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NY State Legislature· S8150-2025Signed by Governor

Enacts the governing unaccredited representatives defrauding (GUARD) VA benefits act, the official text

Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official source posted by the New York State Senate, fetched 2026-08-11. Nothing is edited or removed. Where this bill amends existing law, language marked for deletion in the official source appears here in brackets. The official bill page.
S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8150
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 15, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BYNOE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
   ty and Military Affairs
 
 AN ACT to amend the veterans' services law, the  general  business  law,
   the  penal law, and the state finance law, in relation to enacting the
   "governing unaccredited representatives defrauding (GUARD) VA benefits
   act"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "governing unaccredited representatives defrauding (GUARD) VA  bene-
 fits act".
   §  2.  The  veterans'  services law is amended by adding a new section
 29-e to read as follows:
   § 29-E. PROTECTING VETERANS  FROM  FRAUD  AND  UNACCREDITED  REPRESEN-
 TATIVES.
   1.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
 THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "UNACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVE" SHALL MEAN ANY  PERSON  LACKING  THE
 AUTHORITY GRANTED BY THE VA TO REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, AND ATTORNEYS TO
 ASSIST  CLAIMANTS  IN  THE PREPARATION, PRESENTATION, AND PROSECUTION OF
 CLAIMS FOR VA BENEFITS UNDER TITLE 38 OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  CODE  AND
 TITLE 38 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.
   (B) "VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED
 BY SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW.
   (C) "VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUDS" SHALL MEAN ANY TYPE OF CONSUMER
 FRAUD,  SCAM,  OR DECEPTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
 TO THOSE  USING  MAIL,  TELEVISION,  INTERNET,  TELEMARKETING,  RECORDED
 MESSAGE  TELEPHONE  CALLS COMMONLY KNOWN AS ROBOCALLS, SOLICITATIONS AND
 MARKETING THAT TARGET OR ADVERSELY AFFECT INTENDED RECIPIENTS  INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 59 OF TITLE 38 OF THE UNITED
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11765-02-5
 S. 8150                             2
 
 STATES  CODE  OR SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F OF THE GENERAL BUSI-
 NESS LAW.
   (D) "INTENDED RECIPIENTS" SHALL INCLUDE VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND
 THE FAMILY MEMBERS AND CAREGIVERS OF SUCH INDIVIDUALS.
   (E)  "ENTITY"  SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED BY SECTION THREE
 HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW.
   (F) "CLAIMANT" MEANS ANY INDIVIDUAL  APPLYING  FOR,  OR  SUBMITTING  A
 CLAIM FOR, ANY BENEFIT UNDER THE LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. SECRETARY
 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
   (G) "VA" MEANS THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
   2.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AN INFORMATIONAL OUTREACH PROGRAM
 TO RAISE AWARENESS OF VETERANS' BENEFITS  MATTER  FRAUDS.  SUCH  PROGRAM
 SHALL DISSEMINATE TO INTENDED RECIPIENTS:
   (A) GENERAL INFORMATION ON VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUDS, INCLUDING
 DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE MOST COMMON TYPES OF FRAUD, SCAMS AND OTHER DECEP-
 TIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES, AND MEASURES INTENDED RECIPIENTS  CAN  TAKE  TO
 PROTECT AGAINST SUCH VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUDS;
   (B)  INFORMATION  ON HOW TO REPORT VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUDS TO
 THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION,  THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  AND  OTHER
 APPROPRIATE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES;
   (C) GENERAL INFORMATION ON SEEKING REPRESENTATION IN A VETERANS' BENE-
 FITS MATTER, INCLUDING HOW TO VERIFY VA ACCREDITATION AND IDENTIFY UNAC-
 CREDITED  REPRESENTATIVES  AND BEST PRACTICES FOR SEEKING REPRESENTATION
 OR ASSISTANCE WITH A VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER;
   (D) INFORMATION ON WHEN AN ENTITY MAY LAWFULLY SEEK REASONABLE COMPEN-
 SATION OR FEES IN CONNECTION WITH A VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER;
   (E) PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION  ABOUT  ENFORCEMENT  ACTIONS  TAKEN
 AGAINST  UNACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVES AND ENTITIES ENGAGING IN VETERANS'
 BENEFITS MATTER FRAUDS TARGETING OR ADVERSELY AFFECTING INTENDED RECIPI-
 ENTS; AND
   (F) INFORMATION ON THE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES  AVAILABLE  TO  VICTIMS  OF
 VETERANS'  BENEFITS  MATTER  FRAUDS  TARGETING  OR  ADVERSELY  AFFECTING
 INTENDED RECIPIENTS.
