S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8103
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
June 11, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to providing public
assistance for home internet service
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 131-a of the social services law,
as amended by section 12 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997,
is amended to read as follows:
1. Any inconsistent provision of this chapter or other law notwith-
standing, social services officials shall, in accordance with the
provisions of this section and regulations of the department, provide
public assistance to needy persons who constitute or are members of a
family household, who are determined to be eligible in accordance with
standards of need established in subdivision two OF THIS SECTION.
Provision for such persons, for all items of need, less any available
income or resources which are not required to be disregarded by other
provisions of this chapter, shall be made in accordance with this
section. Such provision shall be made in monthly or semi-monthly allow-
ances and grants within the limits of the schedules included in subdivi-
sion three of this section except for additional amounts which shall be
included therein for shelter, fuel for heating, HOME INTERNET SERVICE,
additional cost of meals for persons who are unable to prepare meals at
home and for other items for which specific provision is otherwise made
in article five OF THIS CHAPTER. As used in this section the term "shel-
ter" may include a grant not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars
toward the purchase of an interest in a cooperative. A social services
official shall require assignment of recipient's equity in such cooper-
ative housing in accordance with the rules of the board and regulations
of the department.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11010-01-1
A. 8103 2
§ 2. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 131-a of the social
services law, as amended by chapter 87 of the laws of 1993, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) In addition to the above, the standard of need shall include
amounts for shelter and fuel for heating, amounts for home energy
payments (including amounts for supplemental home energy grants),
AMOUNTS FOR HOME INTERNET SERVICE PAYMENTS, amounts for additional cost
of meals for persons who are unable to prepare meals at home and amounts
for other items when required by individual case circumstances for which
specific provision is otherwise made in article five of this chapter.
For purposes of determining the amount to be included in the standard of
need for shelter and fuel for heating, to the extent that federal
reimbursement is available therefor, social services officials shall
include in the household any child who has entered foster care pursuant
to section three hundred eighty-four-a of this chapter who was eligible
for and in receipt of assistance and care as a member of the household
in and for the month of entry into foster care and for whom the family
service plan, as defined in section four hundred nine-e of this chapter,
includes a goal of discharge to a member of the household.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.