New York Civil Service Credits for Disabled Veterans Amendment, Proposal 2 (2013)
| Proposal 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Constitutional amendment |
| Origin | New York Legislature |
| Topic | Veterans |
| Status | Approved  |
The New York Civil Service Promotions for Disabled Veterans Amendment, Proposal 2, was on the November 5, 2013 ballot in New York as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. It was approved.
The measure entitled veterans with certified combat-related disabilities extra credits towards eligibility when competing for civil service appointments or promotions.[1]
State Representative Fred Thiele (I-1) sponsored the measure in the state legislature as Assembly Bill 4359.[2]
Prior to Proposal 2, the state constitution granted veterans a one-time-only additional credit on civil service examinations. Certified disabled veterans were entitled to a higher amount of one-time-only additional points. A veteran, however, could only accept one grant of additional credit. If a veteran was appointed or promoted before being certified as disabled, that person was not eligible for the higher amount of credits.[3]
The amendment created an exception to this rule. It allowed veterans who were certified disabled after receiving an appointment or promotion to receive additional credit one more time after certification of their disability.[3]
Election results
Below are the official election results:
| Proposal 2 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 2,173,484 | 83.65% | ||
| No | 424,858 | 16.35% | ||
- These results are from the New York Board of Elections.
Text of measure
Ballot summary
The official ballot text read as follows:[3]
| “ | Additional Civil Service Credit for Veterans with Disabilities Certified Post‐Appointment
The proposed amendment to section 6 of article 5 of the Constitution would entitle a veteran who has received civil service credit for a civil service appointment or promotion and subsequently is certified as disabled to additional civil service credit at a subsequent appointment or promotion. Shall the proposed amendment be approved? [4] |
” |
Constitutional changes
Proposal 2 amended Section 6 of Article V of the Constitution of New York to read:[5]
| New York Constitution |
|---|
|
| Preamble |
| Articles |
| I • II • III • IV • V • VI • VII • VIII • IX • X • XI • XII • XIII • XIV • XV • XVI • XVII • XVIII • XIX • XX |
| Appointments and promotions in the civil service of the state and all of the civil divisions thereof, including cities and villages, shall be made according to merit and fitness to be ascertained, as far as practicable, by examination which, as far as practicable, shall be competitive; provided, however, that any member of the armed forces of the United States who served therein in time of war, and who, at the time of such member's appointment or promotion, is a citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States and a resident of this state and is honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from such service, shall be entitled to receive five points additional credit in a competitive examination for original appointment and two and one-half points additional credit in an examination for promotion or, if such member was disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war, and his or her disability is certified by the United States department of veterans affairs to be in existence at the time of application for appointment or promotion, he or she shall be entitled to receive ten points additional credit in a competitive examination for original appointment and five points additional credit in an examination for promotion. Such additional credit shall be added to the final earned rating of such member after he or she has qualified in an examination and shall be granted only at the time of establishment of an eligible list. No such member shall receive the additional credit granted by this section after he or she has received one appointment, either original entrance or promotion, from an eligible list on which he or she was allowed the additional credit granted by this section, except where a member has been appointed or promoted from an eligible list on which he or she was allowed additional credit for military service and subsequent to such appointment he or she is disabled as provided in this section, such member shall be entitled to ten points additional credit less the number of points of additional credit allowed for the prior appointment. |
Support
The measure was sponsored by Assemblyman Fred Thiele (I-1) and was approved unanimously by the New York Legislature in 2013.[5]
Supporters
The following legislative officials were sponsors or co-sponsors of A 4359:[5]
- State Representative Fred Thiele (I-1), sponsored the bill
- State Representative Didi Barrett (D-106)
- State Representative Michael Benedetto (D-82)
- State Representative Ken Blankenbush (R-117)
- State Representative Joseph Borelli (R-62)
- State Representative William Boyland (D-55)
- State Representative Anthony Brindisi (D-119)
- State Representative William Colton (D-47)
- State Representative Vivian Cook (D-32)
- State Representative Jane Corwin (R-144)
- |State Representative Brian Curran (R-21)
- |State Representative Michael Cusick (D-63)
- State Representative Michael DenDekker (D-34)
- State Representative Steve Englebright (D-4)
- State Representative Sandy Galef (D-95)
- State Representative Vanessa Gibson (D-77)
- State Representative Joseph Giglio (R-148)
- State Representative Andrew Goodell (R-150)
- State Representative Al Graf (R-5)
- State Representative Aileen Gunther (D-100)
- State Representative Ellen Jaffee (D-97)
- State Representative Kieran Michael Lalor (R-105)
- State Representative William Magnarelli (D-129)
- State Representative David McDonough (R-14)
- State Representative Tom McKevitt (R-17)
- State Representative Michael Montesano (R-15)
- State Representative Steven Otis (D-91)
- State Representative Philip Palmesano (R-132)
- State Representative Dan Quart (D-73)
- State Representative Andrew Raia (R-12)
- State Representative Phil Ramos (D-6)
- State Representative Samuel Roberts (D-128)
- State Representative Annette Robinson (D-56)
- State Representative Joseph Saladino (R-9)
- State Representative Angelo Santabarbara (D-111)
- State Representative William Scarborough (D-29)
- State Representative Robin Schimminger (D-140)
- State Representative Aravella Simotas (D-36)
- State Representative Matthew Titone (D-61)
- State Representative Raymond Walter (R-146)
- State Representative Harvey Weisenberg (D-20)
- State Representative David Weprin (D-24)
Arguments
The League of Women Voters listed the following supporting arguments:[6]
- The measure would benefit individuals who, for whatever reason, were not classified as a veteran with disabilities at the time of their first civil service appointment. Approving this measure would fix this error.
