NY State Senate Bill 2023-S4561A

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Social Services Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to social services returned to senate died in assembly
Jun 08, 2023	referred to social services delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.1743 committee discharged and committed to rules
Jun 01, 2023	print number 4561a
Jun 01, 2023	amend and recommit to social services
Feb 10, 2023	referred to social services

Votes

- Jun 8, 2023 - Floor Vote
  S4561A
  
  44
  
  Aye
  
  18
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  1
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: Jun 8, 2023
      
      aye (44)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Bailey
      
      Breslin
      
      Brisport
      
      Brouk
      
      Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick
      
      Chu
      
      Cleare
      
      Comrie
      
      Felder
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gianaris
      
      Gonzalez
      
      Gounardes
      
      Harckham
      
      Hinchey
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Jackson
      
      Kavanagh
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      Lanza
      
      Liu
      
      Mannion
      
      Martinez
      
      May
      
      Mayer
      
      Myrie
      
      Palumbo
      
      Parker
      
      Persaud
      
      Ramos
      
      Rivera
      
      Ryan
      
      Salazar
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Scarcella-Spanton
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serrano
      
      Skoufis
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Thomas
      
      Webb
      
      nay (18)
      
      Ashby
      
      Borrello
      
      Gallivan
      
      Griffo
      
      Helming
      
      Martins
      
      Mattera
      
      Murray
      
      O'Mara
      
      Oberacker
      
      Ortt
      
      Rhoads
      
      Rolison
      
      Stec
      
      Tedisco
      
      Walczyk
      
      Weber
      
      Weik
      
      excused (1)
      
      Cooney
  Jun 8, 2023 - Rules Committee Vote
  S4561A
  
  15
  
  Aye
  
  4
  
  Nay
  
  1
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  1
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Rules Committee Vote: Jun 8, 2023
      
      aye (15)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Bailey
      
      Breslin
      
      Comrie
      
      Fernandez
      
      Gianaris
      
      Kennedy
      
      Krueger
      
      Lanza
      
      Liu
      
      Mayer
      
      Parker
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Thomas
      
      nay (4)
      
      Gallivan
      
      Griffo
      
      Helming
      
      Ortt
      
      aye wr (1)
      
      Stec
      
      excused (1)
      
      O'Mara

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2023-S4561 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5649
Current Committee:: Senate Social Services
Law Section:: Social Services Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §17, Soc Serv L; amd §16-gg, UDC Act
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S9030
2021-2022: S3593, A8552

2023-S4561 - Summary

Provides "WiFi service" internet access to all individuals residing in temporary housing; relates to funding for internet service under the ConnectAll digital equity grant program.

2023-S4561 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4561

SPONSOR: GONZALEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to providing inter-
net access to all individuals residing in temporary housing; and to
amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in relation
to the ConnectAll  digital  equity grant program

 
PURPOSE::

To ensure that all individuals receiving temporary housing assistance
have access to the internet.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 17 of the social services law as relettered by
adding a new subdivision 1 to require temporary housing facilities to
provide internet access to all residents. Shelters must provide wireless
internet service in all common and private areas and have sufficient
strength to be used simultaneously by all residents.  Subsection 1

defines "personal information" and includes data privacy protections for
users of WiFi in shelters.

Section 2 amends section 153 of the social service law to add a new
subdivision 13 to require the state to reimburse temporary housing
facilities for 100% of the cost of providing internet access.

Section 3 amends subdivision 10 of section 16-gg of chapter 174 of the
laws of 1968, as amended by section 2 part MM of chapter 58 of the laws
of 2022 to include funding internet access in temporary housing facili-
ties to the duties of the ConnectAll program.

Section 4 sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the New York City Department of Social Services, most of
the 450 homeless shelters in New York City do not provide wife for resi-
dents. In a 2019 survey of shelter residents by the City Bar Justice
Association, residents detailed their frustrations. Most were either
unable to access the internet regularly or had to spend their limited
resources on phone plans with data. For residents looking for a job or
housing, or trying to access city resources, being unable to access the
internet is costly. Residents reported that they lost out on jobs or had
to use limited funds to pay for internet access instead of food or other
essential items.

