Photo Courtesy of Sen. Addabbo
Sen. Addabbo is a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs.
By Forum Staff
Albany’s Upper Chamber recently approved a package of bills to support the well-being and success of the U.S. veteran community, Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) noted on Friday.
These bills, according to Addabbo, will assist veterans with education, housing, employment, business opportunities and support, while also ensuring they continue to receive recognition for defending the country.
The package of bills passed by the Senate includes:
S.2918A (Addabbo bill) – Establishes a real property tax exemption for veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability; Delivered to Assembly Real Property Taxation for consideration
S.2291 – Requires the state university of NY (SUNY) and the city university of NY (CUNY) to examine and conduct a study on the availability of campus services, programs and resources for veterans; Delivered to Assembly Higher Education for consideration
S.2680A – Allows the granting of academic credit at state operated institutions (SUNY & CUNY) to veterans; Delivered to Assembly Higher Education for consideration
S.3945 – Expands public housing eligibility to veterans and their surviving spouses, who served or are serving from September 14, 2001 to December 31, 2020. It further requires public housing authorities to grant preference to eligible veterans or families of veterans who have a military service-related disability; Delivered to Assembly Housing for consideration
S.4069A (Addabbo bill) – Creates a voluntary contribution on the state personal income tax return for congressional chartered veterans service organizations; Delivered to Assembly Ways and Means for consideration
S.666A – Requires the Division of Military and Naval Affairs to provide information on benefits for members of the National Guard and their family in both printed form and on the Division’s website; Passed both houses, awaiting Governor’s approval
S.1504 – Waives business incorporation fees for veterans within 5 years of being honorably discharged from military service, receiving confirmation of a qualifying condition from NYS Division of Veterans’ Services (DVS), or receiving confirmation of their status as a discharged LGBT Veteran from DVS pursuant to the Restoration of Honor Act, so that they will face fewer administrative and financial barriers when starting and growing their own business when their military service is complete; Delivered to Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions for consideration
S.1961B (Addabbo Co-sponsor) – Directs the Department of Labor to create a standardized workplace posting that includes basic information about veterans’ benefits and services. Employers are required to display this posting in an area accessible to employees; Passed both houses, awaiting Governor’s approval
S.1373 (Addabbo Co-sponsor) – Requires courts overseeing custody matters to review a childcare plan submitted by the parent prior to their deployment or anticipated time away from home, providing needed stability to military families; Delivered to Assembly Judiciary for consideration
S.9037 (Addabbo Co-sponsor) – Allows veterans who have purchased military service credit in the NYS and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) to attribute this credit to the NYS Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP) service credit; Delivered to Assembly Governmental Employees for consideration
S.7068A (Addabbo Co-sponsor) – Enables certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprises to access the Excelsior Linked Deposit program which offers reduced rate financing for investments to expand and grow while having a better chance to obtain government procurement contracts; Passed both houses, awaiting governor’s approval
S.8729 – Directs the Division of Veterans’ Services to develop a veterans memorial registry to create a searchable database of the military memorials located in the State of NY; Passed both houses, awaiting governor’s signature.
