Expands the definition of veteran to include members of the United States public health service to provide such members with access to the same benefits as members of the United States armed forces.
Requires the department of veterans' services to provide legal and/or technical support to veterans who want to change such veteran's discharged status to honorable because such person was dishonorably or administratively discharged from the armed services due to sexual orientation.
Enacts the "New York veteran digital navigator program act"; requires the state commissioner of the department of veterans' services to establish a program to promote digital citizenship, through which the state commissioner shall award grants to eligible entities.
Directs the division of veterans' services to establish a searchable database of veteran-owned businesses; requires the use of a special mark to indicate service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Extends eligibility for real property tax exemptions to veterans who served on a submarine or on classified missions during a period of war as documented by military service records.
Provides that individuals requesting and obtaining a veteran notation on such individual's driver's license or non-driver identification card shall be advised that the department of veterans' services and local veterans' service agencies provide assistance to veterans regarding benefits under federal and state law.
Establishes the "New York's Own combat veterans healthcare choice program act" to establish tax free savings accounts to pay the healthcare costs of combat veterans on active duty during Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, until covered by the federal government; directs the division of military and naval affairs to establish a registry of Afghanistan and Iraq veterans.
Allows veterans with a service-connected disability or Purple Heart free use of parks and campsites; provides that such disability shall be 10 percent service-connected or greater.
Directs the department of veterans' services to establish and operate an electronic database of the number of openings in each of the 4 state veterans' homes and the number of persons on the waiting list for each such veterans' home.
Creates a veterans' clearinghouse for purposes of identifying veterans eligible for benefits; requires the division of veterans' affairs to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the US department of veterans' affairs that allows sharing of information; requires entities of the state and political subdivisions thereof to report information regarding veterans receiving aid to the clearinghouse; provides that such entities make such reports on a quarterly basis; provides that disclosure of any information held by the clearinghouse comply with article 6-A of the public officers law; provides that collection and maintenance of such information comply with HIPAA; provides that the director of veterans' affairs shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the clearinghouse.
Requires the department of veterans' services to establish and maintain, in consultation and collaboration with other state agencies, a searchable database on the department's website providing resources available in the state for veterans, members of the uniformed services, and their families.