New York S 9851: Expands the veterans' services commission

Bill Text

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S09851 Summary:

BILL NOS09851 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A10418

&nbsp

SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

&nbsp

COSPNSRASHBY

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §3, Veterans' Services L

&nbsp

Expands the veterans' services commission to include two additional members and several additional ex officio members.

Go to top S09851 Actions:

BILL NOS09851 

&nbsp

04/08/2026REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

04/28/20261ST REPORT CAL.862

04/29/20262ND REPORT CAL.

05/04/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

05/14/2026SUBSTITUTED BY A10418

&nbspA10418 AMEND= Stern

&nbsp03/04/2026referred to veterans' affairs

&nbsp03/10/2026reported 

&nbsp03/12/2026advanced to third reading cal.306

&nbsp03/16/2026passed assembly

&nbsp03/16/2026delivered to senate

&nbsp03/16/2026REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

&nbsp05/14/2026SUBSTITUTED FOR S9851

&nbsp05/14/20263RD READING CAL.862

&nbsp05/14/2026PASSED SENATE

&nbsp05/14/2026RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY

Go to topS09851 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09851 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS09851 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9851

 IN SENATE

 April 8, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Home-
 land Security and Military Affairs

 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to expanding the
 veterans' services commission

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

 1 Section 1. Section 3 of the veterans' services law is amended to read
 2 as follows:
 3 § 3. Veterans' services commission. 1. There shall be in the depart-
 4 ment a veterans' services commission, which shall consist of the members
 5 and the ex officio members provided for in this section.
 6 2. (a) There shall be [thirteen] fifteen members of the commission
 7 [who shall be veterans] appointed by the governor. Thirteen members of
 8 the commission shall be veterans, including two appointed on recommenda-
 9 tion of the temporary president of the senate, one appointed on recom-
 10 mendation of the minority leader of the senate, two appointed on recom-
 11 mendation of the speaker of the assembly, and one appointed on
 12 recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly. The appointment
 13 of members made by the governor without recommendation shall be subject
 14 to advice and consent of the senate. The members of the commission shall
 15 serve for terms of three years each. Appointed members presently serving
 16 on the commission shall continue to serve for the remainder of the term
 17 appointed. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy of such an appointed
 18 member occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be appointed
 19 for the remainder of the unexpired term of the member whom [he or she
 20 is] they are to succeed. Members appointed as provided in this subdivi-
 21 sion shall receive no salary or other compensation, but each shall be
 22 entitled to receive expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the
 23 performance of their duties.
 24 (b) The governor shall consider the following when making appointments
 25 under this subdivision:
 26 (i) members of congressionally chartered veterans' service organiza-
 27 tions or organizations approved by the U.S. Secretary of Veterans

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15093-02-6

 S. 9851 2

 1 Affairs pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 5902. The governor may solicit nomi-
 2 nations for appointments from such organizations having a presence in
 3 the state;
 4 (ii) directors of local veterans' service agencies or their designees;
 5 (iii) family members of veterans or service members; and
 6 (iv) individuals having substantial training, professional experience
 7 or knowledge in any of the following:
 8 (A) the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
 9 (B) health care, including mental health care;
 10 (C) education, including higher education, vocational education, or
 11 adult education;
 12 (D) career and employment services or business management;
 13 (E) housing assistance