NY Exec L § 361-C (2021)
2021 New York Laws EXC - Executive Article 17 - Veterans' Services 361-C - Women Veterans Advisory Committee.

* §  361-c.  Women  veterans advisory committee. 1. The women veterans advisory committee is hereby created consisting of eight  members,  with members  appointed  as follows: (a) two members by the governor; (b) two members by the temporary president of the senate; (c) two members by the speaker of the assembly; and (d) one member each by the minority  leader of  the  senate  and  the minority leader of the assembly. All appointed members must be women, and veterans who  served  in  the  United  States armed  forces  including  members of the reserve component. Each veteran shall  have  received  an  honorable  discharge  or  have  a  qualifying condition as defined in section three hundred fifty of this article.   2. In making appointments pursuant to subdivision one of this section, the following shall be considered:  (a)  whether  the  appointments provide a geographical balance between the urban and rural areas of  this  state  and  represent  the  cultural diversity of this state; and  (b) the level of activity of the woman in the veteran community.   3. The committee shall elect a chair from among its members.   4. Each member of the committee shall serve a term of four years.   5. A vacancy on the committee shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.   6.  The  committee shall meet at least four times per year at the call of the chair.   7. A majority of the members of the committee appointed constitutes  a quorum.   8. Each member of the committee:  (a) serves without compensation, except that a member of the committee who  is a state officer or employee may receive her regular compensation while engaging in the business of the committee; and  (b) while engaged in the business of the  committee,  is  entitled  to receive  the  per  diem allowance and travel expenses provided for state officers and employees generally.   9. The committee shall:  (a) support and assist the division  of  veterans'  services  and  the women veterans coordinator pursuant to section three hundred sixty-one-b of this article in:  (i)  locating, educating and advocating for all women veterans in this state;  (ii) identifying the unique needs of women veterans;  (iii)  conducting  outreach  and  education  through  various   means, including,  without  limitation,  the  organization  of  statewide women veterans events, the promotion of benefits and  health  care  for  women veterans  and the development of programs that inform students, business leaders and educators about the important role women play in  the  armed forces of the United States;  (iv)  educating  women  veterans  as to benefits and programs that are available to them;  (v) at least annually, making such recommendations as  may  be  deemed necessary  or  advisable  to  the  governor,  the state legislature, the office of the director of the division of veterans'  services  and  such other offices of this state as may be appropriate;  (vi)   making   information   available   regarding   job  and  career opportunities;  (vii) providing outreach regarding available  resources  for  veterans with a qualifying condition as defined in section three hundred fifty of this article; and  (viii)  advocating  on  behalf  of  women  veterans to ensure that the programs and policies of this state and of the United States  department  of veterans' affairs remain open to women and mindful of the elements of the experience of a veteran that are unique to women.  (b)  submit  a  report  on  or before February fifteenth of each year, outlining the activities of the committee during the preceding  calendar year  and  any  recommendations  of  the  committee  to the governor and legislature. The report must include,  without  limitation,  information pertaining to:  (i) the demographics of women veterans;  (ii) the current contributions that women veterans have made on behalf of the United States and this state;  (iii) the unique needs of the population of women veterans;  (iv)  recommendations  regarding  what steps should be taken to reduce misinformation and improve support for programs for women veterans; and  (v) outreach activities undertaken by the committee.   10.  The  division  of  veterans'  services  shall  help  support  the committee's activities.   * NB Effective March 11, 2022