Committee on Veterans

The proposed bill would require an annual report from the department of housing preservation and development on the amount of veterans applying for housing in city-run Mitchell-Lama developments, the amount of veterans being selected for occupancy, and the documentary requirements and safeguards in place to ensure that applicants benefiting from a veteran preference are in fact veterans.

This bill would provide that the primary residence of any seriously disabled veteran shall be fully exempt from taxation and special district charges, assessments and special ad valorem levies, provided that such veteran meets all other applicable requirements of section 458-a of the real property tax law.

This bill would amend the membership of the Street Vendor Advisory Board to include the Commissioner of Veterans’ Services or their designee, and to increase the number of Speaker-appointed members to 7, to include a representative of the veteran community. This bill would also require the Department of Veterans’ Services to post on its website information related to resources and support for veteran vendors.

This bill would establish an LGBTQ liaison within the department of veterans’ services. The liaison would be tasked with conducting outreach to LGBTQ veterans, coordinating the department’s assistance with discharge characterization upgrades for LGBTQ veterans, and connecting LGBTQ veterans with programs and services offered by the department of veterans’ services and other relevant agencies. The bill would also require the department to issue an annual report related to assistance for LGBTQ veterans.

This bill would waive the $200 annual permit fee for mobile food unit commissaries that reserve at least one space for a veteran vendor.

This bill would require the Commissioner of Veterans' Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene, to conduct a one-year feasibility study on implementing a pilot program to provide Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories therapy to Veterans residing in the city. The study would evaluate whether this therapy is recommended for Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other psychological disorders, estimate how many Veterans could benefit from such a program, analyze the costs of implementation, evaluate potential funding sources or partnerships, and determine whether the pilot program should proceed based on the findings. Within six months after completing the study, the Commissioner would develop recommendations on the feasibility and advisability of implementing the pilot program, submit such recommendations to the Mayor and the Speaker, and post such recommendations on the department's website.