Bills backed by Sen. Joe Griffo, who represents eastern St. Lawrence County, would allow veterans to attend state schools for free and drastically shorten the timeframe in which school district consolidation votes can be held, according to Griffo’s office.

They recently passed the state Senate.

Other recently passed legislation that Griffo backed regulates those working with the blind and creates a website for residents statewide to compare the state’s performance with the rest of the country.

One bill allows honorably discharged veterans to attend SUNY and CUNY schools on a tuition-free audit basis.

“Too many veterans are struggling to find work after leaving the military. This is a low-pressure way for veterans to jumpstart a second career by giving them an opportunity to learn more about a particular subject of interest and possibly pursue an education in that field," Griffo said in the statement.

A second bill shortens the timeframe in which a school district consolidation vote can be held following a failed referendum. It is reduced from 1 year to 60 days.

Other bills include:

• Extends, for five years, the banking “wild card” law, which provides a way to keep the state banking charter competitive with the federal banking charter.

• Allows a Gold Star Mother to keep one distinctive license plate, for commemorative purposes only, upon surrender of such distinctive plates. Gold Star Mothers have lost a son or daughter in service to the U.S.

• Creates ResultsNY.gov, which would be a new single access website that provides data and statistics that allow the public to compare the state’s performance regionally and nationally in relation to the economy, education, public safety, energy, housing and the environment.

• Creates licensing for vision rehabilitation professionals who work with the blind or partially sighted on independent functioning at home, school, work or the community.

• Extends, for two years, the provisions of the Oneida Indian Nation real property tax depository fund. This bill protects Oneida County, as the guarantor of unpaid property taxes, until all property taxes are paid on most Oneida Indian Nation land. If enacted, this law would be repealed on June 30, 2016.

Griffo represents the 47th Senate district, part of which is a swath of St. Lawrence County from Massena to Fine that includes Potsdam.