Senate veterans committee reports six veterans-related bills to floor or finance committee

The Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs on March 17 moved six veterans-related bills out of committee, reporting some to the floor and others to the Finance Committee.

The chair opened the meeting and introduced S.1009, sponsored by Senator Brooke, which would amend the Veteran Services Law and the Public Health Law to allow a veteran’s close friend or family member reasonably familiar with the veteran’s wishes to request that the veteran be buried in a veterans cemetery. The clerk read the bill title; a motion was made, members responded "Aye," and the chair reported the bill to the floor.

The committee also advanced S.22071 (sponsored by Senator Garcellus Stanton), which would require the Department of Labor to create and maintain a state list of available careers and job listings for veterans. The clerk read the title, a motion was made and seconded, and the chair reported the bill to the floor.

S.2607 (sponsored by Senator Adabo) would amend the Tax Law to exempt certain veterans service organizations from taxes on sales of beer, wine and soda. After a brief question and a voice vote, the committee reported S.2607 to the Finance Committee for further consideration.

The committee moved S.4529 (sponsored by Senators Barcelos Banton), which would amend Military Law and the State Finance Law to provide legal assistance for military families; the bill was reported to the Finance Committee following a voice vote. The chair then introduced S.4530A (sponsored by Senator Sparcellus Stanton), which would amend the Public Authorities Law to exempt certain active-duty military members stationed at Fort Hamilton (Brooklyn) and Fort Wadsworth (Staten Island) who reside in cities of 1,000,000 or more from EZ Pass tolls on the Verrazano Narrows Bridge; that measure was also reported to Finance after a motion and voice vote.

Finally, S.6005 (sponsored by Senator Baskin) would establish a "hire-a-vet" grant program by amending the Veteran Services Law, with provisions scheduled for repeal upon expiration; the committee voted to report that bill to the Finance Committee.

Most actions in the meeting were voice votes recorded as "Aye," with no roll-call tallies read into the record. The meeting concluded after brief closing remarks and an adjournment motion.

What happens next: bills reported to the floor may receive further floor action; bills reported to Finance will proceed to that committee for additional review and potential fiscal analysis. Specific amendment text, funding amounts, effective dates and repeal timelines were not read into the record and therefore are not specified in this summary.