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Bill

A 5080

Authorizes the department of veterans' affairs to provide eligible veterans with financial assistance for purchasing, training and the upkeep of service dogs and emotional support dogs

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick and 2 co-sponsors

The bill would create a New York program under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide financial assistance for purchasing, training, and upkeep of service and emotional sup

REFERRED TO VETERANS' AFFAIRS
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Bill Summary · A 5080

Summary of Assembly Bill A 5080 (2025)

Overview

Bill A 5080 would authorize the New York Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide eligible veterans with financial assistance for the purchase, training, and upkeep of service dogs and emotional support dogs. The bill was introduced on February 12, 2025 and is currently REFERRED TO THE VETERANS' AFFAIRS committee. The primary sponsor is Assemblymember Pamela J. Hunter, with cosponsors Chris Burdick and Steven Raga.

What the bill would do

  • Establish a program under the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to provide financial assistance to eligible veterans for:
    • Purchasing service dogs or emotional support dogs.
    • Training costs associated with those dogs.
    • Ongoing upkeep costs, which may include items such as food, veterinary care, grooming, and related supplies.
  • The bill designates the department as the administrator of this financial assistance program.

Eligibility and beneficiaries

  • The bill uses the term “eligible veterans” but does not provide the specific criteria within the information available. The full text would define who qualifies (e.g., veterans with certain service-connected conditions, enrollment in benefits, or other criteria set by the department).

Administration, funding, and oversight

  • The department of veterans’ affairs would administer the program. Details on funding levels, applicant caps, permissible uses, and reimbursement versus direct payments are not provided in the available text.
  • Any reporting, annual appropriations, or oversight requirements would be specified in the bill’s text and implementing regulations; those details are not included here.

Timeline and procedural posture

  • Introduced: February 12, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Veterans’ Affairs committee. The bill has also appeared in related “referred” actions on the same date in the provided record.

Sponsorship and related measures

  • Primary sponsor: Pamela J. Hunter.
  • Cosponsors: Chris Burdick and Steven Raga.
  • Related bills from prior sessions include S 7568, S 20, S 7033, A 7852, and A 3149, indicating ongoing interest in veterans’ animal assistance across sessions.

Potential impact and considerations

  • For veterans: Could improve access to trained service or emotional support dogs, potentially enhancing independence, mental health, and quality of life.
  • For service animal providers and veterinary/training communities: Could create a formal funding stream and eligibility pathway.
  • Fiscal implications: The program would require ongoing funds; specifics (amounts, caps, duration) depend on the enacted text and future appropriations.
  • Implementation questions: How “eligible veterans” are defined; whether assistance is in the form of grants, reimbursements, or direct payments; permissible expenses; duration of support; and any program reporting requirements.

Next steps

  • Await the full bill text to review exact definitions, funding mechanisms, caps, and administrative rules.
  • Monitor committee action and any amendments that clarify eligibility, funding, and implementation timelines.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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