Veterans are wondering what it will mean when the new New York State Department of Veterans' Services takes effect this spring.

The current state Division of Veterans' Services will be elevated to the Department of Veterans' Services on April 1, 2023, and add a commissioner to the governor's cabinet. Lawmakers in the last budget elevated the division, requiring changes to its logo, signage and other materials.

Michael Middaugh, president of the New York State County Veterans Services Officers Association, says it's unclear to local veterans organizations how those changes will impact their work, but he does not expect changes to available programs or assistance.

"I don't know what to expect – it is the unknown," Middaugh said Tuesday. "I don't personally foresee any major changes in that. I think the day-to-day operations will continue, and they'll continue to support and expand what they do helping us to expand services with boots on the ground."

Lawmakers and former service members discussed the progress of those changes during a legislative hearing in Albany on Tuesday.

They heard from veterans who've experienced homelessness and mental health issues, and how the state needs to improve transportation services, transitional housing, support for gambling addiction and LGBTQ people who served in the military, and other topics that could influence future legislation.

But when it came to discussion about the new Department of Veterans Services, panelists agreed: Local involvement and a regional approach to veterans' issues cannot be reduced amid changes at the state level.

There's a growing disconnect between members of the Legislature and the governor's office about what the elevation of the division to a department means. Lawmakers have touted the new department will streamline veterans services in the state and undergo a restructuring, while representatives with Gov. Kathy Hochul's office stress it's more like a label change, and services the department provides in partnership with other state agencies for military families will not be affected.

"The law that takes effect April 1 changes the agency's name and the title of the person running it," governor spokeswoman Janine Kava said in a statement. "The new Department of Veterans' Services will continue providing quality services to New York's veterans and military families. The agency also has worked with the Office of Mental Health and local partners to ensure a smooth statewide expansion of the Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Veterans' Support Program, which will continue through FY24, and DVS remains committed to supporting this critical, lifesaving program."

The law did not include any additional funding for the agency. 

Leaders in the Division of Veterans' Services were invited to participate in Tuesday's hearing, but declined, telling lawmakers they had nothing to add to the conversation.

Veterans' Affairs Committee Chair Assemblywoman Didi Barrett said her office will be sharing the testimony and input from veterans as the new department takes shape.

"It was disappointing that we didn't have anyone from the division because there were clearly questions that couldn't be answered," said Barrett, a Democrat from Hudson. "But hopefully, they are listening, because they got a lot of good feedback about what people need and the confusion that people are feeling not knowing what the next steps are going to be and what it's going to mean for the work that they're doing."

Former service members testified to lawmakers about how the state can best support those local groups as veterans prepare to get more governmental clout with the new department.

Kirby Hannan, director of the New York State Council of Veterans' Organizations, said local veteran service groups are leaders in their communities and helping former service members file claims or find help.

"We don't want to lose our core mission, and we don't want that competition to be lost," he said, adding the "one-stop shop" department model should be phased in gradually if it happens. "Both of those entities make it happen at the local level and it's not the same everywhere, and it shouldn't be."

Middaugh is advocating lawmakers change the formula for the Joseph P. Dwyer Program that provides peer-to-peer mentoring to veterans.

Hochul funded the program for all counties through 2024 in last year's budget, but Middaugh says the funding shouldn't be based on population and smaller, rural counties often have more veterans and greater need.

"We believe the funding should be the same across the board for each county," he said.

New York is home to at least 800,000 veterans, but only an estimated 17% access benefits they are eligible for.