Assembly Bill A315

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    315
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 5, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by 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 establishing
   access to benefits and services for people  with  HIV  in  each  local
   department of social services

   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
 138 to read as follows:
   § 138. ACCESS TO HIV SERVICES. 1. THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABIL-
 ITY  ASSISTANCE  SHALL  DIRECT  EACH LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
 (LDSS) TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN ACCESS  TO  BENEFITS  AND  SERVICES  AS
 DEFINED  IN  SUBDIVISION  THREE OF THIS SECTION TO EVERY PERSON WITH HIV
 INFECTION WHO REQUESTS ASSISTANCE, AND SHALL  ENSURE  THE  PROVISION  OF
 BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO EACH ELIGIBLE PERSON INFECTED WITH HIV.
   2.  THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSIST-
 ANCE SHALL DIRECT EACH LDSS TO PROVIDE TO PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION WHO
 SATISFY THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID AS SET FORTH IN U.S.C.
 1396 ET SEQ.:
   (A) INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT WITH AN AVERAGE RATIO  WHICH  SHALL  NOT
 EXCEED  ONE  CASEWORKER  OR  SUPERVISOR TO TWENTY-FIVE FAMILY CASES, AND
 WITH AN OVERALL AVERAGE RATIO FOR ALL CASES WHICH SHALL NOT  EXCEED  ONE
 CASEWORKER OR SUPERVISOR TO THIRTY-FOUR CASES; AND
   (B) TRANSPORTATION AND NUTRITION ALLOWANCES IN AN AMOUNT NOT LESS THAN
 ONE HUNDRED NINETY-THREE DOLLARS PER MONTH.
   3.  (A)  WHENEVER  USED IN THIS SUBDIVISION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL
 HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (1) "ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND SERVICES"  SHALL  MEAN  THE  PROVISION  OF
 ASSISTANCE  BY  STAFF  OF  THE  LDSS TO A PERSON WITH HIV INFECTION AT A
 SINGLE LOCATION IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR PUBLICLY SUBSIDIZED  BENEFITS  AND
 SERVICES,  TO  ESTABLISH  ANY AND ALL ELEMENTS OF ELIGIBILITY INCLUDING,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02626-01-7

