N.Y. Veterans' Services Law § 29-b: Veterans' liaisons

§ 29-b. Veterans' liaisons. 1. As used in this section the term "state

agency" shall mean any department, board, bureau, division, commission,

council or committee within the executive branch.

2. Each state agency shall designate at least one employee to act as a

liaison with veterans within such agency or served by such agency. Such

liaison shall be funded from existing appropriations in each agency.

Upon designating a veterans' liaison, which shall be done within ninety

days, all state agencies shall inform the department in a form and

manner to be prescribed by the department. An employee designated to act

as a veterans' liaison must first complete an initial training provided

by appropriate staff designated by the department before assuming the

duties of a veterans' liaison. Thereafter all veterans' liaisons shall

annually receive supplemental trainings provided by the department. A

state agency may also, in consultation with the department, prescribe

such additional trainings for its veterans' liaisons as it deems

necessary and relevant to assisting veterans employed or served by the

agency.

3. Each state agency shall conspicuously post the name and contact

information of its current veterans' liaisons on its website and a

listing of all state agency veterans' liaisons shall be maintained by

the department and updated at least annually on its website.

4. The duties of a veterans' liaison may include but not be limited

to: (a) providing information and assistance to veterans regarding

benefits and services available to veterans at the liaison's agency or

other state agencies including the department; (b) ensuring active

communication, coordination and cooperation are maintained with members

of the public as well as other state and local agencies regarding the

agency's efforts to assist veterans; (c) advising agency staff as to how

to identify and address the unique needs of veterans within or served by

the agency; (d) informing veterans within the agency as to applicable

employee personnel policies; (e) promoting the recruitment, retention,

and professional development of veteran employees within the agency; and

(f) making efforts to identify veterans as defined in section one of

this article within or served by the agency on an annual basis.

5. Information received pursuant to this section will be provided to

the department. Information collected pursuant to this section shall be

protected under article six-A of the public officers law against

disclosure of confidential material and used only to determine the

number of veterans who are employed by or seeking services from the

state of New York.

6. The department shall develop guidelines and a best practices

document for veterans' liaisons in consultation with state agencies and

with input solicited from the veterans' liaisons designated by such

agencies. Further, the department shall include engagement with

veterans' liaisons as part of its efforts to develop collaborative

relationships with state agencies pursuant to subdivision thirty-seven

of section four of this article.

7. The annual report required by subdivision seventeen of section four

of this article shall contain a description of the department's

activities and collaborations with veterans' liaisons and any

recommendations of the department with respect to the veterans' liaisons

program established under this section.