NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4660A
SPONSOR: Cruz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the Alex
R. Jimenez New York state military immigrant family legacy program
PURPOSE OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to establish a program that shall assist the
foreign-born family members of New York State Veterans, discharged LGBT
Veterans, and currently serving service members, as well as non-citizen
service members or Veterans, to secure legal immigration status in the
United States, including but not limited to citizenship.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section (1) of the bill is the title clause, the executive law is
amended by adding a new section 354-f that establishes the Staff
Sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York state Military Immigrant Family Legacy
Program.
Subdivision 1 establishes the definitions used throughout the new
section of 354-f.
Subdivision 2 creates the Staff Sergeant Alex R. Jimenez New York State
Military Immigrant Family Legacy Program within the Division of Veter-
ans' Services and in conjunction with the Division of Military and Naval
Affairs. The purpose of the program is to assist foreign-born family
members of veterans and current service members in securing legal immi-
gration status in the United States by means including naturalization
and citizenship.
Subdivision 3 delegates the administrative responsibility of choosing
two program coordinators and outlines the coordinators' duties. Such
duties include identifying, developing, and organizing all statewide
programs to assist family members of veterans and current service
members obtain special immigration status, communication with the Direc-
tor of Veterans' Services and the Adjutant General to ensure policy and
regulation compliance, serving as a liaison between relevant departments
and organizations focusing on immigration and veteran services, facili-
tating in the naturalization services of those family members in coordi-
nation with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or
other appropriate agencies, advocating for equal application of these
services to all veterans and current service members, providing informa-
tion on this new program as well as developing pamphlets to disseminate
information and list the contributions of veterans and service members,
and preparing research reports on the unique needs of foreign-born
service members and veterans as a whole.
Subdivision 4 provides that coordinators shall submit an annual report
to the Director and the Adjutant General of the Division of Military
Affairs to describe their activities over the year and program develop-
ments. The Director and the Adjutant General of the Division of Military
and Naval Affairs will then submit that report or summary to the Gover-
nor, Speaker of the Assembly, and Temporary Six Presidents of the Senate
within one month of receiving the coordinator report.
Section 2 states that this act shall take effect immediately
JUSTIFICATION:
The difficult and dangerous work of those that are currently serving in
the military, as well as those who have served our country previously,
should be recognized and rewarded by the State and by the country as a
whole. Those who have and continue to serve in the armed forces display
patriotism and perseverance for the values of democracy that continue to
better our communities. As such, those that have served in the United
States Military and their families receive the proper recognition and
rights that they defended during their times of service. By providing an
efficient program to expedite the naturalization process for veterans
and current service members the State can properly acknowledge their
hard work both in and out of the country. Additionally, all veterans who
have completed their service to the United States, regardless of their
sexual orientation or immigration status, will be equally covered by
this program. By providing these services; New York State can thank its
service members and their family members in a meaningful and impactful
way.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
