N.Y. Veterans' Services Law § 31: Legislative findings

§ 31. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that it is

estimated that over the next five years, forty-four thousand veterans

are expected to return to this state from their military posts, making

the Empire State home to one of the largest veteran populations in the

country. Shockingly, the unemployment rate for Post-9/11 veterans in New

York was 10.7% in two thousand twelve, which is nearly one percent

higher than the national average and higher than the state's overall

8.2% unemployment rate. The legislature has found previously that it is

in the interest of the state to ensure that returning veterans have

employment opportunities available upon their separation from military

service.

The state already encourages private businesses to hire military

veterans through tax credits and other economic incentives. In addition,

the legislature has previously found that state agencies spend millions

of dollars annually on temporary staff hired from temporary employment

service companies to cover temporary staffing needs. These temporary

state jobs could serve as a bridge for recently discharged military

veterans who have yet to find full-time permanent work. In addition,

these temporary assignments could serve to develop the next generation

of the state workforce and help with succession planning for the current

workforce.

The legislature declares it to be the policy of this state to use

veterans for temporary appointments in state agencies rather than

utilizing temporary employment service companies in order to provide

employment opportunities for returning military veterans.