STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4987 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 10, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. RAGA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to enacting the "New York veteran digital navigator program act" The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "New York veteran digital navigator program act". 3 § 2. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new section 4 29-c to read as follows: 5 § 29-c. New York veteran digital navigator program. 1. The state 6 commissioner shall establish a program to promote digital citizenship, 7 through which the state commissioner shall award grants to eligible 8 entities to enable those eligible entities to carry out the activities 9 described in subdivision three of this section. 10 2. An eligible entity seeking a grant under the program required by 11 subdivision one of this section shall submit to the state commissioner 12 an application therefor at such time, in such manner, and containing 13 such information as the state commissioner may require, including, at a 14 minimum the following: 15 (a) a description of the activities the eligible entity intends to 16 carry out with the grant funds; 17 (b) an estimate of the costs associated with such activities; and 18 (c) such other information and assurances as the state commissioner 19 may require. 20 3. An eligible entity shall use the amount of a grant awarded under 21 the program required by subdivision one of this section to carry out one 22 or more of the following activities to promote cybersecurity best prac- 23 tices and increase digital literacy among veterans: 24 (a) develop competencies in cybersecurity best practices; and 25 (b) develop digital citizenship competencies by promoting veterans': EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD02540-01-5
A. 4987 2 1 (1) research and information fluency; 2 (2) critical thinking and problem solving skills; 3 (3) technology operations and concepts; 4 (4) information and technological literacy; 5 (5) concepts of digital representation and stereotyping; 6 (6) understanding of explicit and implicit digital messages; 7 (7) understanding of values and points of view that are included and 8 excluded in digital content; 9 (8) understanding of how digital content may influence ideas and 10 behaviors; 11 (9) understanding how information on digital platforms can be altered 12 through algorithms, editing, and augmented reality; 13 (10) ability to create digital content in civically and socially 14 responsible ways; and 15 (11) understanding of influence campaigns conducted by foreign adver- 16 saries and the tactics employed by foreign adversaries for conducting 17 influence campaigns. 18 4. (a) Each recipient of a grant under the program required by subdi- 19 vision one of this section shall, not later than one year after the date 20 on which the recipient first receives funds pursuant to the grant, 21 submit to the state commissioner a report describing the activities the 22 recipient carried out using grant funds and the effectiveness of those 23 activities. 24 (b) Not later than ninety days after the date on which the state 25 commissioner receives the last report the state commissioner expects to 26 receive under paragraph (a) of this subdivision, the state commissioner 27 shall submit to the legislature a report describing the activities 28 carried out under this section and the effectiveness of those activ- 29 ities. 30 5. The state commissioner shall: 31 (a) establish and maintain a list of eligible entities that receive a 32 grant under the program required by subdivision one of this section, and 33 individuals designated by those eligible entities as participating indi- 34 viduals; and 35 (b) make that list available to those eligible entities and partic- 36 ipating individuals in order to promote communication and further 37 exchange of information regarding sound digital citizenship practices 38 among recipients of grants under the program required by subdivision one 39 of this section. 40 6. For the purposes of this section: 41 (a) "cybersecurity best practices" means practices and steps that 42 users of computers and other internet connected devices take to maintain 43 and improve online security, maintain the proper functioning of comput- 44 ers devices, and protect computers and devices from cyberattacks and 45 unauthorized use; 46 (b) "digital citizenship" means the ability to: 47 (1) safely, responsibly, and ethically use communication technologies 48 and digital information technology tools and platforms; 49 (2) create and share media content using principles of social and 50 civic responsibility and with awareness of the legal and ethical issues 51 involved; and 52 (3) participate in the political, economic, social, and cultural 53 aspects of life related to technology, communications, and the digital 54 world by consuming and creating digital content, including media; 55 (c) "eligible entity" means:
A. 4987 3 1 (1) a civil society organization, including community groups, nongov- 2 ernmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, 3 indigenous groups, charitable organizations, professional associations, 4 and foundations; and 5 (2) congressionally chartered veterans' service organizations. 6 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 7 it shall have become a law.