N.Y.
Veterans' Services Law Section 29-D
Staff sergeant Alex R
1.
For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(a)
“Uniformed service member” shall mean a member of the army, navy, air force, space force, marine corps, coast guard, public health service commissioned corps, or national oceanic and atmospheric administration commissioned officer corps serving on active duty.(b)
“The program” shall mean the staff sergeant Alex R. Jimenez military immigrant family legacy program.(c)
“Liaison” shall mean an employee of the office for new Americans designated by the director of the office for new Americans, an employee of the division of military and naval affairs designated by the adjutant general, and an employee of the department designated by the commissioner, to serve as a military immigrant family legacy program liaison pursuant to subdivision three of this section.(d)
“Veteran” shall have the same meaning as such term is defined in § 1 (Definitions)section one of this article and shall also include any veteran with a qualifying condition, as defined in § 1 (Definitions)section one of this article, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service, or is a discharged LGBT veteran, as defined in § 1 (Definitions)section one of this article, and has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from such service.(e)
“Intended recipients” shall mean uniformed service members, veterans, reserve component members and their spouse, domestic partner, mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, mother through adoption, father through adoption, or children, stepchildren, or adopted children. The term “intended recipients” shall also include the next-of-kin of an eligible uniformed service member, veteran or reserve component member who died as a result of injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by their service in the uniformed services, making a request for the grant of posthumous U.S. citizenship on behalf of such uniformed service member, veteran or reserve component member.(f)
“Reserve component members” shall mean those serving in the army reserve, navy reserve, marine corps reserve, the army national guard, the air national guard, or reserve corps of the public health service during the time the unit was federally recognized as a reserve component.2.
There is hereby established within the office for new Americans the staff sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York state military immigrant family legacy program. The commissioner and adjutant general shall designate one or more staff as liaisons to the office for new Americans who shall refer any intended recipient in need of assistance with an immigration matter to the office for new Americans. The office for new Americans shall designate one or more staff to be liaisons with the department and the division of military and naval affairs who shall coordinate such referrals from the department and the division of military and naval affairs and ensure the intended recipient is referred to existing office for new Americans programs, including, but not limited to, immigration legal service programs delivered by partnering community organization and immigration counsel. The primary purpose of the program shall be to assist intended recipients to secure legal immigration status in the United States, including but not limited to, citizenship.3.
The office for new Americans shall have the responsibility to:(a)
refer intended recipients in matters related to immigration status, to service providers.(b)
serve as liaison for the department and the division of military and naval affairs, local veterans’ service agencies, state agencies, community groups, advocates, and other veterans and military organizations and interested parties for the purpose of coordinating efforts to provide access to immigration services to intended recipients as specified in paragraph (a) of this subdivision.(c)
maintain a toll-free, multi-lingual hotline and website for purposes including, but not limited to, disseminating information and resources relating to the program as well as other federal, state, local and non-profit programs that may offer assistance to intended recipients in immigration matters.(d)
coordinate with the department and the division of military and naval affairs and otherwise marshal the resources of the state to serve the needs of intended recipients.(e)
share information about the program with congressionally chartered veterans’ organizations, and local veterans’ service agencies.4.
The liaisons appointed pursuant to subdivision two of this section shall jointly report the number of intended recipients referred to the office for new Americans through the program to the commissioner on January first each year following the first full year after the effective date of this section. The commissioner shall submit the report to the governor and the legislature by March first of each year.5.
For the purposes of this program, personally identifying information provided by intended recipients shall not be retained, disclosed, disseminated, or otherwise published or made available by the department, the division of military and naval affairs, or the office for new Americans. * NB Effective May 20, 2025
Source:
Section 29-D — Staff sergeant Alex R, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VET/29-D (updated Feb. 21, 2025; accessed Apr. 26, 2025).
