Int. No. 928
By Council Members Carr and Schulman
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to establishing an LGBTQ liaison within the department of veterans’ services
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 31-112 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 4 for the year 2022, is amended by adding a new definition of “LGBTQ” in alphabetical order to read as follows:
LGBTQ. The term “LGBTQ” means lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and other non-heterosexual sexual orientations or non-cisgender gender identities.
§ 2. Subdivision f of section 31-112 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 4 for the year 2022, is amended to read as follows:
f. [The department shall periodically review veterans' experience with accessing the assistance required pursuant to subdivision c of this section and shall report any identified issues to the speaker of the council by June 1, 2022, and annually thereafter.] No later than July 31, 2027, and annually by July 31 thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor and shall post on the department’s website a report that shall include:
1. The number of LGBTQ veterans assisted by the department;
2. The number of LGBTQ veterans known to be eligible for assistance from the department regarding a discharge characterization upgrade pursuant to subdivisions c and d of this section;
3. The number of LGBTQ veterans who received assistance from the department regarding a discharge characterization upgrade pursuant to subdivisions c and d of this section;
4. A list of programs and services to which the department connected LGBTQ veterans;
5. A description of any identified issues impacting veterans’ experience with accessing the assistance required pursuant to this section; and
6. Recommendations for improving access to programs and services for LGBTQ veterans.
§ 3. Section 31-112 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision g to read as follows:
g. The commissioner shall designate an employee to act as a liaison for LGBTQ veterans. The duties of the liaison shall include, but need not be limited to:
1. Conducting outreach to LGBTQ veterans, organizations serving LGBTQ veterans, and, where appropriate and safe to do so, the families of such veterans, to make them aware of services offered by the department and to provide the contact information of the LGBTQ liaison;
2. Coordinating assistance provided by the department pursuant to subdivisions c, d, and e of this section; and
3. Connecting LGBTQ veterans to other programs and services offered by the department and other relevant agencies.
§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately.
HK
LS #20674
6/1/2026 11:30 AM