Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) announced that
legislation she sponsored to ease some of the challenges facing military
families has passed both houses of the legislature and awaits the governor’s
signature (A.9216-A). The measure addresses school transfers that children with
military parents face all to often. It also holds down college costs for
veterans, provides burial assistance for families of veterans who die as a
result of combat-related injuries and simplifies transfers of professional
licenses for military family members, including those required for realtors.
“Supporting
our troops means supporting their families too,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “This
legislation recognizes the extraordinary sacrifices made by military families
and works to ease some of the hardships associated with the frequent
relocations that are a part of military life.”
The
legislation would enact the Interstate Compact on Education Opportunities for
Military Children. The compact would help ensure uniform treatment of military
children transferring between school districts and states by:
·
requiring a student’s transcripts
and immunization records be made readily available to the new school;
·
helping to make it possible for
students to graduate on time by providing alternative means of completing
required coursework;
·
ensuring no local tuition would be
charged to a transferring student whose parent serves in the military; and
·
ensuring that a child may continue
attending school in a district after their military parent has transferred out
of the district.
“Many of the areas addressed in the
Interstate Compact are areas that the local Districts who are experienced in
servicing military children from Fort Drum deal with on a day-to-day basis.
Those Districts have been taking on the problems associated with recurrent
deployments; the frequent movement of military families; the variances of State
graduation requirements and much more, for years. This legislation helps codify all of those
efforts and more, so military children have the best possible opportunity for a
successful education experience” said Carl McLaughlin, Executive Director of
the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization. “This will also provide New York
State schools a forum to share problems and needs that can be addressed with
schools in many other military communities now that we are part of the Compact,
it’s a win-win for all.”
BOCES
Superintendent Jay Boak said, “The eighteen (18) school districts that comprise
the Jefferson-Lewis-Hamilton-Herkimer-Oneida Board of Cooperative Educational
Services are gratified that Assemblywoman Russell along with the other members
of the New York State Assembly and Senate voted to approve legislation enabling
New York State to become a member of the Interstate Compact on Educational
Opportunity for Military Children. This legislation removes some of the
impediments that military families encounter when they transfer from state to
state. It is not uncommon for military children to transfer to five or six
different states or countries during the course of their K-12 education. The
Compact Legislation will make this a more seamless and less stressful process
for military families.”
Further,
the legislation would enable veterans attending a community college, college or
university of the SUNY or CUNY systems under the GI bills to qualify for the
in-state tuition rate. This would enable more veterans to
attend college and obtain a degree when they return home, Assemblywoman Russell
noted.
The
measure would also allow families of service members from New York, who were
wounded in combat but died as a result of their wounds outside of the combat
zone, to qualify for the supplemental burial allowance. This provision would
help cover expensive funeral and burial costs.
Additionally,
this legislation would make it possible for military family members who hold out-of-state
licenses to qualify for a New York State license in certain occupations or
professions that are licensed by the Department of State. This would enable
military household members to continue their practices as real estate brokers,
cosmetologists or barbers should they relocate to New York State.
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