* § 352-a. Veterans employment task force. 1. There shall be in the division a task force on veterans employment opportunities which shall consist of the following eleven members: the state director of veterans' services or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chair of the task force; the commissioner of the office of general services, or his or her designee; the president of the state civil service commission, or his or her designee; the commissioner of labor, or his or her designee; the adjutant general for the state of New York, or his or her designee; two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate, one of whom shall be a representative from the private sector; two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one of whom shall be a representative from the private sector; one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. 2. No member of the task force shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any such office of employment by virtue of his or her appointment pursuant to this section. 3. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their functions pursuant to this section. 4. On an annual basis, the task force shall hold at least two public hearings. To the extent practicable, such hearings shall be held in different regions of the state. During the public hearings, the task force shall hear the testimony of voluntary witnesses, and may request the production of any documents which are subject to article six of the public officers law and that the task force deems reasonably necessary to carry out its responsibilities. 5. The task force shall issue a report on June 30, 2023, and every two years after such date, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly. Such report shall include but not be limited to:

(a) recommendations on the development of new methods and programs aimed at assisting the state's veterans in finding and maintaining meaningful employment opportunities;

(b) an analysis of the current methods and programs;

(c) the impact on veteran employment by professional licensing;

(d) the impact of veteran contractor programs;

(e) the impact of tax credits and municipal grants for hiring unemployed veterans; and

(f) any private sector initiatives. * NB Effective January 10, 2022 * NB Repealed December 31, 2025