Bill would give preference for state contracts to veteran-owned small businesses
By MATTHEW DONDIEGO
In an effort to bring relief to many veterans who have returned home from service to find it is increasingly difficult for physically and emotionally disabled-veterans to find work, Sen. Greg Ball is calling for the passage of legislation that would help put many out of work vets back into the state workforce.
The NY Jobs for Heroes Program (S.2803-b), if passed, would award a preference in state contracts for small businesses owned by disabled veterans. The legislation has passed the Senate repeatedly since it was originally introduced in 2007. In 2009, the bill passed both the Senate and Assembly but was vetoed by former Gov. David Paterson.
During his recent State of the State Address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo expressed support for the concept of giving preference to veteran-owned businesses, saying "Disabled veterans showed us their loyalty; we must show them our loyalty." Cuomo proposed a goal of 5 percent of state contracts geared toward such businesses and said the state would hold a summit this spring to find ways to "make this goal a reality."
Ball, chairman of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, said the governor's support is "exactly the kick in the pants this bill needed to make it a reality."
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-01-14-86394.113122-Bill-would-give-preference-for-state-contracts-to-veteranowned-small-businesses.html