Senate Bill S334

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S334

SPONSOR: AKSHAR
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to notifying counties of any relocation program established by another
social services district

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation requires that when a social services district uses a
publicly funded program to assist recipients in relocation to another
social services district, such social services district shall notify the
county commissioner of social services in the county in which such
recipients may be relocated.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 62 of the social services law by adding subdi-
vision 2.

a. When a social services district establishes any publicly funded
              

program to assist recipients in relocation to another social services
district, such social services district shall notify the county commis-
sioner of social services in the county in which such recipients may be
relocated within thirty days and the notification shall include:

(i) A copy of the plan of service developed for the recipient

(ii) The physical address or any permanent housing that has been secured
along with a copy of the lease

(iii) The name and physical address of the employer who has been
contacted or with whom any arrangement has been made

(iv) The terms and conditions, including payments and other benefits
provided to the recipient of the publicly funded relocation program

(v) Any other relevant information as requested by the county commis-
sioner

b. Beginning January 1St, 2019 and annually thereafter, each social
service district that has established a publicly funded program to
assist recipients in relocating to another social services district
shall report to the office of temporary and disability on such program,
including:

(i) All information provided to any county commissioner of social
services pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision

Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill requires social services districts that use publicly funded
programs to move recipients to another social services district to noti-
fy that social services district within thirty days and provide crucial
information. This information includes a plan of service, the address of
housing that has been secured for the recipient, the name and address of
any employer with whom and arrangement has been made, the terms and
conditions of the program and any other information requested by the
county commissioner.

This issue recently came up after Broome County discovered NYC's SOTA
program had relocated multiple recipients and paid their rent for a year
without notifying the county.

This legislation will improve communication between New York City and
the counties being sent SOTA eligible recipients as well as ensure
continuity of services for these vulnerable populations. It also adds a
layer of oversight by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
with an annual reporting requirement for social service districts that
use publicly funding to relocate recipients.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S8800 of 2018: Referred to Social Services

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.