Written by Kristine Wylie,

Last month a legislative package proposing aid to help disabled veterans passed in the New York State Senate.  The package contains benefits that will assist not only disabled vets but also active duty military personnel, returning war veterans and their families.

The legislative package was championed by New York state senator Toby Stavisky.  One of the main points of the legislation includes a program for military guardians for children of military parents battling for custody while serving in active duty or overseas.  The guardian program will appoint a caretaker for the child until the parent(s) can return from duty and the custody dispute can be resolved, according to the New York news publication, Whitestone Times.

Another bill included in the package will set up a program to improve the way former servicemembers are informed of their tax exemption opportunities. Tax exemptions are just one of many veterans benefits offered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Senator Stavisky commented to the news source, “As we approached Memorial Day, we passed a package of bills to assist veterans.” Stavisky went on to say, “It’s our attempt not to repeat what happened when service members returned from Vietnam. They were treated so abysmally that we don’t want to repeat the mistakes of the past, especially for returning veterans who have been disabled.”

Some other notable components of the package include the issuance of sportsman licenses for former servicemembers, and specific rehabilitation events which will provide benefits to disabled veterans, the news source added. The entire legislation package is being sent to the New York state assembly for consideration.