NY S06005

Establishes the "Hire a Vet Grant Program" allowing municipalities (counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts) to receive grants for hiring qualified veterans for at least 12 continuous months in full-time or part-time positions

Qualified veterans must have served in U.S. armed forces or uniformed services with general/honorable discharge (or other than bad conduct/dishonorable for those with qualifying conditions or discharged LGBT veterans), and must not have worked 35+ hours per week in the 180 days prior to hiring

Veterans must commence employment between January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2028 to qualify

Grant amounts equal 15% of wages paid during the first 12 months (20% for disabled veterans), capped at $15,000 for full-time non-disabled veterans, $20,000 for full-time disabled veterans, $7,500 for part-time non-disabled veterans, and $10,000 for part-time disabled veterans

Municipalities are prohibited from discharging existing employees solely to hire qualifying veterans for the grant, and the program expires January 1, 2029