For the estimated 114,000 children who live in shelters in New York
City, being unable to access the internet has made remote learning inac-
cessible. There are countless accounts of students who received laptops
from the New York City Department of Education, but had no access to
wifi. In some cases, students received wifi enabled devices, but still
could not access the internet for school because of spotty cell recep-
tion in their shelter.

This legislation would require all temporary housing facilities to
provide internet access for all individuals residing in temporary hous-
ing in their district. That includes, but is not limited to, family
shelters, shelters for adults, domestic violence shelters, runaway and
homeless youth shelters, and safe houses for refugees.  The costs will
be reimbursed by the State.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::

2021-2022: S3593C/S8552B - Died in Social Services/Died in Social
Services

2020: S9030/A11108 - Died in Rules/Died in Social Services

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

This act shall take effect immediately.

*1
https://www.nytimes.corn/2020/03/26/nyregion/new-york-homelessstudentsco
ronavirus.html

*2
https://www.citybarjusticecenterom/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/HomelessNe
ed-InternetAccess-toFind-a-Home-2020-Report.pdf

*3 For example:
https://citylimits.orq/2020/03/27/online-learning-means-newbarriers-for-
nycshomelessstudents/

https://wwvv.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/nyregion/new-york-homeless-studentsco
ronavirus.html

2023-S4561 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4561
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. GONZALEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to providing inter-
   net access to all individuals residing in temporary  housing;  and  to
   amend  the  New  York  state  urban  development  corporation  act, in
   relation to the ConnectAll  digital  equity grant program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision (k) of section 17 of the social services law,
 as relettered by chapter 424 of the laws of 2017, is relettered subdivi-
 sion (l) and a new subdivision (k) is added to read as follows:
   (K) REQUIRE THAT ALL TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITIES SHALL PROVIDE  UNIN-
 TERRUPTED  ACCESS  TO  HIGH-SPEED  BROADBAND  INTERNET  SERVICE AND WIFI
 SERVICE TO ALL INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN SUCH TEMPORARY HOUSING.  THE WIFI
 SERVICE SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT ALL PRIVATE AND COMMON  AREAS
 ACCESSIBLE  TO  RESIDENTS.  SUCH WIFI SERVICE MUST BE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH
 PERSONAL DEVICES OF THE RESIDENTS.  THE  WIFI  SERVICE  SIGNAL  STRENGTH
 SHALL  BE  CONSISTENT  AND SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT SIMULTANEOUS USE BY ALL
 RESIDENTS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "HIGH-SPEED BROAD-
 BAND INTERNET SERVICE" MEANS INTERNET SERVICE WITH DOWNLOAD SPEEDS OF AT
 LEAST ONE GIGABIT PER SECOND AND UPLOAD SPEEDS OF AT LEAST  ONE  GIGABIT
 PER SECOND, OR IF SUCH SPEEDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE THE MAXIMUM DOWNLOAD AND
 UPLOAD  SPEEDS  COMMERCIALLY  AVAILABLE WITHIN THE LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES
 DISTRICT, UNLESS A PLAN WITH  LOWER  SPEEDS  IS  DEEMED  SUFFICIENT  AND
 APPROVED BY THE DIVISION OF BROADBAND ACCESS OF THE NEW YORK STATE URBAN
 DEVELOPMENT  CORPORATION,  AND  THE  TERM "WIFI SERVICE" MEANS ACCESS TO
 HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET THROUGH WIRELESS ROUTER WHICH CONNECTS  TO
 THE INTERNET BY WIRE OR CABLE.  FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, TEMPO-
 RARY  HOUSING  SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, SHELTERS FOR ADULTS,
 SHELTERS FOR ADULT FAMILIES, SMALL-CAPACITY SHELTERS, SHELTERS FOR FAMI-
 LIES WITH CHILDREN, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE  SHELTERS,  RUNAWAY  AND  HOMELESS
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05533-01-3

