Governor George E. Pataki has signed into law, on September 22nd, several pieces of legislation to help and recognize veterans, including one that raises from $500 to $1,000 a year the New York State Blind Annuity, which provides monthly benefits for visually impaired wartime veterans and their surviving spouses.

"This well-deserved increase in the blind annuity for veterans reflects changes in the economy and the cost of living since the benefit was created in 1913," Governor Pataki said.

New York currently provides monthly benefits of $47.67 to more than 3,000 veterans and unremarried surviving spouses. The new law increases the annuity to $95.34 a month.

Two years ago, the blind annuity was extended to all unremarried surviving spouses who continue to reside in New York. Previously the benefit had terminated for most spouses upon the death of the veteran. The expanded benefit resulted in nearly 1,000 surviving spouses being added to the rolls of the annuity.

The Governor also signed legislation giving children of Vietnam veterans born with Spina Bifida entitlement to the "Child of a Veteran Regents Award," which is a $450 a year non-competitive grant to students attending a college or university in New York.

The birth defect has been linked to Agent Orange, a deadly defoliant, which was widely used during the Vietnam War and which has been blamed for a number of cancers and other health problems diagnosed in Vietnam veterans.

The new law complements existing federal benefits that provide monthly compensation, vocational and rehabilitation training, and lifetime health care benefits for Spina Bifida afflicted children of Vietnam veterans. It is estimated that as many as 3,000 children of Vietnam veterans nationwide were born with the congenital abnormality.

The "Child of a Veteran Regents Award" also is provided to eligible children of veterans who died of service-connected causes or who have a service-connected disability rated at 40 percent or greater by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

The Governor signed additional legislation extending until September 1, 2002 the eligibility date for veterans of the Vietnam War and Persian Gulf War to apply for the state's tuition assistance program that offers a maximum $1,000 a semester for graduate and undergraduate studies. Eligible veterans can receive up to $500 for part-time study under the program.

Another bill, Governor Pataki signed designates a section of Route 84 from the Hudson River to Port Jervis as "Orange County Purple Heart Highway" in recognition of veterans killed or wounded by opposing armed forces.

VETERANS REAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR "GOLD STAR PARENTS"

Governor George E. Pataki has signed a law extending New York State's veterans real property tax exemption benefit to "Gold Star Parents" whose sons or daughters were killed while serving in the United States military during wartime.

"Offering Gold Star Parents a partial exemption from real property taxes is an expression of our appreciation and an acknowledgment of their tremendous personal loss," Governor Pataki said. "They have suffered greatly and this benefit reflects our respect and gratitude."

The amendment to the real property tax law allows Gold Star Parents to file for a maximum tax break of 25-percent on county, town, city or village property taxes in those communities that adopted the veterans alternative exemption.

The Governor also signed legislation designating a section of State Route 86, the Southern Tier Expressway, as the Allegany County Veterans Memorial Highway. The ceremonial designation impacts the section of highway between the Cattaraugus and Steuben county borders.