S2673-2013 Actions

• Apr 30, 2013: SUBSTITUTED BY A587
• Apr 29, 2013: ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
• Apr 24, 2013: 2ND REPORT CAL.
• Apr 23, 2013: 1ST REPORT CAL.416
• Apr 16, 2013: REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
• Jan 23, 2013: REFERRED TO VETERANS, HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

S2673-2013 Meetings

S2673-2013 Calendars

S2673-2013 Votes

S2673-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2673

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
requiring the division of veterans' affairs to maintain mental health,
substance abuse and physical disabilities portals on its website; and to
repeal subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 352 of the executive law, relat-
ing to an interagency plan addressing needs of veterans and their fami-
lies

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Requires the division of veterans'
affairs to maintain mental health, substance abuse and physical disabil-
ities portals on its website. The bill also repeals subdivisions 6 and 7
of section section 352 of the executive law which was added by Chapter
483 of the Laws of 2012.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 21 requiring the Division of Veterans' Affairs to maintain
mental health, substance abuse and physical disabilities portals on
their website.

Section 2: Subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 352 of the Executive Law are
repealed.

Section 3. The effective date.

JUSTIFICATION: Combat-related mental illness has been and still is a
critical issue for American war veterans. More than 85,000 New Yorkers
have participated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Free-
dom, or both, since September 11, 2001. According to the Iraq and
Afghanistan Veterans of America, at least one in three Iraq veterans and
one in nine Afghanistan veterans will face mental health issues like
depression, anxiety, or post traumatic stress disorder.  Multiple tours
have increased the stress of combat.

This legislation requires the Division of Veterans' Affairs to develop
portals on their website to provide links to appropriate government
programs on information on suicide prevention, peer outreach, and
services that address the special needs of physical disabled veterans.
Providing links to information on the division's website will be helpful
for veterans and their family members are they try and cope with the
readjustment from military life to civilian life.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New Legislation.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AM) LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:  Minimal cost to
the Division of Veterans' Affairs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.

S2673-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         2673
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 January 23, 2013
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  DeFRANCISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and
 when printed to be committed to the Committee  on  Veterans,  Homeland
 Security and Military Affairs
 

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the division
 of  veterans'  affairs  to maintain mental health, substance abuse and
 physical disabilities portals on its website; and to  repeal  subdivi
 sions  6  and  7  of  section 352 of the executive law, relating to an
 interagency plan addressing needs of veterans and their families
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1.

Section 353 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 21 to read as follows:

 21.  TO  PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO
 ASSIST VETERANS WHO EXPERIENCE MENTAL HEALTH OR  SUBSTANCE  ABUSE  PROB
 LEMS,  AND  VETERANS  WITH  PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, BY MAINTAINING MENTAL
 HEALTH, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES PORTALS ON  THE  DIVI
 SION'S  INTERNET  WEBSITE.  SUCH  PORTALS SHALL PROVIDE VIRTUAL LINKS TO
 APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS ON THE FEDERAL AND  STATE  LEVELS  AND
 INFORMATION  ON  SUICIDE  PREVENTION,  PEER  OUTREACH  AND  SUPPORT, AND
 SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF PHYSICALLY DISABLED VETERANS.
 THE DIVISION MAY CONSULT WITH THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF
 ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH  AND
 THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  LABOR.  THE  DIVISION  SHALL MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS
 INFORMATION PROVIDED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISIONS FOUR-A AND FOUR-B OF  THIS
 SECTION  AND  IN  THE  ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE
 REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ELEVEN OF THIS SECTION.  SUCH  INFORMA
 TION  REQUIRED  UNDER  THIS  SUBDIVISION SHALL BE MAINTAINED AND UPDATED
 ANNUALLY.
 

S 2. Subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 352  of  the  executive  law  are
 REPEALED.
 

S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04285-01-3

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