BILL NUMBER: S1034

SPONSOR: YOUNG
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring
participation in educational programs leading to a high school diploma
or high school equivalency diploma for those seeking public assistance

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this legislation is to increase the likelihood that indi-
viduals will obtain a high school diploma or high school equivalency
diploma by requiring those who do not have such a diploma to participate
in good faith in an educational program leading to such a diploma as a
condition for receiving welfare benefits.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1: States the legislative purpose and findings.

              

Section 2: Adds a new subdivision 21 to section 131 of the social
services law to prohibit the payment of public assistance benefits to
any person under the age of 35 who does not have a high school diploma
or a high school equivalency diploma unless such person is duly enrolled
and participating in good faith toward the attainment of such a diploma.
The local social services district is given broad discretionary authori-
ty to waive this requirement where such a course of study is not practi-
cal or cost-effective based on the person's mental capacity, employment
background, job training, career development credentials, health, disa-
bility, lack of educational programs, or other factors.

Section 3: Provides that the Commissioner of Temporary and Disability
Assistance shall have the authority to promulgate or amend any regu-
lations necessary for the implementation of this act.

Section 4: Provides that this bill shall take effect on the 120th day
after enactment.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The empirical data regarding the importance of a high school degree is
overwhelming. The vast majority of jobs require a high school diploma or
its equivalent, including participation in the U.S. military.  According
to data from the U.S. Census, the average drop-out will earn one-third
less than a high school graduate, will suffer from unemployment rates
that are nearly 501 higher, and will be nearly three times more likely
to live in poverty. High school drop-outs account for nearly 50% of the
heads of households on welfare, and commit about 75W of all crimes.

For those who are struggling to complete their high school education,
the current social services law offers an extraordinarily destructive
option of enabling a young person to drop-out of high school and collect
welfare benefits. This legislation would eliminate that option by making
it clear that participating in good faith toward obtaining a high school
diploma is a condition for any welfare benefits.

Recognizing that attaining a high school diploma or a high school equiv-
alency diploma is not always cost-effective or feasible, the bill
provides local social services districts with broad discretionary
authority to exempt individuals from this requirement based on their
mental health, disability, work experience, job training, the lack of
sufficient programs, or other reasonable factors.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017,2018: S.859/A.4357 Referred to Social Services
2016:  S.3438/A.5110 Referred to Social Services
2015: S.3438/A.5110 Passed Senate
2014: S.6908/A.9185 Referred to Social Services

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

The implementation of this bill would require additional resources for
adult education, but those costs would be offset by reduced welfare
dependency, increased fiscal independence, reduced crime, and related
savings.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would become effective 120 days after enactment.