S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8194
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
October 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SEPTIMO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Ways and Means
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing a
fund to support localities which voluntarily shelter and provide
direct services to a significant population of newly arrived asylum
seekers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section
98-e to read as follows:
§ 98-E. TEMPORARY RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS FUND. 1.
THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMPTROLLER AND
THE COMMISSIONER OF TAXATION AND FINANCE A SPECIAL FUND TO BE KNOWN AS
THE TEMPORARY RELOCATION ASSISTANCE FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS FUND.
2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONEYS APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSES
OF SUCH FUND, ALL OTHER MONEYS REQUIRED TO BE PAID INTO OR CREDITED TO
SUCH FUND, AND ALL MONEYS RECEIVED BY THE FUND OR DONATED TO IT BY ANY
SOURCE. ANY FUNDS EXPENDED BY A LOCALITY FOR SERVICES OR PROGRAMS
SUPPORTING THE NEWLY ARRIVED ASYLUM SEEKERS AS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION
SHALL BE MATCHED UP TO TWO HUNDRED PERCENT BY THE STATE. OUT OF ANY
FEDERAL FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE STATE FOR SUCH PURPOSES, EXPENDITURES BY A
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHALL BE MATCHED UP TO THREE HUNDRED PERCENT.
3. (A) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND SHALL BE TO SUPPORT COUNTIES AND OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES WITH A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF NEWLY ARRIVED ASYLUM
SEEKERS WITH PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES TO SUCH INDIVIDUALS. FOR THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "SIGNIFICANT POPULATION" SHALL MEAN FIVE THOU-
SAND ASYLUM SEEKERS FOR A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY WITH A POPULATION OF
OVER ONE MILLION, AND A NUMBER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS WHICH IS AT LEAST TWO
PERCENT OF THE POPULATION FOR ANY OTHER COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY.
(B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION "DIRECT SERVICES" SHALL INCLUDE,
BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, FREE AND/OR SUBSIDIZED
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13337-01-3
A. 8194 2
LEGAL SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS, EDUCATION AND LANGUAGE
SERVICES SUCH AS ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL) CLASSES, ADULT
CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDING GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA
(GED) INSTRUCTION, FREE AND/OR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE PROGRAMS, AND JOB
TRAINING AND TRADE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS.
(C) SERVICES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO NEWLY
ARRIVED ASYLUM SEEKERS; PROVIDED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE SERVICES WHICH
ARE FUNDED UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO NEWLY
ARRIVED ASYLUM SEEKERS.
(D) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION, LOCALITIES MAY NOT
IMPOSE ANY LIMITS OR CONDITIONS, INCLUDING AGE, ON ASYLUM SEEKERS WHICH
ARE ACCEPTED AND SERVED BY SUCH LOCALITY.
4. UPON THE CONCLUSION OF ANY PROGRAMS OR SERVICES PROVIDED BY A COUN-
TY OR MUNICIPALITY TO ASYLUM SEEKERS, ANY REMAINING MONIES IN THE FUND
MAY BE APPLIED TO REDUCE ANY INDEBTEDNESS OR OBLIGATIONS INCURRED TO
EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
5. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION "ASYLUM SEEKER" SHALL REFER TO AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO CHANGES THEIR COUNTRY OF USUAL RESIDENCE TO SEEK TEMPO-
RARY OR PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, AND WHO HAS APPLIED FOR
ASYLUM UNDER 8 U.S. CODE § 1158 OR IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY; OR WHO IS A
REFUGEE AS DEFINED BY SECTION 101(A)(42) OF THE IMMIGRATION AND NATION-
ALITY ACT (INA).
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.