§ 352. Veterans' services commission. 1. There shall be in the division a veterans' services commission, which shall consist of the members and the ex officio members provided for in this section. 2. There shall be thirteen members of the commission who shall be veterans appointed by the governor, including two appointed on recommendation of the temporary president of the senate, one appointed on recommendation of the minority leader of the senate, two appointed on recommendation of the speaker of the assembly, and one appointed on recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly. The appointment of members made by the governor without recommendation shall be subject to advice and consent of the senate. The members of the commission shall serve for terms of three years each, provided, however, that of the members appointed during nineteen hundred ninety-three or nineteen hundred ninety-four (a) the persons appointed on recommendation of the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly shall be appointed for terms ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-six; (b) the persons appointed on recommendation of the minority leader of the senate and the minority leader of the assembly and the first appointed two persons by the governor shall be appointed for terms ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-five; and (c) the other five persons appointed by the governor shall be appointed for terms ending December thirty-first, nineteen hundred ninety-four. Appointed members presently serving on the commission shall continue to serve for the remainder of the term appointed. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy of such an appointed member occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be appointed for the remainder of the unexpired term of the member whom he or she is to succeed. Members appointed as provided in this subdivision shall receive no salary or other compensation, but each shall be entitled to receive expenses actually and necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. 3. Ex officio members. (a) The adjutant general of the state of New York shall be an ex officio member of the commission.

(b) In addition, the state director may appoint the head of any other state agency or their designee as a non-voting, ex officio member of the commission. Such appointments shall expire annually on December thirty-first unless such appointments are renewed by the state director. 4. One of the members of the commission, which shall include the adjutant general, shall be designated as chairperson by the governor. The designation shall be in writing and shall be filed with the commission. 5. The commission shall have power, and it shall be its duty, to assist the state director in the formulation of policies affecting veterans and in the coordination of all operations of state agencies relating to veterans' services.