The directors of county and city veteran service agencies in New York will have to get federal accreditation within three years under a new law.
The measure signed last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo says those directors, who are appointed by county executives and mayors, will have to take all necessary steps to be accredited as a veterans' service organization representative.
That gives them authority from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans and their families pursue benefit claims.
The law requires new appointees to get accreditation within 18 months.
The state Division of Veterans' Affairs says it can train and accredit them at no cost.
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