Section 354-A. Information on status of veterans receiving assistance

Departments, divisions, bureaus, boards, commissions and agencies of the
  state and political  subdivisions  thereof,  which  provide  assistance,
  treatment,  counseling,  care,  supervision  or custody in service areas
  involving health, mental health, family services,  criminal  justice  or
  employment,  including  but  not limited to the office of alcoholism and
  substance abuse services, office of mental health, division of probation
  and correctional alternatives, office of children and  family  services,
  office  of  temporary  and  disability assistance, department of health,
  department of labor, local workforce investment boards, office of mental
  retardation and developmental disabilities, department  of  correctional
  services  and  division  of  parole,  shall  request assisted persons to
  provide information with regard to their  veteran  status  and  military
  experiences.  Individuals  identifying  themselves  as veterans shall be
  advised that the division  of  veterans'  affairs  and  local  veterans'
  service   agencies   established   pursuant  to  section  three  hundred
  fifty-seven of this article provide  assistance  to  veterans  regarding
  benefits  under  federal  and  state law. Information regarding veterans
  status and military service  provided  by  assisted  persons  solely  to
  implement  this  section  shall  be  protected  as personal confidential
  information under article six-A  of  the  public  officers  law  against
  disclosure  of  confidential  material,  and  used only to assist in the
  diagnosis, treatment, assessment and handling of the veteran's  problems
  within  the  agency  requesting  such  information  and in referring the
  veteran to  the  division  of  veterans'  affairs  for  information  and
  assistance  with  regard  to benefits and entitlements under federal and
  state law.