Veterans Employment Task Force

Veterans Services Law, Article 1, § 3-a

1. There shall be in the department a task force on veterans employment opportunities which shall consist of the following thirteen members: the state commissioner, or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chair of the task force; the commissioner of the office of general services, or his or her designee; the president of the state civil service commission, or his or her designee; the commissioner of labor, or his or her designee; the adjutant general for the state of New York, or his or her designee; two members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be a representative from the private sector; two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one of whom shall be a representative from the private sector; two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one of whom shall be a representative from the private sector; one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.

2. No member of the task force shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any such office of employment by virtue of his or her appointment pursuant to this section.

3. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their functions pursuant to this section.

4. On an annual basis, the task force shall hold at least two public hearings. To the extent practicable, such hearings shall be held in different regions of the state. During the public hearings, the task force shall hear the testimony of voluntary witnesses, and may request the production of any documents which are subject to article six of the public officers law and that the task force deems reasonably necessary to carry out its responsibilities.

5. The task force shall issue a report no later than March thirty-first, two thousand twenty-four, and every two years after such date, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly. Such report shall include but not be limited to:

(a) recommendations on the development of new methods and programs aimed at assisting the state’s veterans in finding and maintaining meaningful employment opportunities;

(b) an analysis of the current methods and programs;

(c) the impact on veterans employment by professional licensing;

(d) the impact of veterans contractor programs;

(e) the impact of tax credits and municipal grants for hiring unemployed veterans; and

(f) any private sector initiatives.

518-474-6114

[email protected]

The Veterans Employment Task Force is a designated body within the department tasked with facilitating employment opportunities for veterans. Comprising thirteen members, including key representatives from governmental entities and private sector stakeholders, the Task Force convenes regularly to deliberate on strategies aimed at bolstering veterans' access to gainful employment. It conducts periodic public hearings, seeks testimonies from voluntary witnesses, and may request pertinent documents under the purview of the public officers law to effectively discharge its duties.

The task force shall issue a report no later than March thirty-first, two thousand twenty-four, and every two years after such date, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly. Such report shall include but not be limited to:

(a) recommendations on the development of new methods and programs aimed at assisting the state’s veterans in finding and maintaining meaningful employment opportunities;

(b) an analysis of the current methods and programs;

(c) the impact on veterans employment by professional licensing;

(d) the impact of veterans contractor programs;

(e) the impact of tax credits and municipal grants for hiring unemployed veterans; and

(f) any private sector initiatives.

Members of the Veterans Employment Task Force serve on a volunteer basis. They can, however, receive reimbursement from the State for approved expenses incurred in the commission of their duties (e.g., approved travel costs).

No fiscal expenses have been incurred this fiscal year as the Task Force has not yet met and none are expected to be incurred in the next fiscal year as these meetings are expected to be virtual.

This task force has not yet met. Future meeting minutes and agendas will be posted here.