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

                                  4348

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 30, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  TITUS,  GRAF, MOSLEY, OTIS, STECK, COLTON --
  Multi-Sponsored by -- M.   of A.  HEASTIE,  PERRY  --  read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Social Services

AN  ACT  to  amend  the  social services law, in relation to residential
  services for pregnant victims of domestic violence

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

  Section  1.  Section  459-b  of the social services law, as amended by
chapter 459 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
  S 459-b. Residential services for victims  of  domestic  violence.  In
accordance with section one hundred thirty-one-u of this chapter and the
regulations  of  the  office  of  children and family services, a social
services district shall offer and provide necessary and available  emer-
gency  shelter  and  services  for  up  to  ninety days at a residential
program for victims  of  domestic  violence  to  a  victim  of  domestic
violence who was residing in the social services district at the time of
the alleged domestic violence whether or not such victim is eligible for
public assistance. Two forty-five day extensions of necessary and avail-
able  emergency shelter may be granted beyond the maximum length of stay
at a residential program for victims of domestic violence for  residents
who  continue to be in need of emergency services and temporary shelter.
A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE  WHO  IS  PREGNANT  DURING  THE  TIME  SHE
UTILIZES  SUCH  EMERGENCY  SHELTER OR SERVICES MAY BE GRANTED UP TO NINE
MONTHS OF NECESSARY AND AVAILABLE EMERGENCY SHELTER BEYOND  THE  MAXIMUM
LENGTH OF STAY AT A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
PROVIDED  THAT  SUCH  PREGNANT  WOMAN  IS IN PURSUIT OF AN EDUCATION AND
TRAINING TO REACH INDEPENDENT STATUS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediate-
ly the commissioner of children and family services  is  authorized  and
directed  to  promulgate  such  rules and regulations as he or she deems
necessary to implement the provisions of  this  act  on  or  before  its
effective date.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06675-01-5