 A. 315                              2
 
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ASSISTANCE PROVIDED AT A FIELD OFFICE OF  THE  LDSS,
 AT  THE  HOME  OF  THE  APPLICANT OR RECIPIENT, AT A HOSPITAL WHERE SUCH
 APPLICANT OR RECIPIENT IS A PATIENT OR AT ANOTHER LOCATION IN ASSEMBLING
 SUCH DOCUMENTATION AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH ANY AND ALL ELEMENTS
 OF ELIGIBILITY AND TO MAINTAIN SUCH ELIGIBILITY;
   (2)  "ELIGIBLE PERSON" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO SATISFIES THE ELIGIBIL-
 ITY REQUIREMENTS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT  TO  APPLICABLE  LOCAL,  STATE  OR
 FEDERAL  STATUTE,  LAW, RULE OR REGULATION FOR THE BENEFITS AND SERVICES
 SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION OR FOR ANY OTHER BENEFITS
 AND SERVICES DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COMMISSIONER;
   (3) "MEDICALLY APPROPRIATE TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT  HOUSING"  SHALL
 MEAN  HOUSING  WHICH  IS SUITABLE FOR PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION, AND IF
 NECESSARY, ACCESSIBLE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. SUCH  HOUSING  SHALL
 INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT BE LIMITED TO, INDIVIDUAL REFRIGERATED FOOD AND MEDI-
 CINE STORAGE AND ADEQUATE BATHROOM FACILITIES WHICH SHALL, AT A MINIMUM,
 PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE LOCKING MECHANISM AND ANY OTHER  SUCH  MEASURES  AS
 ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE PRIVACY;
   (4) "PERSON WITH HIV INFECTION" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO HAS RECEIVED A
 MEDICAL DETERMINATION THAT HE OR SHE IS INFECTED WITH HIV; AND
   (5) "COMMISSIONER" SHALL MEAN THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPO-
 RARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE.
   (B)  THE  OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL PROVIDE,
 OR THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DIRECT LDSSS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND
 SERVICES TO EVERY  ELIGIBLE  PERSON  WITH  HIV  INFECTION  WHO  REQUESTS
 ASSISTANCE,  AND  SHALL ENSURE THE PROVISION OF BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO
 ELIGIBLE PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION. ANY ELIGIBLE PERSON  SHALL  RECEIVE
 ONLY  THOSE  BENEFITS  AND  SERVICES  FOR WHICH SUCH PERSON QUALIFIES IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPLICABLE ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS ESTABLISHED  PURSU-
 ANT  TO  LOCAL,  STATE OR FEDERAL STATUTE, LAW, RULE OR REGULATION. SUCH
 BENEFITS AND SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE  LIMITED  TO:  MEDICALLY
 APPROPRIATE  TRANSITIONAL  AND PERMANENT HOUSING; MEDICAID, AS SET FORTH
 IN 42 U.S.C. 1396 ET SEQ. AND OTHER HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES;  LONG  TERM
 CARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY A CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AGENCY, LONG TERM HOME
 HEALTH  CARE  PROGRAM  OR  AIDS HOME CARE PROGRAM AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO
 ARTICLE THIRTY-SIX OF THE PUBLIC  HEALTH  LAW;  PERSONAL  CARE  SERVICES
 PURSUANT  TO  THIS ARTICLE; HOMEMAKER SERVICES AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION
 SIX OF SECTION THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED TWO OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW;  SUPPLE-
 MENTAL  NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION
 NINETY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER; TRANSPORTATION AND NUTRITION ALLOWANCES  AS
 REQUIRED  BY  SUBDIVISION  TWO  OF  THIS SECTION; PREVENTATIVE SERVICES,
 INCLUDING RENT SUBSIDIES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION FOUR HUNDRED NINE-A
 OF THIS CHAPTER; FINANCIAL BENEFITS; AND INTENSIVE  CASE  MANAGEMENT  AS
 REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE
 THE  AUTHORITY TO DIRECT EACH LDSS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL BENE-
 FITS AND SERVICES AND ENSURE THE PROVISION OF SUCH  ADDITIONAL  BENEFITS
 AND  SERVICES WHENEVER DEEMED APPROPRIATE. THE REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT
 TO SUCH ACCESS TO AND ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS AND SERVICES SHALL NOT BE
 MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THOSE REQUIREMENTS MANDATED BY  STATE  OR  FEDERAL
 STATUTE,  LAW,  RULE  OR REGULATION. WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE
 DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH CRITERIA PURSUANT
 TO WHICH AN APPLICANT SHALL BE ENTITLED TO A HOME OR HOSPITAL VISIT  FOR
 THE  PURPOSE  OF  ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY AND APPLYING FOR BENEFITS AND
 SERVICES.
   (C)(1) UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL APPLICATION  OR  SUBMISSION  OF  DOCUMENTS
 REQUIRED  TO ESTABLISH ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS AND SERVICES BY A PERSON
 WITH HIV INFECTION, SUCH PERSON SHALL IMMEDIATELY  BE  PROVIDED  WITH  A