 S. 4561                             2
 
 YOUTH SHELTERS, SHELTERS IN HOTELS OR SHELTERS FOR REFUGEES. EACH TEMPO-
 RARY HOUSING FACILITY SHALL SUBMIT THEIR PLAN TO PROVIDE INTERNET ACCESS
 PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBDIVISION  TO  THE  DEPARTMENT  FOR  OVERSIGHT AND
 APPROVAL  WITHIN  ONE  HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
 SUBDIVISION. TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITIES  SHALL  IMPLEMENT  AND  COMPLY
 WITH SUCH PLANS WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS OF SUCH APPROVAL.
   (1)  (I)  A  TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY SHALL NOT USE, DISCLOSE, SELL,
 RETAIN, OR PERMIT ACCESS TO THE PERSONAL  INFORMATION  PERTAINING  TO  A
 PERSON RESIDING IN TEMPORARY HOUSING OBTAINED IN THE COURSE OF PROVIDING
 INTERNET ACCESS EXCEPT AS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SUCH ACCESS WITHOUT REGARD
 TO  CONTENT, APPLICATION, SERVICE, OR USE OF A NON-HARMFUL DEVICE, OR TO
 RESPOND TO A WARRANT ISSUED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT  JURISDICTION  UNDER
 THE  PROCEDURES  DESCRIBED IN THE FEDERAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE OR
 ARTICLE SIX HUNDRED NINETY OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW.
   (II) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, PERSONAL INFORMATION  SHALL
 MEAN  INFORMATION  THAT  DIRECTLY  OR INDIRECTLY IDENTIFIES, RELATES TO,
 DESCRIBES, IS CAPABLE OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH, OR COULD  REASONABLY  BE
 LINKED TO A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, OR PERSONAL DEVICE.  INFORMA-
 TION IS REASONABLY LINKABLE TO AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, OR PERSONAL DEVICE
 IF  IT  CAN  BE  USED ON ITS OWN OR IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER REASONABLY
 AVAILABLE INFORMATION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH OTHER  INFORMATION  IS
 HELD  BY  THE SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT OR TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY, TO
 IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, OR A PERSONAL DEVICE.
   (2) ANY CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT  FOR  INTERNET  ACCESS  PROVIDED  BY  AN
 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO A TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY SHALL HAVE THE
 SAME  TERMS AND CONDITIONS, OTHER THAN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION,
 AS THE REGULARLY PRICED COMPARABLE INTERNET PLAN OFFERED BY SUCH  INTER-
 NET SERVICE PROVIDER.
   (3)  LOCAL  SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS AND TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITIES
 SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO ACTIVELY MONITOR  OR  CONTROL  THE  INFORMATION
 ACCESSED  THROUGH THE WIFI SERVICE AND SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR
 ANY ILLEGAL  AND/OR  CRIMINAL  ACTIVITIES  COMMITTED,  ORCHESTRATED,  OR
 ORGANIZED THROUGH THE PROVIDED WIFI ACCESS BY RESIDENTS.
   § 2. Section 153 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 13 to read as follows:
   13.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ONE
 HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE COST FOR THE EXPENSE INCURRED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE
 DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION BY  TEMPORARY  HOUSING  FACILITIES  TO  PROVIDE
 INTERNET  ACCESS  AS REQUIRED BY SUBDIVISION (K) OF SECTION SEVENTEEN OF
 THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE.
   § 3. Subdivision 10 of section 16-gg of section 1 of  chapter  174  of
 the laws of 1968, as added by section 2 of part MMM of chapter 58 of the
 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   10.  ConnectAll  digital  equity grant program. The ConnectAll digital
 equity grant program is hereby established  to  support  individuals  to
 have  the  information technology capacity needed for full participation
 in society and the economy, including the effective implementation of  a
 State Digital Equity Plan or any successor plan AND TO FACILITATE, FUND,
 OR  REIMBURSE,  THE PROVISION OF INTERNET ACCESS AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVI-
 SION (K) OF SECTION 17 AND SECTION  153  OF  THE  SOCIAL  SERVICES  LAW.
 Grants  issued pursuant to this program shall be awarded in a manner and
 form as determined by the division consistent with all relevant  federal
 laws,  codes, rules, and regulations associated with the federal Digital
 Equity Act as established under the Infrastructure Investment  and  Jobs
 Act. The division shall establish such State Digital Equity Plan and the
 procedures  to  solicit,  receive and evaluate proposals for the program
 S. 4561                             3
 
 consistent with rules, regulations, or  guidelines  established  by  the
 commissioner.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately.  Effective immediately,
 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regulation  neces-
 sary  for  the  implementation  of  this  act  on its effective date are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5649
Current Committee:: Senate Social Services
Law Section:: Social Services Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §17, Soc Serv L; amd §16-gg, UDC Act
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S9030
2021-2022: S3593, A8552