   3. THE PROGRAM SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
   (A) PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS;
   (B) ESTABLISHMENT OF A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE HOTLINE AND  EMAIL  ADDRESS
 TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS REGARDING VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUDS TARGET-
 ING OR ADVERSELY AFFECTING INTENDED RECIPIENTS;
   (C)  MAINTAINING  A  PAGE  ON  THE  DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE TO SERVE AS A
 RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUDS THAT
 TARGET OR ADVERSELY AFFECT INTENDED RECIPIENTS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE  BUT
 NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (I)  WARNINGS  ABOUT POTENTIAL PREDATORY PRACTICES INCLUDING A WARNING
 ABOUT INDIVIDUALS WHO SEEK TO ACT IN VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 59 OF TITLE 38
 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE OR SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F  OF  THE
 GENERAL BUSINESS LAW;
   (II)  A LINK TO THE ONLINE TOOL OF THE VA THROUGH WHICH A CLAIMANT MAY
 REPORT AN INDIVIDUAL ACTING IN VIOLATION OF CHAPTER 59 OF  TITLE  38  OF
 THE  UNITED  STATES  CODE  OR  SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F OF THE
 GENERAL BUSINESS LAW;
   (III) A LINK TO THE ONLINE TOOL OF THE VA THROUGH WHICH A CLAIMANT MAY
 SEARCH FOR A RECOGNIZED AGENT, ATTORNEY, OR OTHER ENTITY  RECOGNIZED  BY
 THE  VA  FOR  THE PREPARATION, PRESENTATION, OR PROSECUTION OF ANY CLAIM
 UNDER LAWS ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND
   (IV) A LINK TO A WEBSITE OR AN ONLINE TOOL OF THE VA  PROVIDING  FINAL
 DECISIONS ON DISCIPLINE OF AGENTS, ATTORNEYS, AND ENTITIES, DESCRIBED IN
 S. 8150                             3
 
 SUBPARAGRAPH  (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, BY THE U.S. SECRETARY OF VETERANS
 AFFAIRS FOR VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 59 OF TITLE 38 OF  THE  UNITED  STATES
 CODE; AND
   (D)  PROVIDING  SEMINARS  THREE TIMES PER YEAR AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT
 THE STATE TO ADVISE INTENDED RECIPIENTS OF THE INFORMATION UNDER  SUBDI-
 VISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL COLLABORATE WITH RELEVANT STATE AGENCIES AND
 OFFICIALS  INCLUDING  THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION, THE SECRETARY
 OF STATE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, LOCAL DIRECTORS  AND  VETERANS'  SERVICE
 ORGANIZATIONS  TO  MONITOR  THE  MARKET  FOR  VETERANS'  BENEFITS MATTER
 FRAUDS, AND SHALL COORDINATE AND CONSULT WITH OTHER RELEVANT AGENCIES AS
 APPROPRIATE REGARDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION AND TO ENSURE THE
 LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUD IS  DISSEM-
 INATED TO INTENDED RECIPIENTS.
   5.  THE  COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND
 THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SHALL ESTABLISH STANDARD PROTOCOLS AND  PROCEDURES
 FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL VETERANS' SERVICE AGENCIES FOR
 HANDLING  ANY  COMPLAINTS OF VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER FRAUD THAT MAY BE
 REPORTED TO SUCH EMPLOYEES.
   6. A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM'S ACTIVITIES  AND  THE  COMMISSIONER'S
 RECOMMENDATIONS  TO  THE  LEGISLATURE  REGARDING  SUCH  PROGRAM SHALL BE
 INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED UNDER  SUBDIVISION  SEVENTEEN  OF
 SECTION FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE.
   §  3.  Paragraph  (a) of subdivision 2 of section 349-f of the general
 business law, as added by chapter 183 of the laws of 2019, is amended to
 read as follows:
   (a) No entity shall [receive compensation for  advising  or  assisting
 any party with] SOLICIT, CONTRACT FOR, CHARGE, OR RECEIVE, OR ATTEMPT TO
 SOLICIT,  CONTRACT FOR, CHARGE, OR RECEIVE, ANY FEE OR COMPENSATION WITH
 RESPECT TO any veterans' benefits  matter,  except  as  permitted  under
 title  38  of  the  United  States code and the corresponding provisions
 within title 38 of the United States code of  federal  regulations  WITH
 RESPECT  TO  VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTERS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES DEPART-
 MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, OR AS  PERMITTED  UNDER  STATE  LAW  OR  RULES
 ISSUED  BY THE COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS' SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO VETER-
 ANS' BENEFITS MATTERS BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' SERVICES.