 A. 315                              3
 
 RECEIPT  WHICH  SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED  TO,  THE DATE, A
 DESCRIPTION OF THE INFORMATION RECEIVED, AND A STATEMENT AS  TO  WHETHER
 ANY  APPLICATION  FOR  SUCH  BENEFITS AND SERVICES IS COMPLETE OR INCOM-
 PLETE, AND IF INCOMPLETE, SUCH RECEIPT SHALL IDENTIFY ANY INFORMATION OR
 DOCUMENTS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR THE APPLICATION TO BE DEEMED COMPLETE.
   (2)  WHERE  NO STATUTE, LAW, RULE OR REGULATION PROVIDES A TIME PERIOD
 WITHIN WHICH A BENEFIT OR SERVICE  SHALL  BE  PROVIDED  TO  AN  ELIGIBLE
 PERSON  WHO  REQUESTS SUCH A BENEFIT OR SERVICE, SUCH BENEFIT OR SERVICE
 SHALL  BE  PROVIDED  NO  LATER  THAN  TWENTY  BUSINESS  DAYS   FOLLOWING
 SUBMISSION  OF  ALL  INFORMATION  OR DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED TO DETERMINE
 ELIGIBILITY.
   (D) WHERE A PERSON WITH HIV INFECTION WHO  APPLIES  FOR  BENEFITS  AND
 SERVICES, OR ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND SERVICES, INDICATES THAT ONE OR MORE
 MINOR  CHILDREN  RESIDE  WITH  HIM  OR  HER OR ARE IN HIS OR HER CARE OR
 CUSTODY, SUCH PERSON SHALL BE GIVEN INFORMATION AND PROGRAM REFERRALS ON
 CHILD CARE OPTIONS AND CUSTODY PLANNING, INCLUDING THE  AVAILABILITY  OF
 STANDBY GUARDIANSHIP PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVENTEEN HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX OF
 THE  SURROGATE'S  COURT  PROCEDURE  ACT AND REFERRAL TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE
 PROGRAMS.
   (E) RECERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY, AS REQUIRED BY ANY STATE OR FEDER-
 AL LAW, STATUTE, RULE OR REGULATION SHALL BE CONDUCTED NO MORE FREQUENT-
 LY THAN MANDATED BY SUCH STATUTE, LAW, RULE OR REGULATION.
   (F) ELIGIBILITY  FOR  BENEFITS  AND  SERVICES  FOR  PERSONS  WITH  HIV
 INFECTION MAY NOT BE TERMINATED EXCEPT WHERE THE RECIPIENT IS DETERMINED
 TO  NO  LONGER  SATISFY  ELIGIBILITY  REQUIREMENTS, IS DECEASED, OR UPON
 CERTIFICATION BY THE LDSS THAT THE RECIPIENT CANNOT BE LOCATED TO VERIFY
 HIS OR HER CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY  FOR  BENEFITS  AND  SERVICES.  IN  THE
 LATTER  CIRCUMSTANCE,  THE  LDSS  SHALL  CONDUCT A REASONABLE GOOD FAITH
 SEARCH FOR AT LEAST A NINETY DAY PERIOD TO LOCATE THE RECIPIENT, INCLUD-
 ING SENDING WRITTEN NOTICE BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT  REQUESTED,
 TO  THE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS OF SUCH RECIPIENT, REQUIRING THE RECIPIENT TO
 CONTACT THE LDSS WITHIN TEN DAYS.
   (G) NOT LATER THAN SIXTY DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,
 THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DIRECT EACH LDSS TO PREPARE A  DRAFT  POLICY  AND
 PROCEDURES  MANUAL  FOR  LDSS  STAFF.  SUCH POLICY AND PROCEDURES MANUAL
 SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, STRICT GUIDELINES  ON  MAINTAINING
 THE  CONFIDENTIALITY  OF THE IDENTITY OF AND INFORMATION RELATING TO ALL
 APPLICANTS AND  RECIPIENTS,  INSTRUCTIONAL  MATERIALS  RELATING  TO  THE
 MEDICAL  AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION, APPLICA-
 TION PROCEDURES, ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS, MANDATED TIME  PERIODS  FOR  THE
 PROVISION OF EACH BENEFIT AND SERVICE AVAILABLE TO APPLICANTS AND RECIP-
 IENTS  AND  ADVOCACY  RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION.
 SUCH LISTS OF ADVOCACY RESOURCES SHALL BE UPDATED SEMI-ANNUALLY.  WITHIN
 THIRTY  DAYS  FOLLOWING  THE PREPARATION OF SUCH DRAFT POLICY AND PROCE-
 DURES MANUAL AND PRIOR TO THE PREPARATION OF A FINAL POLICY  AND  PROCE-
 DURES MANUAL, THE LDSS SHALL DISTRIBUTE SUCH DRAFT POLICY AND PROCEDURES
 MANUAL  TO  ALL SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRACT
 WITH THE LDSS TO PROVIDE HIV-RELATED SERVICES AND TO ALL OTHERS WHOM THE
 LDSS DEEMS APPROPRIATE, AND HOLD NO FEWER THAN ONE NOTICED PUBLIC  HEAR-
 ING  AT  A SITE ACCESSIBLE TO THE DISABLED, AT WHICH ADVOCATES, SERVICES
 PROVIDERS, PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION,  AND  ANY  OTHER  MEMBER  OF  THE
 PUBLIC SHALL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON SUCH DRAFT POLICY AND
 PROCEDURES MANUAL. EACH LDSS SHALL PREPARE A FINAL POLICY AND PROCEDURES
 MANUAL WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF SUCH HEARING AND SHALL
 THEREAFTER  REVIEW  AND WHERE APPROPRIATE, REVISE SUCH POLICY AND PROCE-
 DURES MANUAL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. EACH LDSS SHALL PROVIDE FOR SEMI-ANNUAL

