N.Y. Veterans' Services Law Section 15
Powers and duties of local veterans’ service agencies

* 1. A local veterans’ service agency shall have power under the direction of the state veterans’ service agency, and it shall be its duty to inform military and naval authorities of the United States and assist members of the uniformed services and veterans, who are residents of this state, and their families, in relation to (1) matters pertaining to educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health, medical and rehabilitation services and facilities, (3) provisions of federal, state and local laws and regulations affording special rights and privileges to members of the uniformed services and veterans and their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, including the employment of veterans with disabilities program under Civil Service Law § 55-C (Employment of veterans with disabilities by the state)section fifty-five-c of the civil service law, (5) the process of submitting an application for a discharge upgrade to the discharge upgrade advisory board, and

(6)

other matters of similar, related or appropriate nature. The local veterans’ service agency may also assist families of members of the reserve components of the uniformed services and the organized militia ordered into active duty to ensure that they are made aware of and are receiving all appropriate support available to them and are placed in contact with the agencies responsible for such support, including, but not limited to, the division of military and naval affairs and other state agencies responsible for providing such support. The local veterans’ service agency also shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the state commissioner. * NB Effective until March 19, 2026 * 1. A local veterans’ service agency shall have power under the direction of the state veterans’ service agency, and it shall be its duty to inform military and naval authorities of the United States and assist members of the uniformed services and veterans, who are residents of this state, and their families, in relation to (1) matters pertaining to educational training and retraining services and facilities, (2) health, medical and rehabilitation services and facilities, (3) provisions of federal, state and local laws and regulations affording special rights and privileges to members of the uniformed services and veterans and their families, (4) employment and re-employment services, including the employment of veterans with disabilities program under Civil Service Law § 55-C (Employment of veterans with disabilities by the state)section fifty-five-c of the civil service law, (5) the process of submitting an application for a discharge upgrade to the discharge upgrade advisory board, (6) volunteer opportunities at the department and volunteer fire departments or emergency services providers, and

(7)

other matters of similar, related or appropriate nature. The local veterans’ service agency may also assist families of members of the reserve components of the uniformed services and the organized militia ordered into active duty to ensure that they are made aware of and are receiving all appropriate support available to them and are placed in contact with the agencies responsible for such support, including, but not limited to, the division of military and naval affairs and other state agencies responsible for providing such support. The local veterans’ service agency also shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the state commissioner. * NB Effective March 19, 2026 2. A local veterans’ service agency shall utilize, so far as possible, the services and facilities of existing officers, offices, departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, institutions and other agencies of the state and of the political subdivisions thereof and all such officers and agencies shall cooperate with and extend such services and facilities to the local veterans’ service agency as it may require.

Source: Section 15 — Powers and duties of local veterans' service agencies, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/VET/15 (updated Dec. 26, 2025; accessed Jan. 31, 2026).

1
Definitions 2
Department of veterans’ services 3
Veterans’ services commission 3–A
Veterans employment task force 4
General functions, powers and duties of department 5
Veteran speaker education program 6
Cooperation and facilities of other departments 7
Information on status of veterans receiving assistance 8
New York state supplemental burial allowance for members of the uniformed services of the United States killed in combat or duty subject ... 9
New York state veteran burial fund 10
Time within which marriage may be solemnized 11
Use of personal confidential information obtained from veterans or family members of veterans receiving services from the state and polit... 12
Acceptance of gifts 13
State veterans’ service agency 14
Local veterans’ service agencies 15
Powers and duties of local veterans’ service agencies 16
Location and cost of local veterans’ service agencies 17
Local veterans’ service committees 18
Appropriations for expenses and activities of local veterans’ service agencies 19
Women veterans coordinator 20
Women veterans advisory committee 21
Creation of annuity 22
Evidence of entitlement 23
Persons who may receive annuity 24
New York state veterans’ cemeteries 25
Veterans health screening 26
Payment to immediate family members of veterans 27
Cremated remains of a veteran 28
New York state silver rose veterans service certificate 29
Intake forms for admission and residency 29–A
Loan counseling for mortgages guaranteed by the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 29–A*2
Veterans memorial registry 29–B
Veterans’ liaisons 29–C
Veteran maternity care 29–D
Staff sergeant Alex R 29–E
Protecting veterans from fraud and unaccredited representatives
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Jan. 31, 2026

Last modified:
Dec. 26, 2025

§ 15. Powers & duties of local veterans' service agencies's source at nysenate​.gov

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