PP of chapter 56 of 22 the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 23 (b) The identification card shall contain a distinguishing number or 24 mark and adequate space upon which an anatomical gift, pursuant to arti- 25 cle forty-three of the public health law, by the holder may be recorded 26 and shall contain such other information and shall be issued in such 27 form as the commissioner shall determine; provided, however, every iden- 28 tification card or renewal thereof issued to a person under the age of 29 twenty-one years shall have prominently imprinted thereon the statement 30 "UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE" in notably distinctive print or format. 31 Provided, further, however, that every identification card issued to an 32 applicant who was a member of the armed forces of the United States and 33 (i) received an honorable discharge or was released therefrom under 34 honorable conditions, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in 35 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 36 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 37 from such service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in 38 section one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families 39 law, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable 40 from such service, shall, upon [his or her] their request and submission 41 of proof as set forth herein, contain a distinguishing mark, in such 42 form as the commissioner shall determine, indicating that [he or she is] 43 they are a veteran. Such proof shall consist of a certificate of release 44 or discharge from active duty including but not limited to a DD Form 214 45 or other proof satisfactory to the commissioner. The commissioner shall 46 not require fees for the issuance of such identification cards or 47 renewals thereof to persons under twenty-one years of age which are 48 different from the fees required for the issuance of identification 49 cards or renewals thereof to persons twenty-one years of age or over, 50 nor fees to persons requesting a veteran distinguishing mark which are 51 different from fees that would otherwise be required. Provided, however, 52 that notwithstanding the provisions of section four hundred ninety-one 53 of this article, the commissioner shall not require any fees for the 54 duplication or amendment of an identification card prior to its renewal 55 if such duplication or amendment was solely for the purpose of adding a 56 veteran distinguishing mark to such identification card. 
 A. 8967 58 1 § 111. Paragraph (a-1) of subdivision 1 of section 504 of the vehicle 2 and traffic law, as amended by section 98 of part PP of chapter 56 of 3 the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 4 (a-1) Every license or renewal thereof issued to an applicant who was 5 a member of the armed forces of the United States and who (i) received 6 an honorable discharge or was released therefrom under honorable condi- 7 tions, or (ii) has a qualifying condition, as defined in section one of 8 the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and has 9 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 10 service, or (iii) is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in section 11 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 12 has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from 13 such service, shall, upon [his or her] their request and submission of 14 proof as set forth herein, contain a distinguishing mark, in such form 15 as the commissioner shall determine, indicating that [he or she is] they 16 are a veteran. Such proof shall consist of a certificate of release or 17 discharge from active duty including but not limited to a DD Form 214 or 18 other proof satisfactory to the commissioner. The commissioner shall not 19 require fees for the issuance of such licenses or renewals thereof to 20 persons requesting a veteran distinguishing mark which are different 21 from fees otherwise required; provided, however, that notwithstanding 22 the provisions of this section, the commissioner shall not require fees 23 for a duplication or amendment of a license prior to its renewal if such 24 duplication or amendment was solely for the purpose of adding a veteran 25 distinguishing mark to such license. 26 § 112. Subdivision 6 of section 508 of the vehicle and traffic law, as 27 amended by chapter 449 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as 28 follows: 29 6. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of the 30 department of [veterans' services] veterans and military families, is 31 directed to establish a process by which the department shall refer 32 driver's license and non-driver identification card applicants request- 33 ing and obtaining a notation upon such license or non-driver identifica- 34 tion card that such applicant is a veteran of the United States armed 35 forces pursuant to subdivision three of section four hundred ninety of 36 this chapter or subdivision one of section five hundred two of this 37 article, upon such applicant's request, to the department of [veterans' 38 services] veterans and military families, consistent with the provisions 39 of section seven of the [veterans' services] veterans and military fami- 40 lies law. 41 § 113. The second undesignated subparagraph of paragraph (a) of subdi- 42 vision 8 of section 15 of the workers' compensation law, as amended by 43 section 99 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 44 read as follows: 45 Second: That any plan which will reasonably, equitably and practically 46 operate to break down hindrances and remove obstacles to the employment 47 of partially disabled persons who (i) are honorably discharged from our 48 armed forces, or (ii) have a qualifying condition, as defined in section 49 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 50 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 51 service, or (iii) are discharged LGBT veterans, as defined in section 52 one of the [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and 53 received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such 54 service, or any other physically handicapped persons, is of vital impor- 55 tance to the state and its people and is of concern to this legislature; 
