<STYLE><!--U {color: Green}S {color: RED} I {color: DARKBLUE; background-color:yellow} P.brk {page-break-before:always}--></STYLE> <BASEFONT SIZE=3> <PRE WIDTH="99"> <FONT SIZE=5><B> STATE OF NEW YORK</B></FONT> ________________________________________________________________________ 6559--A 2025-2026 Regular Sessions <FONT SIZE=5><B> IN ASSEMBLY</B></FONT> March 6, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. BENEDETTO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, in relation to the estab- lishing a veterans' bill of rights <B><U>The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-</U></B> <B><U>bly, do enact as follows:</U></B> 1 Section 1. The veterans' services law is amended by adding a new 2 section 29-e to read as follows: 3 <B><U>§ 29-e. Veterans' bill of rights. 1. The department shall establish,</U></B> 4 <B><U>print, publish and distribute a veterans' bill of rights. Such bill of</U></B> 5 <B><U>rights shall include the following or substantially similar text:</U></B> 6 <B><U>"VETERANS' BILL OF RIGHTS</U></B> 7 <B><U>You as a veteran have a right:</U></B> 8 <B><U>1. To apply for veterans' benefits;</U></B> 9 <B><U>2. To receive assistance from your local state veterans' service agen-</U></B> 10 <B><U>cy and all offices of the New York state department of veterans'</U></B> 11 <B><U>services;</U></B> 12 <B><U>3. To receive an explanation of the services and benefits available</U></B> 13 <B><U>under federal and New York state laws, rules and regulations;</U></B> 14 <B><U>4. To receive written notice and an explanation of the approval or</U></B> 15 <B><U>denial of your application for benefits available under New York state</U></B> 16 <B><U>law;</U></B> 17 <B><U>5. To be treated with dignity and respect;</U></B> 18 <B><U>6. To appeal any adverse determination or denial of your application</U></B> 19 <B><U>for services or benefits available under New York state law;</U></B> 20 <B><U>7. To expect confidentiality;</U></B> 21 <B><U>8. To receive fair and equal treatment without regard to sex, race,</U></B> 22 <B><U>religion, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or national origin; and</U></B> 23 <B><U>9. To be informed of assistance provided to veterans in the state of</U></B> 24 <B><U>New York including but not limited to: legal services; educational</U></B> EXPLANATION--Matter in <B><U>italics</U></B> (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [<B><S> </S></B>] is old law to be omitted. LBD09703-03-5 </PRE><P CLASS="brk"><PRE WIDTH="99"> A. 6559--A 2 1 <B><U>opportunities; tax benefits, including real property and personal taxes;</U></B> 2 <B><U>and New York state driver's license and non-driver identification</U></B> 3 <B><U>cards."</U></B> 4 <B><U>2. The department shall make the veterans' bill of rights available on</U></B> 5 <B><U>the department's website.</U></B> 6 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 7 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, 8 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation 9 of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 10 completed on or before such effective date.