In an effort to honor veterans’ service with military burials and to reduce the number of deceased indigent veterans buried in the City’s potter’s field, this bill would require the chief medical examiner to determine the veteran status of newly identified deceased persons and to contact at least one veterans’ service organization if the deceased was a veteran.
- Filed (End of Session)
History
Int. No. 1450
By Council Members Cabrera, Cornegy and Gentile
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the chief medical examiner to determine the veteran status of any previously unidentified deceased person
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 2 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-209 to read as follows:
§ 17-209 Identifying veterans. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
Veteran. The term “veteran” means a person:
1. Who served in the active military or naval service of the United States; in active duty in a force of any organized state militia in a full-time status; or in the reserve armed forces of the United States in active duty; and
2. Who was released from such service otherwise than by dishonorable discharge.
Veterans’ service organization. The term “veterans’ service organization” means an association, corporation or other entity that qualifies as a tax-exempt organization under paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of section 501 or paragraph (19) of subsection (c) of section 501 of the internal revenue code and that has been organized for the benefit of veterans and is recognized or chartered by the United States congress, including, but not limited to, the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Vietnam Veterans of America.
b. Upon identifying any previously unidentified deceased person and prior to interment or cremation of such person, the chief medical examiner shall determine whether such person was a veteran.
c. If such person was a veteran, the chief medical examiner shall contact at least one veterans’ service organization and inquire about the veterans’ service organization’s ability to provide funeral services for such person.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 60 days after it becomes law.
SSY
LS # 9320
1/24/2017 9:13am