Attached, please find the newest edition of the “Veterans & Service Members Laws Booklet” that I initially created nine years ago, adding to it annually as the laws, opinions of counsel, court cases, etc. changed.
For anyone who has kept score at home through the years, you’ll notice that today’s edition is significantly longer than the initial publication.
As you can see from this newest edition, 2024 brought a multitude of changes to New York State’s statutes that directly impact our state’s Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families, including:
** Agreeing to create the largest expansion of eligibility for the New York State Veterans Tuition Award since the program’s inception, offering the Veterans Tuition Award not only to combat Veterans who reside in New York State, but also to all Veterans who are served for at least four years on active duty and who presently reside in New York. [Effective date to be determined in 2025].
** Offering an annual cost-of-living increase for the New York State Veterans Indigent Burial Reimbursement program, ensuring that the State’s reimbursement for the funeral and interment costs for Veterans who pass away indigent remain commensurate with rising costs of these services [effective April 1, 2025]
** Increasing State employment protections by expanding the applicable definition of “military service” to include state active duty, thus expanding the corresponding employment protections to National Guard members who are called into service at the order of the Governor to respond to emergent needs;
** Increases State purchasing thresholds from Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses, creating greater contracting opportunities with State agencies for these businesses;
** Requiring that all State executive branch agencies designate a Veterans Liaison, and that the designated Veterans Liaison receive annual training to ensure that they are up-to-date with the most recent changes and developments in federal and state laws, policies, and programs impacting Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families;
** Ensuring that Veterans who receive the “Veteran distinguishing mark” on their New York State driver’s license or non-driver’s ID card also receive information about other benefits, programs, and resources earned by virtue of their military service, as well as connections with the New York State Department of Veterans’ Services and their local County or City Veterans Service Agency if the Veteran wishes;
** And more!
Often, state benefits, programs, and services for Veterans, Service Members, and their families are unfortunately obscured by the array of federal benefits and resources available. This booklet demonstrates the wide measure of state benefits, programs, and services that are available in New York, hopefully serving as a means of ensuring that the Veterans, Service Members, and family members whom we serve receive the state benefits for which they are eligible.
As always, this booklet goes out with my standing offer to “talk shop” about any of the information contained within it. Please feel free to call me or email me if you have any questions about these materials. I don’t claim to have every answer to every nuance contained in this document, but I am always happy to conduct the research needed to find the answer.
At this time of the year that shines a spotlight on giving, please know that the service that you provide daily is the greatest gift of all. Thank you for all that you do.
Benjamin P. Pomerance
Deputy Counsel
Pronouns: He/Him
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services
2 Empire State Plaza, 17th Floor, Albany, NY 12223
Phone (518) 474-6114 | Fax (518) 473-0379 | [email protected] |
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