Agency Mission

The Division of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) assists, counsels and advocates for veterans, military personnel and their families. The Division coordinates with other State agencies, and the Federal Government on programs affecting veterans. The Agency operates through regional offices in Albany, Buffalo, Hauppauge and New York City.

Year-to-Year Change

The Executive requests $11,470,000 for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2001-02, a net decrease of $2,668,700 or 18 percent reduction from SFY 2000-01. Most of the decrease is attributed to the Executive's elimination of veteran's programs funded by the Legislature in SFY 2000-01.

Legislative Proposals

City and County Veterans' Service Agencies

The Executive requests $575,000 for the City and County Veterans' Service Agencies. The Assembly provides $1,000,000 in additional funding for this vital veteran program which provides entitlement information and advocacy assistance to military personnel, military veterans, and their dependents.

Blind Veterans Annuity Cost of Living Adjustment

Under Chapter 435 of the Laws of 2000 and effective October 1, 2000, visually impaired wartime veterans and their surviving spouses are eligible for a $1,000 annual annuity. This annuity amount reflects an increase of $500 from prior years. The Executive requests $3,400,000 in appropriation to support this program in SFY 2001-02. The Assembly Plan provides $30,000 in additional funding for Cost of Living Adjustment for this program. The adjustment would take effect on January 1, 2002.

Veterans' Outreach Centers

The provision of vital services to veterans and their families in the area of crisis intervention and treatment for special mental health disorders related to military experience is inadequate. In recognition of the importance of these services, the Assembly provides $600,000 in funding to community-based not-for-profit organizations that provide direct counseling services to veterans and their families.

Distant Learning Program For Severely Disabled Veterans

The New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) proposes to establish a college degree program that specifically seeks to address the specialized needs of severely disabled veterans including specially adapted courses as well as technological and human support and outcomes assessment. The Assembly supports this endeavor and provides $150,000 towards the development of this program. The NYIT will work with the New York State's Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) to create enabled environments for each veteran participating.

Transitional Housing For Homeless Veterans in New York City

Veterans are badly in need of basic services and necessities including shelter, nutrition, medical and psychological care. In order to foster the development of more shelter construction, the Assembly Plan directs the Division of Veterans' Affairs to establish with the appropriate state agencies a 25 to 35 unit model shelter to be constructed in New York City. The Assembly provides an initial amount of $25,000 for the planning and design phase of this program.

Temporary Commission on Military Heritage

The Assembly provides $35,000 to create a Temporary Commission on Military Heritage. The commission will examine, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning the permanent storage of New York State's historic collection of battle flags and siting a permanent display of replicas of the battle flags with attached space for rotating temporary displays of objects relating to New York's military heritage, which may be temporarily loaned to the heritage display by the entities and collections that own them. The temporary displays would be jointly operated by the New York State Museum and the Division of Military and Naval Affairs. The commission may examine and evaluate sites located in the New York State Capitol, Empire State Plaza, or any public contiguous site.

The commission, may use the staff and facilities of both the Department of Education and the Division of Veterans Affairs. The commission shall consist of appointments by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Temporary President of the Senate and representatives of the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of General Services, the director of the State Museum, the director of the State Archives, the adjutant general, and the director of Veterans' Affairs. The commission shall issue a final written report to the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the appointment of its members.

CITY AND COUNTY VETERANS SERVICES AGENCIES. VETERANS OUTREACH CENTERS. DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM FOR SEVERLY DISABLED VETERANS. TEMPORARY COMMISSION ON MILITARY HERITAGE. BLIND VETERANS ANNUITY PROGRAM - COLA. HOMELESS VETERANS - TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PLANNING.

$1,000,000 $600,000 $150,000 $35,000 $30,000 $25,000

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