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides "WiFi service" internet access to all individuals residing in temporary housing; relates to funding for internet service under the ConnectAll digital equity grant program.

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4561A

SPONSOR: GONZALEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to providing inter-
net access to all individuals residing in temporary housing; and to
amend the New York state urban development corporation act, in relation
to the ConnectAll  digital  equity grant program

 
PURPOSE:

To ensure that all individuals receiving temporary housing assistance
have access to the internet.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 17 of the social services law as relettered by
adding a new subdivision 1 to require temporary housing facilities to
provide internet access to all residents. Shelters must provide wireless
internet service in common and private areas and have sufficient
strength. Subsection 1 defines "personal information" and includes data

privacy protections for users of WiFi in shelters.

Section 2 provides that a related contract between a shelter and an
internet service provider shall have the same terms and conditions as
regularly priced comparable internet plans offered by the provider.

Section 3 provides that shelter employees shall not be required to
actively monitor or control the information accessed through the
provided WiFi.

Section 4 provides that if the WiFi requires a password, the password
must be conspicuously displayed

Section 5 provides that a temporary housing facility that is a
hotel/motel shall provide free WiFi to those using the hotel as tempo-
rary housing if they provide free WiFi to patrons.

Subdivision 2 amends subdivision 10 of section 16-gg of chapter 174 of
the laws of 1968, as amended by section 2 part MM of chapter 58 of the
laws of 2022, to include funding internet access in temporary housing
facilities to the duties of the ConnectAll program.

Section 3 sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the New York City Department of Social Services, most of
the 450 homeless shelters in New York City do not provide WiFi for resi-
dents. In a 2019 survey of shelter residents by the City Bar Justice
Association, residents detailed their frustrations. Most were either
unable to access the internet regularly or had to spend their limited
resources on phone plans with data. For residents looking for a job or
housing, or trying to access city resources, being unable to access the
internet is costly. Residents reported that they lost out on jobs or had
to use limited funds to pay for internet access instead of food or other
essential items.

For the estimated 114,000 children who live in shelters in New York
City, being unable to access the internet has made remote learning inac-
cessible. There are countless accounts of students who received laptops
from the New York City Department of Education, but had no access to
WiFi. In some cases, students received WiFi-enabled devices, but still
could not access the internet for school because of spotty cell recep-
tion in their shelter.

This legislation would require all temporary housing facilities to
provide internet access to all individuals residing in temporary housing
in their district. That includes, but is not limited to, family shel-
ters, shelters for adults, domestic violence shelters, runaway and home-
less youth shelters, and safe houses for refugees.  The costs will be
reimbursed by the Stat through the ConnectAll program.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023: S4561 - Referred to Social Services

2021-2022: S3593C/S8552B - Died in Social Services/Died in Social

Services 2020: S9030/A11108 - Died in Rules/Died in Social Services

 
FISCAL IMPACT ON THE STATE: To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.  *1
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/nyregion/new-york- homelessstudents-
cor onavirus.html *2 https://www.citybarjusticecenterom/wp-
content/uploads/ 2020/05/HomelessNe
ed-InternetAccess-toFind-a-Home-2020-Report.pdf
*3 For example:  https://citylimits.orq/2020/03/27/online-learning-
means-newbarriers-for- nyc shomelessstud ent s/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/nyregion/new- york-homeless-students-
cor onavirus.html

