New York A 11294: Relates to the appointment of the memorial affairs coordinator; to the burial indigent members of the uniformed services of the United States; and to the disposition of the remains of veterans

Bill Text

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A11294 Summary:

BILL NOA11294 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORRules (Stern)

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COSPNSRGriffin

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 4 §44, Veterans' Services L; amd §148, Gen Muni L; amd §4203, Pub Health L

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Relates to the appointment of the memorial affairs coordinator; relates to the burial of indigent members of the uniformed services of the United States; relates to the disposition of the remains of veterans.

Go to top A11294 Actions:

BILL NOA11294 

&nbsp

05/08/2026referred to veterans' affairs

05/13/2026reported referred to ways and means

Go to topA11294 Committee&nbspVotes:

Committee:VETERANS' AFFAIRS Chair:Stern 
DATE:05/13/2026AYE/NAY:19/0 Action: Favorable refer to committee Ways and Means SternAyeManktelowAye

HunterAyeMorinelloAye

Pheffer AmatoAyeHawleyAye

ButtenschonAyeSmullenAye

RajkumarAyeAngelinoAye

SeptimoAye

HevesiAye

RosenthalAye

BergerAye

GriffinAye

KayAye

O'PharrowAye

SchiavoniAye

CashmanAye

Go to topA11294 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA11294 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 11294

 IN ASSEMBLY

 May 8, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Stern) --
 read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to the appoint-
 ment of the memorial affairs coordinator; to amend the general munici-
 pal law, in relation to the burial indigent members of the uniformed
 services of the United States; and to amend the public health law, in
 relation to the disposition of the remains of veterans

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new arti-
 2 cle 4 to read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 4
 4 MEMORIAL AFFAIRS
 5 Section 44. Memorial affairs coordinator.
 6 § 44. Memorial affairs coordinator. 1. As used in this section, the
 7 following terms shall have the following meanings:
 8 (a) "burial" means all the legal methods of disposing of the remains
 9 of a deceased person, including, but not limited to, cremation, burial
 10 at sea, and medical school donation;
 11 (b) "custodian" means any person, organization, or state or local
 12 government agency in possession of human remains, such as a funeral
 13 director, undertaker or funeral firm, medical examiner or coroner, law
 14 enforcement agencies, or medical, educational, and correctional facili-
 15 ties;
 16 (c) "dignified burial" means a deceased person's remains are interred
 17 in a final resting place, including but not limited to a national ceme-
 18 tery, a state veteran's cemetery, or a private cemetery;
 19 (d) "eligible person" means any service member or veteran or spouse,
 20 child, parent or other relation of a service member or veteran eligible
 21 for burial benefits under chapters 23 and 24 of title 38 of the United
 22 States Code or any provision of state law or local law; and
 23 (e) "local coordinators" means a person, association or commission
 24 designated under section one hundred forty-eight of the general munici-
 25 pal law.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15813-01-6

 A. 11294 2

 1 2. The state commissioner shall appoint a "memorial affairs coordina-
 2 tor" whose general duties shall include:
 3 (a) serving as a liaison between the United States Department of
 4 Veterans Affairs, relevant state and local agencies, custodians, and
 5 local coordinators to facilitate the dignified burial of deceased
 6 service members, veterans and other eligible persons in the state;
 7 (b) proving information to custodians regarding the funeral, burial
 8 and memorial benefits available for the burial of eligible persons and
 9 to outline procedures to be followed;
 10 (c) developing and maintaining a clearinghouse of information and
 11 resources for survivors of deceased service members, veterans and other
 12 eligible persons, regarding federal, state and local benefits that
 13 assist with funeral, burial and memorial costs;
 14 (d) conducting outreach to veterans service organizations for the
 15 purpose of