Senate Passes Legislation to Help Disabled Veterans

The following is a press release from Senator Greg Ball's Office:

The New York State Senate today passed legislation (S.2423),
sponsored by Senator Gregory R. Ball (R-C, Pawling), that would give
greater access to state contracts to veterans who were disabled during
their service.

This bill would codify for New York an identical and highly
successful program adopted for federal contracting.  Given the increase in
the number of veterans and disabled veterans due to recent overseas
conflicts, this bill would provide a small measure of recognition that this
group of selfless men and women deserve.

“We must strengthen opportunities in state contracting for
service-disabled veteran owned small businesses,” said Senator Greg Ball
who currently Chairs the Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security
and Military Affairs.“The extraordinary service rendered to our nation by
veterans returning with injuries incurred or aggravated in the line of duty
during active service with the armed services is worthy of providing a
contract preference to all service-disabled veteran businesses. With the
number of returning veterans suffering with ailments like traumatic brain
injury, this bill would provide a small measure of recognition and support
that these heroes so fully deserve.”

 “Servicemen and women who are injured during their service deserve
our full support once they return to our communities,” said Majority Leader
Dean Skelos.  “Disabled veterans deserve an opportunity to participate in
obtaining contracts with state agencies for their small businesses.  This
legislation has been effective on the federal level and I am happy that we
are making similar initiatives on behalf of disabled veterans in New York
State.”

The legislation would require that state agencies provide the
opportunity for service-disabled veterans’ businesses to obtain state
contracts.  It would establish a goal of having small businesses owned by
service-disabled veterans to comprise a minimum of 3 percent of the
agency’s contracts.  The bill also details the implementation and reporting
standards to help state agencies comply with the requirement, and task
various commissioners, deputy commissioners, and the Attorney General with
supporting the implementation of this preference.

The bill has been sent to the Assembly.