BILL NUMBER:  S3638

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to extending the
utility repayment agreements from one year to two years


 PURPOSE OF THE BILL :

This bill extends the time period for mandatory repayment agreements
for applicants for public assistance, supplemental security income
(SSI) benefits and additional state payments, from one year to two
years, for households whose gross household income exceeds the
applicable public assistance standard of need and who apply for
utility arrears payments pursuant to Social Services Law (SSL) §
131-s(1).

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of the bill would amend SSL § 131-s(1) to extend the time
period for mandatory repayment agreements for applicants from one year
to two years.

Section 2 of the bill would provide for an immediate effective date.

              

 EXISTING LAW :

SSL § 131-s(1) enables social services districts to provide utility
arrears payments on behalf of certain applicants for public
assistance, SSI or additional state payments in order to prevent a
utility shut-off or to restore the applicants' utility services. Such
applicants whose gross household income exceeds the applicable public
assistance standard of need must sign repayment agreements and repay
the utility assistance within one year.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

This is a new bill.

 STATEMENT IN SUPPORT :

SSL § 131-s (1) provides that social services districts may pay
utility companies to avoid shut-offs or to restore service for
arrearages in an amount of up to the four most recent months in which
service was provided, Those households whose gross income exceeds the
applicable public assistance standard of need must sign repayment
agreements and currently must repay the utility assistance within one
year.

In the current home energy climate, utility costs are constantly in
flux and can seriously affect the low-income population that social
services districts serve. High monthly payments for repayment of
utility assistance can result in households falling behind in their
obligations By extending the period of time for low income households
to repay their utility arrears assistance from one year to two years,
this bill will reduce each household's monthly payment amounts, thus
increasing their ability to comply with repayment agreements. This
bill may also improve social services drstricts' collections on
utility repayments.

Lastly, by increasing the ability of low-income households to comply
with the terms of the repayment agreements, this bill lessens the need
for the social service districts to utilize costly temporary housing
options. Temporary housing options are utilized when applicants for
SSL § 131-s have been noncompliant with past repayment agreements. If
there is noncompliance with prior repayment agreements, social
services districts are prohibited from making additional payments
under SSL § 131-s.

This bill has no fiscal impact; it would simply spread out repayment
over two years.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment.