S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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7489
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 13, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to assistance for
guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs and to repeal section 303-a
of such law relating thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 303-a of the social services law is REPEALED and a
new section 131-y is added to read as follows:
S 131-Y. ASSISTANCE FOR GUIDE DOGS, HEARING DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS. 1.
IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL TO PROVIDE ASSIST-
ANCE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, TO A PERSON WITH
A DISABILITY USING A GUIDE DOG, HEARING DOG OR SERVICE DOG WHO HAS BEEN
DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR OR IS RECEIVING, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRI-
TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY PERSONS
AND/OR ADDITIONAL STATE PAYMENTS UNDER THIS CHAPTER, FOR THE PURCHASE OF
FOOD AND THE COST OF VETERINARIAN EXPENSES FOR SUCH DOG.
2. SUCH REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FIX AN AMOUNT OF NOT LESS
THAN FIFTY DOLLARS A MONTH, AND THE METHOD AND FREQUENCY OF DISTRIBUTION
AND PROCEDURES FOR THE DETERMINATION AND PERIODICAL REDETERMINATION OF
ELIGIBILITY FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE.
3. SUCH ASSISTANCE SHALL NOT BE GRANTED TO ANY PERSON FOR WHOM EARNED
INCOME HAS BEEN EXEMPTED FOR SUCH PURPOSE PURSUANT TO FEDERAL LAW OR
REGULATION.
4. THE FULL AMOUNT PROPERLY EXPENDED BY SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS
UNDER THIS SECTION, INCLUDING COSTS OF ADMINISTRATION, SHALL BE REIM-
BURSED BY THE STATE.
5. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SERVICE DOG" SHALL MEAN ANY DOG,
REGARDLESS OF CERTIFICATION, UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE PERSON USING OR
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08830-01-5
A. 7489 2
TRAINING IT AND THAT HAS BEEN OR IS BEING INDIVIDUALLY TRAINED TO DO
WORK OR PERFORM TASKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law.