NY Exec L § 353-A (2021)
2021 New York Laws EXC - Executive Article 17 - Veterans' Services 353-A - Veteran Speaker Education Program.

§  353-a.  Veteran  speaker  education  program.  1.  There  is hereby   established within the division a veteran speaker education  program  to   be  developed  and  implemented by the director in consultation with the   director of the New York state military  museum  and  veterans  resource   center  and  in  accordance  with  the  provisions of this section. Such   program shall provide school districts within this state with a  listing   of  available  veteran  speakers  willing  to  visit  classrooms for the   purpose of discussing their military experience.2. The division,  from  its  available  resources,  shall  develop  an   informational   pamphlet   to   be   distributed   either   by  mail  or   electronically to school districts which provides a general overview  of   the  program  including its purpose and how to participate. The division   shall,  in  consultation   with   congressionally   chartered   veterans   organizations and local veterans services agencies, appoint and create a   listing  of  veteran  speakers coordinators for each county of the state   who shall be listed in the informational pamphlet. The veteran  speakers   coordinators'  duties  shall  include  but  not be limited to contacting   veterans  who  reside  in  their  county  including   those   who   have   participated in the veteran's oral history program at the New York state   military  museum  or the West Point oral history project or the veterans   history project of the American Folklore  Center  or  any  similar  oral   history  project with information about this program and inquiring as to   whether such persons would be willing to participate as speakers  or  in   any  other  capacity.  The  listing  shall include the names and contact   information for such veterans including information describing the  type   of  military  service performed by each such person, the time and length   of service, geographic area or areas where such person served and  rank.   The veteran speakers coordinators shall annually update such information   regarding the availability of such veterans.3.  No  teacher  or  veteran  shall be required to participate in this   program. Any teacher who wishes  to  supplement  his  or  her  classroom   instruction concerning a particular era in American military history may   contact  a  participating veteran personally to request that such person   visit a classroom to discuss his or her military experience.  A  teacher   shall  be  responsible  for  ascertaining  the  appropriateness  of  any   proposed speaker based upon the age of the  children  and  the  intended   subject  matter.  Nothing in this section shall be intended to supersede   any particular or general school rules  or  regulations  or  other  laws   relating to curriculum.4.  The  division  shall  require  a  certified  copy of the veteran's   discharge papers to participate in the  veteran  speaker  program.  Such   form  shall  be  filed  with the division to serve as evidence that such   person is a veteran who served in the United States military honorably.5. The division shall implement a procedure for  evaluations  of  each   speaker  to  be  completed  by  teachers and students, and maintain such   evaluations and make them available upon request to other  teachers  who   plan to participate.6.  The division may consult with other veterans organizations and any   branch of the U.S. military in the development of this program.