Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of New York State residents
are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States and have served in or
prepared for armed conflicts; and
WHEREAS, many New York State residents currently wear the
uniform of the Armed Forces of the United States and are stationed in New York
and around the world; and
WHEREAS, while veterans, members of the military and their
families are often highly trained and experienced in skills that are in great
demand in both the public and private sectors, such training and experience is
often not considered or otherwise taken into account in the subsequent granting
of licenses, admissions, degrees and certifications; and
WHEREAS, veterans are at risk to return home with "" or
later develop "" physical disabilities, medical conditions, mental illness or
substance abuse disorders, including but not limited to traumatic brain injury
and post-traumatic stress disorder, impacting not only those veterans but their
families as well; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to ensure that federal, state and
other resources are marshaled and coordinated to help veterans, military
members and their families address these challenges; and
WHEREAS, increased public awareness of the sacrifices and
needs of veterans, military members and their families is essential to helping
them succeed in their communities and workplaces; and
WHEREAS, the New York State Council on Returning Veterans
and Their Families, established by Executive Order No. 12 issued by Governor
David Paterson on November 11, 2008 and continued by my Executive Order No. 34
issued on November 10, 2011, fulfilled its mission, and the State must renew
and strengthen its resolve to meet the needs of veterans, military members and
their families;
NOW THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of
New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws
of the State of New York do hereby revoke Executive Order No. 34 and order as
follows:
A. The Council on Veterans,
Military Members and Their Families
1. There
is hereby established the New York State Council on Veterans, Military Members
and their Families ("the Council").
2. The membership of the Council shall
consist of the following state officials or their designees: the Director of
the Division of Veterans' Affairs; the Adjutant General of the Division of
Military and Naval Affairs; the Commissioner of Health; the Commissioner of
Mental Health; the Commissioner of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services; the
Commissioner of Homes and Community Renewal; the Commissioner of Economic
Development; the Director of the Office for the Aging; the Commissioner of
Labor; the Commissioner of Tax and Finance; the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles;
the Commissioner of Education; the Commissioner of General Services, the
Commissioner of Civil Service; the Commissioner of Temporary and Disability
Assistance; the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation; the Commissioner of
Corrections and Community Supervision; the Secretary of State; the Commissioner
of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; the President of the Higher
Education Services Corporation; the Chancellor of the State University of New
York; and the Chancellor of the City University of New York. The membership of
the council shall also include the following members to be appointed by the
Governor: one or more veterans, military members or family members of military
members or veterans, a representative of an organization that provides
behavioral health services to military members, veterans or their families; a
representative of an organization that provides substance abuse counseling
services to military members, veterans or their families; and an academic who
specializes in military or veterans' affairs; a representative of local
government. Additional members may be appointed to the Council at the
discretion of the Governor. All members of the Council shall serve at the
pleasure of the Governor, and vacancies shall be filled by the Governor. The
Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs or a designee thereof shall serve
as the Chair of the Council.
3. A
majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum, and all
recommendations of the Council shall require approval of a majority of the
members.
4. Every agency,
department, office, division and public authority of the State is hereby
directed to review paths for military members and veterans into the civilian
workforce and identify ways the State can better recognize the skills,
education, training, experience, and credentials acquired while in military
service, including by reviewing licensure and educational credit programs to
identify ways that military training and experience can be counted or
credited.
5. Every agency,
department, office, division and public authority of this State shall cooperate
with the Council and furnish such information and assistance, including use of
State facilities, that is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of
this Order.
6. No member of the
Commission shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment,
nor shall he or she forfeit any such office or employment by virtue of his or
her appointment hereunder.
B. Duties of the Council
1. The Council is charged with making
recommendations for a comprehensive State strategy to accomplish the following:
a. Increase public awareness of the needs of
veterans, military members and their families and the value that veterans,
military members, and their families offer communities;
b. Conduct education and outreach programs to
ensure that veterans, military members and their families are aware of
available resources and services to help them address physical health, mental
health and substance abuse problems;
c. Properly identify veterans, military
members and their families and ensure that they are aware of and have access to
available benefits and services;
d.
Identify and eliminate barriers to the prompt and accurate diagnosis of
physical disabilities, medical conditions, mental illness and substance abuse
disorders affecting veterans, military members and their families;
e. Improve access to education and employment
opportunities for veterans, military members and their families;
f. Encourage the development of a viable
referral network, including peer-to-peer systems;
g. Maximize the resources available to help
veterans, military members and their families address physical disabilities,
medical conditions, mental illness and substance abuse disorders, including
funding and services available through federal, state, local and
non-governmental sources;
h.
Coordinate resources and services available for veterans, military members and
their families that address physical disabilities, medical conditions, mental
illness and substance abuse disorders resulting from active duty to maximize
efficiency and effectiveness of those services;
i. Identify and address barriers to licensure
facing veterans, military members and their families as they seek
employment;
j. Explore strategies
to ensure that educational credit programs appropriately count military
training and experience; and
k.
Develop and strengthen public-private partnerships to improve the lives of
veterans, military members and their families.
2. The Chair may establish an advisory body
comprising representatives of a broad range of interests relating to the
well-being of veterans, military members and their families to assist the
Council in its work. Membership of such advisory body should reflect the
diversity of the military members, veterans and their families in New York
State.
3. The Council shall issue
reports to the Governor of its activities, findings and recommendations in
furtherance of the purposes of this Order from time to time as directed by the
Governor or the Governor's designee.