 A. 315                              4
 
 TRAINING, USING SUCH POLICY AND  PROCEDURES  MANUAL,  FOR  ALL  DIVISION
 STAFF.
   (H) NOT LATER THAN SIXTY DAYS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,
 EACH  LDSS  SHALL  PUBLISH A PROPOSED RULE ESTABLISHING A BILL OF RIGHTS
 FOR PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION. SUCH DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS SHALL INCLUDE,
 BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, AN EXPLANATION OF THE BENEFITS AND  SERVICES  FOR
 WHICH  PERSONS  WITH  HIV  INFECTION  MAY BE ELIGIBLE; TIMETABLES WITHIN
 WHICH SUCH BENEFITS AND SERVICES SHALL BE PROVIDED TO ELIGIBLE  PERSONS;
 AN EXPLANATION OF AN APPLICANT'S AND RECIPIENT'S RIGHT TO EXAMINE HIS OR
 HER FILE AND THE PROCEDURE FOR DISPUTING ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED THER-
 EIN; AN EXPLANATION OF AN APPLICANT'S AND RECIPIENT'S RIGHT TO A HOME OR
 HOSPITAL  VISIT  FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPLYING FOR OR MAINTAINING BENEFITS
 OR SERVICES; AN EXPLANATION  OF  THE  PROCESS  FOR  REQUESTING  AN  LDSS
 CONFERENCE OR FAIR HEARING IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION TWENTY-TWO OF THIS
 CHAPTER;  AND  A  SUMMARY  OF THE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES FOR THE REDRESS OF
 DISCRIMINATION. WITHIN SIXTY DAYS  FOLLOWING  THE  PUBLICATION  OF  SUCH
 PROPOSED  RULE,  AND PRIOR TO THE PUBLICATION OF A FINAL RULE, EACH LDSS
 SHALL HOLD NO FEWER THAN ONE NOTICED PUBLIC HEARING AT A SITE ACCESSIBLE
 TO THE DISABLED AT WHICH ADVOCATES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, PERSONS WITH  HIV
 INFECTION, AND ANY OTHER MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SHALL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTU-
 NITY  TO COMMENT ON SUCH DRAFT BILL OF RIGHTS. EACH LDSS SHALL PUBLISH A
 FINAL RULE WITHIN THIRTY DAYS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF SUCH  HEARING  AND
 SHALL  THEREAFTER  REVIEW,  AND  WHERE  APPROPRIATE, REVISE SUCH BILL OF
 RIGHTS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SUCH BILL OF RIGHTS  SHALL  BE  CONSPICUOUSLY
 POSTED  IN  ALL  LDSS  OFFICES  THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND SHALL BE
 AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE PUBLIC IN  ENGLISH,  SPANISH  AND  ANY
 OTHER LANGUAGES THAT THE COMMISSIONER DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
   (I)  NOT  LATER  THAN  NINETY  DAYS  FROM  THE  EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
 SECTION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH  A  POLICY  OR  PROCEDURE  FOR
 OVERSEEING  AND MONITORING THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION TO PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTIONS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT
 BE LIMITED TO, QUALITY ASSURANCE MEASUREMENTS.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL
 SUBMIT  SUCH  POLICIES  OR  PROCEDURES  TO  THE GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE IN WRITING WITHIN TEN
 DAYS FROM THE DATE SUCH POLICIES OR PROCEDURES ARE ESTABLISHED.
   (J) BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN, AND  ON  THE
 FIRST  DAY  OF  EACH CALENDAR QUARTER THEREAFTER, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
 SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, MINOR-
 ITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE  SENATE,  AND
 THE  MINORITY  LEADER OF THE SENATE, PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
 DISAGGREGATED ON BOTH A QUARTERLY AND ANNUALIZED BASIS:  THE  NUMBER  OF
 PERSONS  WITH  HIV INFECTION WHO REQUESTED THE BENEFITS AND SERVICES SET
 FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (B)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION  AND  ANY  OTHER  BENEFITS
 PROVIDED  BY  LDSS,  DISAGGREGATED BY LDSS AND BY THE TYPE OF BENEFIT OR
 SERVICE REQUESTED, AND THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME  REQUIRED  TO  PROCESS
 SUCH REQUESTS, DISAGGREGATED BY LDSS, AND THE TYPE OF BENEFIT OR SERVICE
 REQUESTED;  THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION WHO REQUESTED BENE-
 FITS AND SERVICED AND WERE DETERMINED TO BE INELIGIBLE FOR SUCH BENEFITS
 AND SERVICES, DISAGGREGATED BY LDSS, BY THE TYPE OF BENEFIT  OR  SERVICE
 REQUESTED, AND BY THE REASON FOR SUCH DETERMINATIONS; THE NUMBER OF LDSS
 STAFF,  BY  JOB  TITLE,  WHOSE  DUTIES  INCLUDE  PROVIDING  BENEFITS AND
 SERVICES OR ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND SERVICES PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION,
 THE NUMBER OF RECIPIENTS, THE NUMBER OF CASES AND THE NUMBER OF REQUESTS
 FOR  ASSISTANCE,  DISAGGREGATED BY LDSS; THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME FROM
 THE INITIAL REQUEST  FOR  BENEFITS  AND  SERVICES  TO  SUBMISSION  OF  A
 COMPLETE  APPLICATION FOR SUCH BENEFITS AND SERVICES, THE AVERAGE LENGTH

 A. 315                              5
 
 OF TIME FROM SUBMISSION OF SUCH COMPLETE APPLICATION TO GRANT OR  DENIAL
 OF  THE  BENEFITS AND SERVICES REQUESTED, AND THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME
 FROM THE GRANT OF SUCH BENEFITS AND SERVICES TO THE  PROVISION  OF  SUCH
 BENEFITS  AND SERVICES, DISAGGREGATED BY LDSS AND BY THE TYPE OF BENEFIT
 OR SERVICE REQUESTED; THE  AVERAGE  LENGTH  OF  TIME  FROM  THE  INITIAL
 REQUEST FOR AN EXCEPTION TO POLICY TO APPROVE ENHANCED RENTAL ASSISTANCE
 TO  THE APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF SUCH EXCEPTION AND THE AVERAGE LENGTH
 OF TIME FROM THE APPROVAL OF SUCH EXCEPTION  TO  THE  ISSUANCE  OF  SUCH
 ENHANCED  RENTAL  ASSISTANCE,  DISAGGREGATED  BY  LDSS;  THE  NUMBER  OF
 REQUESTS  FOR  EMERGENCY  HOUSING  ASSISTANCE,  THE  NUMBER  OF  PERSONS
 REFERRED  TO EMERGENCY HOUSING ASSISTANCE, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY IN
 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, AND THE NUMBER OF PERSONS  REFERRED  TO  PERMANENT
 HOUSING; THE NUMBER OF PERSONS REQUESTING SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PLACEMENTS,
 THE  NUMBER OF PERSONS REFERRED TO SUCH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND THE AVER-
 AGE LENGTH OF TIME FROM  REQUEST  TO  PLACEMENT;  THE  NUMBER  OF  CASES
 CLOSED,  DISAGGREGATED  BY LDSS AND BY THE REASONS FOR SUCH CLOSURE, THE
 NUMBER OF SUCH CLOSED CASES THAT WERE RE-OPENED AND THE  AVERAGE  LENGTH
 OF TIME REQUIRED TO RE-OPEN SUCH CLOSED CASES; THE NUMBER OF ADMINISTRA-
 TIVE  FAIR  HEARINGS  REQUESTED, THE NUMBER OF FAIR HEARING DECISIONS IN
 FAVOR OF APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS AND THE AVERAGE LENGTH  OF  TIME  FOR
 COMPLIANCE  WITH  SUCH  A  FAIR  HEARING  DECISION;  AND  THE  NUMBER OF
 PROCEEDINGS INITIATED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE  SEVENTY-EIGHT  OF  THE  CIVIL
 PRACTICE  LAW  AND  RULES  CHALLENGING  FAIR  HEARING DECISIONS, AND THE
 NUMBER OF ARTICLE SEVENTY-EIGHT DECISIONS RENDERED IN  FAVOR  OF  APPLI-
 CANTS  OR  RECIPIENTS.  FOR  THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS SUBDIVISION, "FIELD
 OFFICE" SHALL MEAN ANY OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT AT  WHICH  PERSONS  WITH
 HIV INFECTION MAY ACCESS BENEFITS AND SERVICES.
   (K) THERE SHALL BE AN ADVISORY BOARD TO ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER ON THE
 PROVISION  OF  BENEFITS AND SERVICES AND ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND SERVICES
 TO PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION AS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION. THIS ADVISORY
 BOARD SHALL CONSIST OF ELEVEN MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED FOR TWO YEAR TERMS
 AS FOLLOWS: TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE  ASSEM-
 BLY,  TWO  MEMBER  SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
 SENATE, ONE MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED BY  THE  MINORITY  LEADER  OF  THE
 ASSEMBLY,  ONE  MEMBER  SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE
 SENATE AND THE REMAINING FIVE MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED BY  THE  GOVER-
 NOR.  AT LEAST ONE OF THE APPOINTMENTS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEM-
 BLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND AT LEAST THREE OF THE
 APPOINTMENTS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR SHALL BE  ELIGIBLE  FOR  BENEFITS  AND
 SERVICES  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION.  THE ADVISORY BOARD SHALL MEET AT
 LEAST QUARTERLY AND MEMBERS SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION. SUCH ADVI-
 SORY BOARD MAY FORMULATE AND RECOMMEND TO THE COMMISSIONER A  POLICY  OR
 PROCEDURE  FOR  OVERSEEING  AND  MONITORING  THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES TO
 PERSONS WITH HIV INFECTION WHICH MAY INCLUDE QUALITY ASSURANCE  MEASURE-
 MENTS.  SUCH  ADVISORY  BOARD  SHALL  SUBMIT  SUCH RECOMMENDED POLICY OR
 PROCEDURE TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT  OF
 THE SENATE UPON SUBMISSION TO THE COMMISSIONER.
   §  2.  Subdivision  14 of section 131-a of the social services law, as
 added by section 1 of part H of chapter 58  of  the  laws  of  2014,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   14.  In  determining  the  need  for  aid  provided pursuant to public
 assistance programs, each person living with [clinical/symptomatic]  HIV
 [illness  or  AIDS  in  social services districts with a population over
 five million who is receiving services through such district's  adminis-
 trative  unit  providing HIV/AIDS services, public assistance and earned
 and/or unearned income,] INFECTION shall not be  required  to  pay  more

