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S 9851

Expands the veterans' services commission

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Ashby and 1 co-sponsor

Expands the New York Veterans’ Services Commission from 13 to 15 voting members to broaden veteran representation and improve cross-agency coordination and transparency.

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Bill Summary · S 9851

Summary of Bill S. 9851 (2025-2026) – Expands the Veterans' Services Commission (New York)

Overview

  • Jurisdiction: New York
  • Bill Type: Amendment to the Veterans' Services Law
  • Introduced: April 8, 2026
  • Primary Purpose: Expand the membership of the New York State Veterans' Services Commission from 13 to 15 voting members, diversify appointing authority, clarify ex officio membership, and enhance transparency and coordination of veterans’ services across state agencies.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Strengthen governance and oversight of veterans' services in New York by broadening the commission, ensuring broader representation, and improving coordination across state agencies that touch veterans and military families.
  • Increase the pool of veterans’ service expertise and related professional experience guiding policy and program development.
  • Improve public accessibility of commission activities and information.

Key Provisions and Changes

Section 3: Veterans' Services Commission

  1. Membership Expansion

    • Increases the commission from 13 to 15 voting members.
    • Of the 15, at least 13 must be veterans.
    • Appointment structure (governor-appointed with specific recommendations):
      • Two members appointed on the recommendation of the Temporary President of the Senate.
      • One member appointed on the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate.
      • Two members appointed on the recommendation of the Speaker of the Assembly.
      • One member appointed on the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Assembly.
    • Vacancies: Appointments to fill vacancies serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
    • Compensation: Members do not receive salaries but are reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses.

  2. Appointment Considerations (Governor’s Considerations)

    • Possible nominees may come from:
      • Congressionally chartered veterans’ service organizations or other groups approved by the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. § 5902).
      • Governor may solicit nominations from these organizations with a state presence.
      • Directors or designees of local veterans’ service agencies.
      • Family members of veterans or service members.
      • Individuals with substantial training or experience in:
      • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
      • Health care (including mental health)
      • Education (higher, vocational, or adult)
      • Career and employment services or business management
      • Housing assistance and homelessness
      • Legal issues specific to veterans (e.g., VA benefits claims/appeals, veterans treatment courts)

  3. Ex Officio Members

    • Current ex officio members (Adjutant General, Commissioner of Health, Commissioner of Mental Health, Commissioner of Homes and Community Renewal, Commissioner of Labor, Commissioner of Education) remain ex officio members.
    • The state commissioner may appoint the head of any other state agency or their designee as a non-voting, ex officio member. Such appointments expire annually on December 31 unless renewed.

  4. Leadership

    • One member, including the Adjutant General, shall be designated as chairperson by the governor (in writing and filed with the commission).

  5. Meetings and Quorum

    • The commission must meet at least quarterly (or more often as called by the chair).
    • A majority of voting members constitutes a quorum.

  6. Powers and Duties

    • Assist the state commissioner in policy formulation affecting veterans and coordinate state agency operations related to veterans’ services.
    • Study issues affecting veterans, service members, and families.
    • Receive reports from the Department and other state agencies about veterans-related activities.
    • Submit an annual report of activities, policy, or legislative recommendations to the governor and the legislature by December 31 each year.

  7. Public Website and Transparency

    • The Department must maintain and regularly update a page about the commission, including:
      • List of members, terms, appointing/recommending official, and contact information.
      • Minutes and agendas of each meeting.
      • Other relevant information as deemed by the department or commission.

Section 2: Effective Date

  • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who Is Affected

  • Veterans and their families, through the governance and oversight of the state’s veterans’ services.
  • Members of congressionally chartered veterans’ organizations and other eligible groups involved in veteran affairs (as potential appointing bodies or nominees).
  • Local veterans' service agencies and their directors/designees (who may be considered for appointment).
  • State agencies involved with health, housing, education, labor, mental health, and other areas intersecting veteran needs (due to ex officio and coordination roles).

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Appointment process adds two Senate recommendations, balancing legislative input from both chambers, plus recommendations from the Assembly leaders.
  • Terms: Existing appointed members continue to serve until their current terms end; new appointments follow standard three-year terms.
  • Annual reporting and updated online transparency requirements align with ongoing governance and accountability.
  • Immediate effect: The act would take effect as soon as enacted.

Notes for Readers

  • The bill emphasizes veteran representation and multidisciplinary expertise (health, housing, education, legal, employment).
  • It enhances transparency by mandating an informative commission page with minutes and contact information.
  • It maintains current ex officio members while enabling potential new ex officio non-voting members, renewable annually.

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

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