- Veterans, particularly disabled veterans, have higher rates of unemployment than the generalized population. This measure would increase the employment opportunities for such veterans.[6]
Opposition
The League of Women Voters noted that they could not find any opponents or opposing arguments.[6]
Media editorial positions
Support
- Adirondack Daily Enterprise said, "Vote yes to Proposal 2, which would let disabled veterans get their allotment of bonus credits for civil service employment even if their disability was certified after they first apply for civil service... let's say for post-traumatic stress disorder, which is often diagnosed late - one is locked in at the basic veteran level. That's a flaw we should fix."[7]
- Albany Times Union said, “Proposal 2 would allow veterans who are certified as disabled after their appointment or promotion to get those additional credits. With a 900,0000-case backlog in the Department of Veterans Affairs, many disabled vets are being cheated out of credits they deserve, and clearly need this change. We urge a "yes" vote.”[8]
- Livingston County News said, “This one-time grant is only fair to veterans plagued by a disability and deserves a yes vote.”[9]
- New York Times said, "One would grant disabled veterans more credit on Civil Service exams, a worthy fix."[10]
- The Observer said, “The amendment benefits those who through no fault of their own were not classified as a veteran with disabilities at the time of their first civil service appointment.”[11]
- Post Star said, “Little or no opposition to this proposal has surfaced, and why would it? This is a simple matter of fairness and deserves a yes vote from everyone.”[12]
- Watertown Daily Times said, "This amendment provides veterans additional credit on their state civil service ranking for a certification of disability credit granted after they had received their ranking. This one-time grant is only fair to veterans plagued by a disability and deserves a yes vote."[13]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the New York Constitution
According to the New York Constitution, a majority vote is required in two successive sessions of the New York State Legislature in order to qualify an amendment for the statewide ballot.
Proposal 2 was referred to the ballot after being approved by both houses in successive terms by simple majority. A04359 was approved for a second time by the New York State Senate on June 4, 2013[14] A04359 was approved for a second time by the New York State Assembly on March 18, 2013, respectively.[15]
Senate vote
June 4, 2013 Senate vote
| New York Proposal 2, A04359 Senate Vote | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 63 | 100.00% | ||
| No | 0 | 0.00% | ||
Assembly vote
March 18, 2013 Assembly vote
| New York Proposal 2, A04359 Assembly Vote | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 141 | 100.00% | ||
| No | 0 | 0.00% | ||
Similar measures
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ TimesUnion.com, "Questions that await you in the fall," June 24, 2013
- ↑ New York State Assembly, "Assembly Bill 4359," accessed September 18, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 New York State Board of Elections, "Proposed Constitutional Amendments," accessed September 13, 2013
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 New York State Assembly, "Assembly Bill 4359," accessed July 17, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Lewisboro Daily Voice, "The Other Side of Your Ballot," September 25, 2013
- ↑ Adirondack Daily Enterprise, "One no and five yeses on back of ballot," November 4, 2013
- ↑ Albany Times Union, "Editorial: A ballot full of questions," October 30, 2013
- ↑ Livingston County News, “Voters are asked to OK 5 worthy proposals”, November 3, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ New York Times, "New York’s Constitutional Amendments," October 31, 2013
- ↑ The Observer, “ENDORSEMENT: Propositions get backing”, November 1, 2013
- ↑ Post Star, “ENDORSEMENTS: Three remaining ballot proposals weighed”, November 1, 2013
- ↑ Watertown Daily Times, "Worthy proposals," October 27, 2013
- ↑ New York State Senate, "Bill A04359-2013," accessed September 27, 2013
- ↑ New York State Assembly, "A04359 Votes," accessed September 27, 2013
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