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  4561--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. GONZALEZ, BAILEY, BRISPORT, BROUK, CLEARE, GIANARIS,
   GOUNARDES,  HARCKHAM, HINCHEY, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, JACKSON, KENNEDY, MYRIE,
   RAMOS, RIVERA, SALAZAR, SANDERS, SEPULVEDA, SERRANO -- read twice  and
   ordered  printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
   Social  Services  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,   ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to providing inter-
   net  access  to  all individuals residing in temporary housing; and to
   amend the  New  York  state  urban  development  corporation  act,  in
   relation to the ConnectAll  digital  equity grant program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision (k) of section 17 of the social  services  law,
 as relettered by chapter 424 of the laws of 2017, is relettered subdivi-
 sion (l) and a new subdivision (k) is added to read as follows:
   (K) REQUIRE THAT ALL TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITIES SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS
 TO  HIGH-SPEED  BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE AND WIFI SERVICE TO ALL INDI-
 VIDUALS RESIDING IN SUCH TEMPORARY HOUSING.  THE WIFI SERVICE  SHALL  BE
 MADE  AVAILABLE  IN  PRIVATE  AND  COMMON AREAS ACCESSIBLE TO RESIDENTS.
 SUCH SHELTER SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE ROUTER AND AT LEAST ONE  MODEM,  OR
 ANY  TECHNOLOGICAL EQUIVALENT THAT PERFORMS THE FUNCTION OF PROVIDING AN
 AREA WITH HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE.   FOR THE  PURPOSES  OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET SERVICE" MEANS
 INTERNET SERVICE WITH DOWNLOAD SPEEDS OF AT LEAST ONE GIGABIT PER SECOND
 AND  UPLOAD SPEEDS OF AT LEAST ONE GIGABIT PER SECOND, OR IF SUCH SPEEDS
 ARE NOT AVAILABLE THE MAXIMUM DOWNLOAD AND  UPLOAD  SPEEDS  COMMERCIALLY
 AVAILABLE  WITHIN  THE  LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT.   THE TERM "WIFI
 SERVICE" MEANS ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND INTERNET THROUGH  WIRELESS
 ROUTER WHICH CONNECTS TO THE INTERNET BY WIRE OR CABLE.  FOR PURPOSES OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION, TEMPORARY HOUSING SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
 SHELTERS  FOR  ADULTS, SHELTERS FOR ADULT FAMILIES, SMALL-CAPACITY SHEL-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05533-04-3