 A. 8967 59 1 § 114. Subdivision 1 of section 20 of chapter 784 of the laws of 1951, 2 constituting the New York state defense emergency act, as amended by 3 section 24 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to 4 read as follows: 5 1. There is hereby continued in the division of military and naval 6 affairs in the executive department a state civil defense commission to 7 consist of the same members as the members of the disaster preparedness 8 commission as established in article two-B of the executive law. In 9 addition, the superintendent of financial services, the chairperson of 10 the workers' compensation board and the commissioner of the department 11 of [veterans' services] veterans and military families shall be members. 12 The governor shall designate one of the members of the commission to be 13 the chairperson thereof. The commission may provide for its division 14 into subcommittees and for action by such subcommittees with the same 15 force and effect as action by the full commission. The members of the 16 commission, except for those who serve ex officio, shall be allowed 17 their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their 18 duties under this article but shall receive no additional compensation 19 for services rendered pursuant to this article. 20 § 115. Subdivision 3 of section 16-t of section 1 of chapter 174 of 21 the laws of 1968, constituting the New York state urban development 22 corporation act, as amended by chapter 617 of the laws of 2023, is 23 amended to read as follows: 24 3. Program loans to small businesses and micro-businesses shall be 25 targeted and marketed to minority and women-owned enterprises, veteran- 26 owned enterprises as set forth in 15 U.S.C. section 632(Q)(3), as 27 amended from time to time, and service-disabled veteran-owned enter- 28 prises as set forth in article three of the [veterans' services] veter- 29 ans and military families law, and other small businesses and micro-bu- 30 sinesses that are having difficulty accessing traditional credit 31 markets. Program loans to small businesses and micro-businesses shall be 32 used for the creation and retention of jobs, as defined by the corpo- 33 ration, including: (a) working capital; (b) the acquisition and/or 34 improvement of real property; (c) the acquisition of machinery and 35 equipment, property or improvement; or (d) the refinancing of debt obli- 36 gations. There shall be two categories of loans to small businesses and 37 micro-businesses: a micro loan that shall have a principal amount that 38 is less than twenty-five thousand dollars and a regular loan that shall 39 have a principal amount not less than twenty-five thousand dollars. 40 Prior to receiving program funds, the lending organization must certify 41 to the corporation that such loan complies with this section and rules 42 and regulations promulgated for the program and that the lending organ- 43 ization has performed its obligations pursuant to and is in compliance 44 with this section, the program rules and regulations and all agreements 45 entered into between the corporation and the lending organization. The 46 program funds amount used by the lending organization to fund a program 47 applicant loan shall not be more than fifty percent of the principal 48 amount of such loan. The program funds amount used by the lending organ- 49 ization to fund a program applicant loan shall not be greater than one 50 hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Minority- and women-owned 51 business enterprises, veteran-owned enterprises as set forth in 15 52 U.S.C. section 632(Q)(3), as amended from time to time, and service-dis- 53 abled veteran-owned enterprises as set forth in article three of the 54 [veterans' services] veterans and military families law, and other small 55 businesses or micro-businesses who access such program loans under this 
 A. 8967 60 1 subdivision shall not be precluded from accessing such short-term 2 financing loans provided under subdivision eleven of this section. 3 § 116. Paragraph 2 of subdivision b of section 31-102 of the adminis- 4 trative code of the city of New York, as amended by section 25 of part 5 PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows: 6 2. links to websites describing veteran employment services provided 7 by the federal government and New York state government, including, but 8 not limited to, the websites of the United States department of labor, 9 the New York state department of labor, the United States department of 10 veterans affairs, and the New York state department of [veterans' 11 services] veterans and military families; and 12 § 117. Subdivision a of section 3102 of the New York city charter, as 13 amended by section 26 of part PP of chapter 56 of the laws of 2022, is 14 amended to read as follows: 15 a. Except as otherwise provided by law, the commissioner shall have 16 such powers as provided by the commissioner of the state department 17 [veterans' services'] of veterans and military families and shall have 18 the duty to inform military and naval authorities of the United States 19 and assist members of the armed forces and veterans, who are residents 20 of the city, and their families, in relation to: (1) matters pertaining 21 to educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) 22 health, medical and rehabilitation service and facilities, (3) 23 provisions of federal, state and local laws and regulations affording 24 special rights and privileges to members of the armed forces and veter- 25 ans and their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, and 26 (5) other matters of similar, related or appropriate nature. The commis- 27 sioner shall also assist families of members of the reserve components 28 of the armed forces and the organized militia ordered into active duty 29 to ensure that they are made aware of and are receiving all appropriate 30 support available to them. The department also shall perform such other 31 duties as may be assigned by the state commissioner of the department of 32 [veterans' services] veterans and military families. 33 § 118. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, the 34 amendments made to paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section 50 of the 35 civil service law made by section twenty of this act shall be subject to 36 the expiration and reversion of such paragraph when upon such date the 37 provisions of section twenty-a of this act shall take effect; provided 38 further, however, the amendments made to section thirty-three-a of this 39 act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 40 453 of the laws of 2024 takes effect; provided further, however, the 41 amendments made to sections forty-three and seventy-two of this act 42 shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 625 43 of the laws of 2024 takes effect; provided further, however, the amend- 44 ments made to sections seventy-seven and seventy-eight of this act shall 45 take effect on the same date and in the same manner as chapter 623 of 46 the laws of 2024 takes effect; provided further, however, that the 47 amendments to section 163 of the state finance law made by section nine- 48 ty-seven of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and 49 shall be deemed repealed therewith; provided further, however, that the 50 amendments to section 103-a of the state technology law made by section 51 ninety-nine of this act shall not affect the repeal of such section and 52 shall be deemed repealed therewith.