N.Y. Veterans' Services Law § 14: Local veterans' service agencies

§ 14. Local veterans' service agencies. 1. County veterans' service

agencies. There shall be established a county veterans' service agency

in each county not wholly included within a city, and there shall be a

county director of each county veterans' service agency. Any county

director hired after the effective date of this chapter shall be a

veteran as defined in New York state statute. The chair of the board of

supervisors of a county, with the approval of the board of supervisors,

shall appoint and may at pleasure remove a county director of the county

veterans' service agency for such county. In a county having a county

president, a county executive or other chief executive officer, such

president or executive officer shall appoint and may at pleasure remove

a county director. The county director may be paid such compensation as

shall be fixed by the appointing officer and the board of supervisors.

The county director shall appoint such assistants and employees as he or

she may deem necessary, other than those, if any, supplied by the state;

he or she may prescribe the duties of those appointed by him or her and

fix their salaries within the appropriations made available for that

purpose by the county and may at pleasure remove any such assistants or

employees. The county director shall have jurisdiction throughout the

territorial limits of the county, including any city therein which does

not have a city veterans' service agency, provided that after the

establishment of a city veterans' service agency in any such city, the

county director shall not have jurisdiction within such city.

2. City veterans' service agency. There may be established a city

veterans' service agency in each city; and there shall be a city

director of each city veterans' service agency which is established. The

mayor of such city, or the city manager in a city of less than one

hundred forty thousand population having a city manager, shall appoint

and may at pleasure remove the city director. A city director may be

paid such compensation as shall be fixed by the mayor or city manager,

as the case may be, empowered to appoint the city director, and the

governing body of the city. The city director may appoint such deputies,

assistants and employees as he or she may deem necessary other than

those, if any, supplied by the state; the director may prescribe the

duties of those appointed by him or her and fix their salaries within

the appropriations made available for that purpose by the city and may

at pleasure remove any such assistant or employee. A city director shall

have jurisdiction throughout the territorial limits of the city.

3. Accreditation. (a) Current county or city directors within three

years from the effective date of this subdivision shall take all steps

necessary to be accredited as a veterans service organization (VSO)

representative. Accreditation shall mean the authority granted by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans and

their family members in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution

of claims for benefits pursuant to section 5902 of Title 38 U.S.C. and

section 14.628 of Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations. Once an

application for accreditation is approved by the General Counsel of the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the applicant is

notified of this action, the director of the county or city veterans

service agency shall file a copy of the accreditation certificate from

the appropriate veterans service organization with the commissioner of

the department. Such accreditation shall be maintained during the

duration of his or her status as a director of such county or city

veterans service agency. The commissioner of the department may

determine that satisfactory completion of a course or instruction on

veterans' benefits approved by the United States Department of Veterans

Affairs and conducted by the department may fulfill the requirements of

this subdivision.

(b) Any county or city director hired after the effective date of this

chapter shall take all steps necessary to be accredited as a veterans

service organization (VSO) representative within eighteen months of such

appointment. Accreditation shall mean the authority granted by the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs to assist veterans and

their family members in the preparation, presentation, and prosecution

of claims for benefits pursuant to section 5902 of Title 38 U.S.C. and

section 14.628 of Title 38 Code of Federal Regulations. Once an

application for accreditation is approved by the General Counsel of the

United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the applicant is

notified of this action, the director of the county or city veterans

service agency shall file a copy of the accreditation certificate from

the appropriate veterans service organization with the commissioner of

the department. Such accreditation shall be maintained during the

duration of his or her status as a director of such county or city

veterans service agency. The commissioner of the department may

determine that a satisfactory completion of a course of instruction on

veterans' benefits approved by the United States Department of Veterans

Affairs and conducted by the department may fulfill the requirements of

this subdivision.

(c) During the time a director is working toward accreditation

pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subdivision, such individual

may provide services to veterans and their family members as defined in

section fifteen of this article other than the preparation,

presentation, and prosecution of claims for benefits under federal

statutes and regulations.