 S. 4561--A                          2
 
 TERS, SHELTERS FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN, DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE  SHELTERS,
 RUNAWAY  AND HOMELESS YOUTH SHELTERS, SHELTERS IN HOTELS OR SHELTERS FOR
 REFUGEES. EACH TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY SHALL  SUBMIT  THEIR  PLAN  TO
 PROVIDE  INTERNET  ACCESS PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION TO THE DEPARTMENT
 FOR OVERSIGHT AND APPROVAL WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
 SUBDIVISION. TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITIES  SHALL  IMPLEMENT  AND  COMPLY
 WITH SUCH PLANS WITHIN ONE YEAR OF SUCH APPROVAL.
   (1)  (I)  A  TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY SHALL NOT USE, DISCLOSE, SELL,
 RETAIN, OR PERMIT ACCESS TO THE PERSONAL  INFORMATION  PERTAINING  TO  A
 PERSON RESIDING IN TEMPORARY HOUSING OBTAINED IN THE COURSE OF PROVIDING
 INTERNET ACCESS EXCEPT AS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE SUCH ACCESS WITHOUT REGARD
 TO  CONTENT, APPLICATION, SERVICE, OR USE OF A NON-HARMFUL DEVICE, OR TO
 RESPOND TO A WARRANT OR SUBPOENA ISSUED BY A COURT OF  COMPETENT  JURIS-
 DICTION.
   (II)  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, PERSONAL INFORMATION SHALL
 MEAN INFORMATION THAT DIRECTLY OR  INDIRECTLY  IDENTIFIES,  RELATES  TO,
 DESCRIBES,  IS  CAPABLE OF BEING ASSOCIATED WITH, OR COULD REASONABLY BE
 LINKED TO A PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, OR PERSONAL DEVICE.  INFORMA-
 TION IS REASONABLY LINKABLE TO AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, OR PERSONAL DEVICE
 IF IT CAN BE USED ON ITS OWN OR IN  COMBINATION  WITH  OTHER  REASONABLY
 AVAILABLE  INFORMATION,  REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH OTHER INFORMATION IS
 HELD BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT OR TEMPORARY HOUSING  FACILITY,  TO
 IDENTIFY AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, OR A PERSONAL DEVICE.
   (2)  ANY  CONTRACT  OR  AGREEMENT  FOR  INTERNET ACCESS PROVIDED BY AN
 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO A TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY SHALL HAVE THE
 SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS, OTHER THAN THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS  SECTION,
 AS  THE REGULARLY PRICED COMPARABLE INTERNET PLAN OFFERED BY SUCH INTER-
 NET SERVICE PROVIDER.
   (3) LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS, TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITIES, AND
 THEIR EMPLOYEES AND SUBCONTRACTORS SHALL NOT  BE  REQUIRED  TO  ACTIVELY
 MONITOR OR CONTROL THE INFORMATION ACCESSED THROUGH THE WIFI SERVICE AND
 SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ILLEGAL AND/OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES
 COMMITTED,  ORCHESTRATED,  OR ORGANIZED THROUGH THE PROVIDED WIFI ACCESS
 BY RESIDENTS.
   (4) WHERE CREDENTIALS, SUCH AS A PASSWORD AND USERNAME, ARE  NECESSARY
 TO  ACCESS WIFI, TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITIES MUST CONSPICUOUSLY DISPLAY
 SUCH CREDENTIALS IN ALL PUBLIC AREAS OF THE FACILITY. TEMPORARY  HOUSING
 FACILITIES  NEED  NOT  DISCLOSE  THE  CREDENTIALS TO ACCESS WIFI THAT IS
 RESERVED FOR STAFF OR EMERGENCY SERVICE USE.
   (5) WHERE A TEMPORARY HOUSING FACILITY IS A HOTEL OR MOTEL AS  DEFINED
 IN  SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-V OF THIS CHAPTER, AND SUCH TEMPORARY
 HOUSING FACILITY PROVIDES WIFI ACCESS TO PATRONS AT NO ADDITIONAL  COST,
 SUCH  FACILITY  SHALL  PROVIDE  WIFI TO ALL RESIDENTS, WITHOUT DISCRIMI-
 NATION AT NO ADDITIONAL COST.
   § 2.  Subdivision 10 of section 16-gg of section 1 of chapter  174  of
 the laws of 1968, as added by section 2 of part MMM of chapter 58 of the
 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   10.  ConnectAll  digital  equity grant program. The ConnectAll digital
 equity grant program is hereby established  to  support  individuals  to
 have  the  information technology capacity needed for full participation
 in society and the economy, including the effective implementation of  a
 State Digital Equity Plan or any successor plan AND TO FACILITATE, FUND,
 OR  REIMBURSE,  THE PROVISION OF INTERNET ACCESS AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVI-
 SION (K) OF SECTION 17 AND SECTION  153  OF  THE  SOCIAL  SERVICES  LAW.
 Grants  issued pursuant to this program shall be awarded in a manner and
 form as determined by the division consistent with all relevant  federal
 S. 4561--A                          3

 laws,  codes, rules, and regulations associated with the federal Digital
 Equity Act as established under the Infrastructure Investment  and  Jobs
 Act. The division shall establish such State Digital Equity Plan and the
 procedures  to  solicit,  receive and evaluate proposals for the program
 consistent with rules, regulations, or  guidelines  established  by  the
 commissioner.
   §  3.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
 the amendments to subdivision (l) of section 17 of the  social  services
 law  made by section one of this act shall not affect the repeal of such
 subdivision and shall be deemed repealed therewith. Effective immediate-
 ly, 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.

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Senate Bill S4561A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Social Services Committee

Jun 8, 2023 - Floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jun 8, 2023

Jun 8, 2023 - Rules Committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jun 8, 2023

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2023-S4561 - Details

2023-S4561 - Summary

2023-S4561 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4561 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4561A

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Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Social Services Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2023-S4561 - Details

2023-S4561 - Summary

2023-S4561 - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4561 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S4561A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments