S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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3748
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 27, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. WRIGHT, AUBRY, CLARK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social
Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to applications for
public assistance and to repeal certain provisions of such law relat-
ing thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 153 of the social services law is
REPEALED.
S 2. Section 131 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 21 to read as follows:
21. THE DECISION OF THE LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT TO ACCEPT OR
DENY AN APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SHALL BE MADE AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE, BUT NO LATER THAN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE APPLICA-
TION, EXCEPT WHERE THE APPLICANT REQUESTS ADDITIONAL TIME OR WHERE
DIFFICULTIES IN VERIFICATION LEAD TO UNUSUAL DELAY OR OTHER REASONS
BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL.
S 3. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 5 of section 22 of the social
services law, as amended by chapter 41 of the laws of 1992, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Failure to act upon any application [within] AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
BUT NO LATER THAN thirty days after filing[, except applications for
home relief], or failure to comply with laws and regulations requiring
that priority be given to certain applications for assistance[, or fail-
ure to act on any application for home relief within forty-five days
after filing].
S 4. Subdivision 13 of section 131-a of the social services law, as
added by chapter 477 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
13. Pursuant to regulations of the office of temporary and disability
assistance, public assistance eligibility shall, to the extent permitted
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04844-01-5
A. 3748 2
by federal law, not lapse solely by reason of the death of the adult
relative caretaker of a minor child, until arrangements are completed
for the addition of the child to another public assistance household,
reclassification of the case, foster care or other appropriate financial
support. [For purposes of subdivision eight of section one hundred
fifty-three of this article, safety net assistance given to such a child
during the first forty-five days after application therefor shall be
regarded as being given to meet emergency circumstances.]
S 5. Subdivision 4 of section 158 of the social services law, as
amended by section 44 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is
amended to read as follows:
4. Social services officials shall determine eligibility for safety
net assistance [within forty-five] AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NO LATER
THAN THIRTY days AFTER THE DATE of receiving an application for safety
net assistance. Such officials shall notify applicants of safety net
assistance about the availability of assistance to meet emergency
circumstances or to prevent eviction.
S 6. This act shall take effect immediately.