Assembly Bill A10654

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  10654

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 10, 2016
                               ___________

Introduced  by  COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Hevesi) --
  read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services

AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to a shelter allow-
  ance supplement program to prevent eviction of families with children

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
131-bb to read as follows:
  S 131-BB. FAMILY EVICTION PREVENTION SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM. 1.   NOTWITH-
STANDING  ANY  PROVISION  OF  LAW  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  A SOCIAL SERVICES
DISTRICT IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION IN EXCESS OF ONE MILLION IS AUTHOR-
IZED TO OPERATE  A  SHELTER  ALLOWANCE  SUPPLEMENT  PROGRAM  TO  PREVENT
EVICTION OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION.
  2.  SUCH  PROGRAM IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE A SHELTER ALLOWANCE SUPPLE-
MENT EQUAL TO THE DIFFERENCE  BETWEEN  THE  APPLICABLE  MAXIMUM  SHELTER
ALLOWANCE  PRESCRIBED  BY  REGULATIONS  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT  FOR HOUSING
LOCATED IN SUCH SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT AND THE RENT WHICH IS PERMITTED
TO BE CHARGED IN SUCH CITY FOR THE UNIT SIZE AS DETERMINED BY THE UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING  AND  URBAN  DEVELOPMENT  FOR  THE  HOUSING
ASSISTANCE  PAYMENTS PROGRAM UNDER SECTION EIGHT OF THE NATIONAL HOUSING
ACT.
  3. SUCH SHELTER ALLOWANCE SUPPLEMENT SHALL  BE  MADE  AVAILABLE  TO  A
HOUSEHOLD  WITH  AT  LEAST ONE MINOR CHILD THAT RESIDES IN SUCH CITY, IS
ELIGIBLE FOR FAMILY ASSISTANCE OR SAFETY NET ASSISTANCE, SATISFIES  SUCH
OTHER  ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA AS MAY BE ESTABLISHED BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES
DISTRICT IN SUCH CITY, AND THAT FURTHER:
  (A) MAY LOSE OR HAS RECENTLY LOST  HOUSING  ACCOMMODATIONS  DUE  TO  A
PENDING OR RECENT EVICTION;
  (B) HAS RENT ARREARS; OR
  (C) INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE MEMBER WHO IS A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
AS  DEFINED  IN ARTICLE SIX-A OF THIS CHAPTER, AND ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES
PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE-B OF THIS CHAPTER.
  4. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO REQUIRE  SUCH  SOCIAL
SERVICES  DISTRICT  TO OPERATE OR MAINTAIN ANY SHELTER ALLOWANCE SUPPLE-

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                           LBD15642-01-6

A. 10654                            2

MENT PROGRAM TO PREVENT EVICTION, OR TO LIMIT OTHER MEANS  AVAILABLE  TO
SUCH  SOCIAL  SERVICES  DISTRICT FOR PROVIDING SHELTER ALLOWANCE SUPPLE-
MENTS OR  OPERATING  OTHER  SHELTER  ALLOWANCE  SUPPLEMENT  PROGRAMS  TO
PREVENT  EVICTION OF FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, OR TO CREATE AN ENTITLEMENT
TO ANY SHELTER ALLOWANCE SUPPLEMENT PROVIDED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THIS
SECTION.
  S 2. Section 153 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 18 to read as follows:
  18. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR ANY
OTHER  LAW  TO    THE  CONTRARY,  EXPENDITURES MADE BY A SOCIAL SERVICES
DISTRICT IN A CITY WITH A POPULATION IN EXCESS OF ONE  MILLION  FOR  THE
OPERATION  OF  A SHELTER ALLOWANCE SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-BB OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL  BE  SUBJECT  TO
FIFTY  PERCENT  REIMBURSEMENT BY THE STATE, AFTER FIRST DEDUCTING THERE-
FROM ANY FEDERAL FUNDS RECEIVED OR TO BE RECEIVED ON ACCOUNT THEREOF.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.