Chapter 75: Department of Veterans' Services

Section 3100. Department; commissioner.

There shall be a department of veterans' services, the head of which shall be the commissioner of veterans' services. The commissioner may appoint deputies within available appropriations.

(L.L. 2015/113, 12/10/2015, eff. 4/8/2016)

Section 3101. Definition.

As used in this chapter, the following term has the following meaning:

   Veteran. The term "veteran" means a person who serves or has served in the active military service, including the navy, coast guard, air force, marines, army, space force, and their respective national guard or reserve components, regardless of discharge status or time served. "Veteran" also means a person who serves or has served in the United States public health service or as a commissioned member of the national oceanic and atmospheric administration.

(L.L. 2015/113, 12/10/2015, eff. 4/8/2016; Am. L.L. 2022/019, 1/9/2022, eff. 5/9/2022)

Section 3102. Powers and duties.

   a.   Except as otherwise provided by law, the commissioner shall have such powers as provided by the commissioner of the state department of veterans' services and shall have the duty to inform military and naval authorities of the United States and assist members of the armed forces and veterans, who are residents of the city, and their families, in relation to: (1) matters pertaining to educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health, medical and rehabilitation service and facilities, (3) provisions of federal, state and local laws and regulations affording special rights and privileges to members of the armed forces and veterans and their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, and (5) other matters of similar, related or appropriate nature. The commissioner shall also assist families of members of the reserve components of the armed forces and the organized militia ordered into active duty to ensure that they are made aware of and are receiving all appropriate support available to them. The department also shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the state commissioner of the department of veterans' services.

   b.   The commissioner shall utilize, so far as possible, the services, commissions, boards, bureaus, institutions and other agencies of the state and of the political subdivisions thereof and all such officers and agencies shall cooperate with and extend such services and facilities to the department as it may require.

(L.L. 2015/113, 12/10/2015, eff. 4/8/2016; Am. 2019 N.Y. Laws Ch. 56, 4/12/2019, eff. 4/12/2019; Am. 2022 N.Y. Laws Ch. 56, 4/9/2022, eff. 4/1/2022)