 A. 315                              6
 
 than  thirty percent of his or her monthly earned and/or unearned income
 toward the cost of rent that such person has a direct obligation to pay;
 this provision shall not apply to room and board arrangements.
   §  3.  The  commissioner  of  the  office  of temporary and disability
 assistance shall amend 18 N.Y.C.R.R.  §  352.3(k)  as  follows:  (a)  to
 require  the  office  of  temporary  and  disability assistance or local
 departments of social services to provide emergency shelter  allowances,
 upon  request,  to  households  composed of an applicant or recipient of
 public assistance who has been medically diagnosed  with  HIV  infection
 and  any family members residing with such person; (b) to set the amount
 of the maximum emergency shelter allowance available at the  amount,  of
 the  fair market rent (FMR) set by the United States department of hous-
 ing and urban development for the size the eligible  household  and  FMR
 area  where  the household is located, with the allowance in no event to
 be greater than the actual monthly rent due; and (c) pursuant to  subdi-
 vision  14  of  section  131-a of the social services law, as amended in
 this act, to calculate the amount of  the  emergency  shelter  allowance
 available  to a person with HIV infection who has earned and/or unearned
 income up to 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines as a function
 of actual total monthly rent due less 30 percent of the  monthly  earned
 and/or unearned income of the person with HIV infection.
   §  4.  Notwithstanding  section  153 of the social services law or any
 other inconsistent provision of law (a) for local departments of  social
 services with a population over five million, New York state shall reim-
 burse  50  percent  of  safety net assistance expenditures for emergency
 shelter, transportation, or nutrition payments which the district deter-
 mines are necessary to establish or maintain independent living arrange-
 ments among persons with HIV infection and who are  homeless  or  facing
 homelessness and for whom no viable and less costly alternative to hous-
 ing  is available; provided, however, that funds appropriated herein may
 only be used for such purposes if the cost of such  allowances  are  not
 eligible  for  reimbursement under medical assistance or other programs;
 and (b) for local departments of social services with a population under
 five million, New York state shall pay or reimburse 100 percent of safe-
 ty net assistance expenditures for emergency shelter, transportation, or
 nutrition payments necessary to establish or maintain independent living
 arrangements among persons with HIV infection and who  are  homeless  or
 facing  homelessness  and for whom no viable and less costly alternative
 to housing is available;  provided,  however,  that  funds  appropriated
 herein may only be used for such purposes if the cost of such allowances
 are  not  eligible  for  reimbursement under medical assistance or other
 programs.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.