N.Y. VET Law § 31

§ 31. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that it is\nestimated that over the next five years, forty-four thousand veterans\nare expected to return to this state from their military posts, making\nthe Empire State home to one of the largest veteran populations in the\ncountry. Shockingly, the unemployment rate for Post-9/11 veterans in New\nYork was 10.7% in two thousand twelve, which is nearly one percent\nhigher than the national average and higher than the state's overall\n8.2% unemployment rate. The legislature has found previously that it is\nin the interest of the state to ensure that returning veterans have\nemployment opportunities available upon their separation from military\nservice.\n The state already encourages private businesses to hire military\nveterans through tax credits and other economic incentives. In addition,\nthe legislature has previously found that state agencies spend millions\nof dollars annually on temporary staff hired from temporary employment\nservice companies to cover temporary staffing needs. These temporary\nstate jobs could serve as a bridge for recently discharged military\nveterans who have yet to find full-time permanent work. In addition,\nthese temporary assignments could serve to develop the next generation\nof the state workforce and help with succession planning for the current\nworkforce.\n The legislature declares it to be the policy of this state to use\nveterans for temporary appointments in state agencies rather than\nutilizing temporary employment service companies in order to provide\nemployment opportunities for returning military veterans.\n