Senate Bill S4077

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4077

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to offering
applicants and recipients of public assistance information regarding
sexual assault


 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

The purpose of this bill is to ensure that individuals who have
experienced sexual abuse or assault receive information about locally
available services for sexual assault victims and to protect such
victims from further harm.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section 1 of this bill sets forth the legislative findings.

Section 2 of this bill would require social services districts to
inform all applicants for and recipients of public assistance of their
option to receive an information packet containing referral and
contact information for all local programs that provide services to
victims of sexual assault. The packet would contain a listing of all
local sexual assault examiner programs, including a list of any local
              

hospitals offering sexual assault forensic examiner services, rape
crisis centers, and other advocacy, counseling and hotline services
appropriate for victims of sexual assault.

 EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER :

This bill would amend Section 131 of the Social Services Law by adding
a new subdivision 20.

 JUSTIFICATION :

As stated in the legislative findings of this bill, some studies have
estimated that as many as 40% of all individuals receiving public
assistance were sexually abused as children. Jason DeParle, author of
the highly acclaimed book American Dream that traces the lives of
three women on welfare, wrote an article for the New York Times on
November 28, 1999 entitled, "Early Sex Abuse Hinders Many Women on
Welfare." The article states that growing evidence suggests a
disproportionately large number of women on welfare experienced sexual
abuse as children. These women are more likely to suffer from
substance abuse problems, mental illness or other emotional problems
as a result of the long-term trauma associated with early sexual
abuse. The article also mentions that caseworkers are not typically
trained to recognize sexual abuse victims or to offer assistance to
those who indicate that they have experienced sexual abuse. In
addition, according to the New York City Alliance Against Sexual
Assault, the connections between sexual assault and poverty are so
strong, they are impossible to ignore, and therefore, the movement to
protect sexual assault victims should work hand in hand with the
movement to help individuals rise up from poverty.

Given this startling evidence and the difficulty that victims of
sexual assault face in overcoming barriers to self-sufficiency, this
bill is necessary to ensure that individuals applying for or receiving
public assistance receive information about services available for
sexual assault victims in their local area. The bill would not allow
social services caseworkers to invade the privacy of their clients,
but would simply mandate that all applicants and recipients are
offered the opportunity to receive an information packet appropriate
for victims of sexual assault.
 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

A.584 of 2008 - Referred to Social Services, Children and Families
A.11392 of 2006 - Passed Assembly 06/13/06

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS :

Undetermined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
180 days after enactment.