   § 4. Paragraph a of subdivision 4 of  section  349-f  of  the  general
 business law, as added by chapter 183 of the laws of 2019, is amended to
 read as follows:
   (a)  Any violation of this section shall constitute a deceptive act in
 the conduct of business, trade, or commerce,  and  EXCEPT  AS  OTHERWISE
 PROVIDED  IN THIS SECTION, shall be subject to the provisions of section
 three hundred [forty nine] FORTY-NINE of  this  article,  including  any
 right  of  action  and  corresponding  penalties  described  within such
 section.
   § 5. Subdivision 4 of section 349-f of the  general  business  law  is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
   (C)  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE
 OF THIS ARTICLE TO THE CONTRARY:
   (I) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS HARMED BY AN ENTITY AS A RESULT OF  AN  ENTI-
 TY'S  VIOLATION  OF  THIS  SECTION MAY BRING AN ACTION IN THEIR OWN NAME
 AGAINST AN ENTITY TO ENJOIN SUCH UNLAWFUL ACT OR PRACTICE, AN ACTION  TO
 RECOVER  THEIR  ACTUAL DAMAGES OR TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, WHICHEVER
 IS GREATER, OR BOTH SUCH ACTIONS, IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDY AVAIL-
 ABLE IN LAW OR EQUITY. THE COURT MAY AWARD COSTS AND  REASONABLE  ATTOR-
 NEY'S FEES TO A PREVAILING PLAINTIFF.
 S. 8150                             4
 
   (II)  WHENEVER  THE  COURT  SHALL  DETERMINE  THAT A VIOLATION OF THIS
 SECTION HAS OCCURRED, THE COURT MAY IMPOSE A CIVIL PENALTY OF  NOT  MORE
 THAN TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR EACH VIOLATION.
   (III)  ANY  VIOLATION  OF  PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF  SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
 SECTION SHALL BE A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR,  AND  UPON  CONVICTION  THEREOF,
 SHALL  BE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, OR
 BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR, OR BY  BOTH  SUCH  FINE  AND
 IMPRISONMENT;  PROVIDED HOWEVER, A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE SHALL BE
 PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT MORE  THAN  THREE  THOUSAND  DOLLARS  OR  BY
 IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT MORE THAN ONE YEAR, OR BY BOTH SUCH FINE AND IMPRI-
 SONMENT.  IN  ADDITION,  THE  COURT  MAY  ORDER  AS PART OF THE SENTENCE
 IMPOSED RESTITUTION OR REPARATION TO THE VICTIM OF THE CRIME PURSUANT TO
 SECTION 60.27 OF THE PENAL LAW. THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL  SHALL  HAVE  THE
 POWER  TO PROSECUTE ANY VIOLATION OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF
 THIS SECTION.
   (IV) THE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL REMEDIES SET FORTH IN THIS  SECTION  SHALL
 NOT PRECLUDE ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ENTITY OR GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY FROM SEEK-
 ING RELIEF UNDER ANY OTHER STATUTORY OR COMMON LAW RIGHT TO RELIEF.
   §  6.  Subdivision  5  of section 349-f of the general business law is
 renumbered subdivision 6 and a new subdivision 5 is  added  to  read  as
 follows:
   5.  (A)  IN  ADDITION  TO ANY LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES OR A CIVIL PENALTY
 IMPOSED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS THREE  HUNDRED  FORTY-NINE,  THREE  HUNDRED
 FIFTY-C  AND  THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-D OF THIS CHAPTER, REGARDING DECEPTIVE
 PRACTICES AND FALSE  ADVERTISING,  AND  SUBDIVISION  TWELVE  OF  SECTION
 SIXTY-THREE  OF THE EXECUTIVE LAW, REGARDING PROCEEDINGS BY THE ATTORNEY
 GENERAL FOR EQUITABLE RELIEF  AGAINST  FRAUDULENT  OR  ILLEGAL  CONSUMER
 FRAUD,  A PERSON OR ENTITY WHO ENGAGES IN ANY CONDUCT PROHIBITED BY SUCH
 PROVISIONS OF LAW, AND WHOSE CONDUCT IS PERPETRATED AGAINST ONE OR  MORE
 PERSONS  SEEKING  OR USING SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH A VETERANS' BENE-
 FITS MATTER, MAY BE LIABLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED
 TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS  SUBDIVI-
 SION.
   (B)  IN  DETERMINING  WHETHER  TO  IMPOSE A SUPPLEMENTAL CIVIL PENALTY
 PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, AND  THE  AMOUNT  OF  ANY
 SUCH PENALTY, THE COURT SHALL CONSIDER, IN ADDITION TO OTHER APPROPRIATE
 FACTORS  AS  DETERMINED  BY THE COURT, THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE FOLLOWING
 FACTORS ARE PRESENT:
   (I) WHETHER THE DEFENDANT  KNEW  THAT  SUCH  DEFENDANT'S  CONDUCT  WAS
 DIRECTED  TO ONE OR MORE PERSONS SEEKING OR USING SERVICES IN CONNECTION
 WITH A VETERAN'S BENEFITS MATTER OR  WHETHER  SUCH  DEFENDANT  KNOWINGLY
 ACTED  WITH  DISREGARD  FOR  THE  RIGHTS  OF  A  PERSON SEEKING OR USING
 SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH A VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER;
   (II) WHETHER THE DEFENDANT'S CONDUCT:
   (1) CAUSED A PERSON SEEKING OR USING SERVICES TO SUFFER LOSS OR ENCUM-
 BRANCE OF A PRIMARY RESIDENCE, LOSS OF EMPLOYMENT OR SOURCE  OF  INCOME,
 SUBSTANTIAL  LOSS  OF  PROPERTY  OR  ASSETS  ESSENTIAL  TO THE HEALTH OR
 WELFARE OF THE PERSON SEEKING OR USING SERVICES  IN  CONNECTION  WITH  A
 VETERAN'S BENEFITS MATTER; OR
   (2)  WHETHER  ONE  OR  MORE  PERSONS  SEEKING  OR  USING  SERVICES  IN
 CONNECTION WITH A VETERAN'S  BENEFITS  MATTER  WERE  SUBSTANTIALLY  MORE
 VULNERABLE  TO  SUCH DEFENDANT'S CONDUCT BECAUSE OF DISABILITY, IMPAIRED
 UNDERSTANDING,  OR  ANY  OTHER  PERCEIVED  DISADVANTAGE,  AND   ACTUALLY
 SUFFERED  PHYSICAL  OR  ECONOMIC  DAMAGE RESULTING FROM SUCH DEFENDANT'S
 CONDUCT.
 S. 8150                             5
 
   (C) RESTITUTION ORDERED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF  LAW  LISTED  IN
 PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF  THIS SUBDIVISION OR PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER SECTION OF
 LAW SHALL BE GIVEN PRIORITY  OVER  THE  IMPOSITION  OF  CIVIL  PENALTIES
 ORDERED BY THE COURT UNDER THIS SUBDIVISION.
   §  7.  The penal law is amended by adding a new section 190.90 to read
 as follows:
 § 190.90 UNLAWFUL COMPENSATION IN A VETERANS' BENEFITS MATTER.
   A PERSON IS GUILTY OF UNLAWFUL COMPENSATION IN  A  VETERANS'  BENEFITS
 MATTER  WHEN  SUCH PERSON KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY VIOLATES PARAGRAPH (A)
 OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F OF THE  GENERAL
 BUSINESS LAW.
   UNLAWFUL  COMPENSATION  IN  A  VETERANS'  BENEFITS MATTER IS A CLASS A
 MISDEMEANOR.
   § 8. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-tt to
 read as follows:
   § 99-TT. VETERANS' SERVICES FUND. 1. THERE IS  HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  IN
 THE  JOINT  CUSTODY  OF  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF TAXATION AND FINANCE, THE
 COMMISSIONER OF VETERANS' SERVICES, AND THE COMPTROLLER, A SPECIAL  FUND
 TO BE KNOWN AS THE "VETERANS' SERVICES FUND".
