§ 174-b. Authorization of veteran assistance in towns. 1. The town board of a town responsible for the expense of providing safety net assistance to persons residing or found therein, upon the presentation of a petition to it by one or more posts, camps or garrisons of one or more veteran organizations in the town, requesting that veteran assistance be authorized by the local social services officer, may, by resolution adopted by majority vote, authorize and direct the local social services officer to authorize and furnish veteran assistance to persons residing or found therein. Thereafter, the local social services officer shall have, exercise and perform the same powers and duties with relation to veteran assistance as he has, exercises and performs with relation to safety net assistance.

2. When the town board of a town has authorized and directed the local social services officer to authorize and furnish veteran assistance, if neither the local social services officer, or the supervisor of the town authorized to act as such official, nor the assistant local social services officer, if there be one, is a veteran, as herein defined, the town board may appoint, or authorize the local social services officer to appoint, a veteran, as herein defined, as a deputy or assistant local social service officer.