   2.  SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL CIVIL PENALTIES IMPOSED PURSUANT TO
 SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F OF  THE  GENERAL  BUSINESS  LAW,  ANY
 ADDITIONAL  MONEYS APPROPRIATED, CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED TO SUCH FUND BY
 THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE AMOUNTS OF MONEYS RECEIVED AND  DEPOSITED  INTO
 THE  FUND  FROM GRANTS, GIFTS AND BEQUESTS DURING THE PRECEDING CALENDAR
 YEAR, AS CERTIFIED BY THE COMPTROLLER. NOTHING  IN  THIS  SECTION  SHALL
 PREVENT  THE  STATE  FROM  SOLICITING  AND  RECEIVING  GRANTS,  GIFTS OR
 BEQUESTS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE FUND AS DEFINED  IN  THIS  SECTION  AND
 DEPOSITING  THEM  INTO THE FUND ACCORDING TO LAW. ANY INTEREST EARNED BY
 THE INVESTMENT OF MONEYS IN SUCH FUND  SHALL  BE  ADDED  TO  SUCH  FUND,
 BECOME PART OF SUCH FUND, AND BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH FUND.
   3.  ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY EACH YEAR, THE COMMISSIONER
 OF VETERANS' SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT  TO  THE  TEMPORARY
 PRESIDENT  OF  THE  SENATE, SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, CHAIR OF THE SENATE
 FINANCE COMMITTEE, CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, CHAIR
 OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON  VETERANS,  HOMELAND  SECURITY  AND  MILITARY
 AFFAIRS,  CHAIR  OF  THE ASSEMBLY VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, THE STATE
 COMPTROLLER AND THE PUBLIC. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE HOW THE MONEYS  OF
 THE  FUND  WERE  UTILIZED  DURING THE PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR, AND SHALL
 INCLUDE:
   (A) THE AMOUNT OF MONEY DISPERSED FROM THE FUND AND THE AWARD  PROCESS
 USED FOR SUCH DISBURSEMENTS;
   (B) RECIPIENTS OF AWARDS FROM THE FUND;
   (C) THE AMOUNT AWARDED TO EACH;
   (D) THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH SUCH AWARDS WERE GRANTED; AND
   (E) A SUMMARY FINANCIAL PLAN FOR SUCH MONEYS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE ESTI-
 MATES OF ALL RECEIPTS AND ALL DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE CURRENT AND SUCCEED-
 ING  FISCAL  YEARS,  ALONG WITH THE ACTUAL RESULTS FROM THE PRIOR FISCAL
 YEAR.
   4. ON OR BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY OF EACH CALENDAR  YEAR,  THE
 COMPTROLLER  SHALL  CERTIFY  TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
 THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE
 COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND  MEANS  COMMITTEE,  THE
 AMOUNT  OF  MONEY  DEPOSITED  IN  THE VETERANS' SERVICES FUND DURING THE
 PRECEDING CALENDAR YEAR AS THE RESULT OF  REVENUE  DERIVED  PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION THREE HUNDRED FORTY-NINE-F OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW, AND FROM
 ALL GRANTS, GIFTS AND BEQUESTS.
 S. 8150                             6
 
   5.  MONEYS  OF THE FUND SHALL BE EXPENDED ONLY FOR THE AWARD OF GRANTS
 TO VETERANS'  SERVICE  ORGANIZATIONS  CERTIFIED  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES
 DEPARTMENT  OF  VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ASSIST CLAIMANTS IN THE PREPARATION,
 PRESENTATION, AND PROSECUTION OF CLAIMS FOR UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT  OF
 VETERANS  AFFAIRS BENEFITS, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS'
 SERVICES.
   6. MONEYS SHALL BE PAID OUT OF THE FUND ON THE AUDIT  AND  WARRANT  OF
 THE  COMPTROLLER  ON VOUCHERS APPROVED AND CERTIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER
 OF VETERANS' SERVICES. ANY  INTEREST  RECEIVED  BY  THE  COMPTROLLER  ON
 MONEYS  ON  DEPOSIT  IN THE VETERANS' SERVICES FUND SHALL BE RETAINED IN
 AND BECOME PART OF SUCH FUND.
   § 9. Severability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivi-
 sion, or section of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent
 jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,  impair,  or
 invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
 to  the  clause,  sentence,  paragraph,  subdivision, or section thereof
 directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment  shall  have
 been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legislature
 that  this  act  would have been enacted even if such invalid provisions
 had not been included herein.
   § 10. This act shall take effect on  the  one  hundred  eightieth  day
 after  it  shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,
 amendment and/or repeal of any rule  or  regulation  necessary  for  the
 implementation  of  this  act on its effective date are authorized to be
 made and completed on or before such effective date.
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