S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6632
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to  establishing  a
   state-funded  supplemental nutrition assistance program to provide for
   the state's immigrant population

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "SNAP for all act".
   § 2. Legislative intent. The supplemental nutrition assistance program
 (SNAP) is a federal entitlement  program,  administered  by  the  state,
 providing  nutrition benefits to low-income families and individuals. In
 New York, SNAP is the largest and most impactful antihunger  program  in
 the state, providing vital food assistance to nearly 3 million New York-
 ers  each  month. SNAP is also an effective antipoverty program, lifting
 more than 550,000 New Yorkers out of poverty each year. However, federal
 law prohibits participation in SNAP for  many  low-income  New  Yorkers,
 solely due to their immigration status.
   The  COVID-19  pandemic  and its aftermath have greatly increased food
 insecurity among low-income New Yorkers, and disproportionately impacted
 immigrants with low income. Food prices have recently risen significant-
 ly due to inflation, further exacerbating food insecurity  and  hardship
 for  New  Yorkers  with  low incomes. Research published in the American
 Journal of Preventive Medicine has found that immigrants without  access
 to  SNAP  are  nearly  twice as likely to be food insecure compared with
 U.S.-born and naturalized citizens. Access  to  food  benefits  must  be
 expanded to all low-income New Yorkers regardless of immigration status.
   It  is  the intent of the legislature that all New Yorkers, regardless
 of immigration status, have access to food assistance  to  maximize  the
 impact  of nutrition safety net funding to reduce poverty, fight hunger,
 and improve health for all low-income New Yorkers.  The  intent  of  the
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10135-01-5
              

 A. 6632                             2
 
 legislature  is  to create a program known as "SNAP for all," which will
 provide a state-funded benefit for excluded immigrant  New  Yorkers,  to
 operate in a manner as similar as possible to the current SNAP program.
   §  3.  The social services law is amended by adding a new section 95-b
 to read as follows:
   § 95-B. SNAP FOR ALL PROGRAM. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   (A) "SNAP" SHALL MEAN THE FEDERAL  SUPPLEMENTAL  NUTRITION  ASSISTANCE
 PROGRAM.
   (B)  "SNAP  FOR  ALL"  SHALL BE THE OFFICIAL NAME OF NEW YORK'S STATE-
 FUNDED SNAP PROGRAM, ENACTED BY THIS SECTION.
   (C) "THE OFFICE" SHALL MEAN THE OFFICE  OF  TEMPORARY  AND  DISABILITY
 ASSISTANCE.
   (D) "MIXED-STATUS HOUSEHOLD" SHALL MEAN A HOUSEHOLD MADE UP OF PERSONS
 WITH  DIFFERENT  IMMIGRATION  STATUSES AND, THEREFORE, DIFFERENT FEDERAL
 SNAP ELIGIBILITIES.
   2. (A) THE COMMISSIONER OF TEMPORARY  AND  DISABILITY  ASSISTANCE,  IN
 CONJUNCTION  WITH ALL RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES, SHALL ESTABLISH
 AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO BE KNOWN AS SNAP FOR ALL.
   (B) THE OFFICE SHALL ADOPT  ANY  RULES  OR  REGULATIONS  NECESSARY  TO
 IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION.
   (C)  THE  OFFICE  IS  EMPOWERED,  WITH THE CONSENT AND APPROVAL OF THE
 GOVERNOR, TO DELEGATE OR ASSIGN TO ANY OTHER OFFICE  OR  AGENCY  OF  THE
 STATE THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH FUNCTION OR FUNCTIONS UNDER THE PROVISIONS
 OF  THIS  SECTION  AS  MAY  BE APPROPRIATE. ANY SUCH STATE DEPARTMENT OR
 AGENCY IS HEREBY EMPOWERED TO AND SHALL PERFORM THE  FUNCTION  OR  FUNC-
 TIONS SO DELEGATED OR ASSIGNED TO IT.
   3.  (A)  INDIVIDUALS  OR  HOUSEHOLDS  PERMANENTLY RESIDING IN NEW YORK
 STATE SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP FOR ALL IF  SUCH  PERSON  OR  HOUSEHOLD
 MEETS THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRI-
 TION  ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, BUT SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD IS NOT ELIGI-
 BLE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS SOLELY DUE TO
 IMMIGRATION STATUS, INCLUDING  BEING  SUBJECT  TO  AN  IMMIGRATION-BASED
 WAITING PERIOD.
   (B) (I) IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD QUALIFIES FOR FEDERAL SNAP BENE-
 FITS,  SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD SHALL NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE NEW
 YORK SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS.
   (II) IF AN INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD BECOMES ELIGIBLE  AND  IS  APPROVED
 FOR  FEDERAL  SNAP BENEFITS WHILE RECEIVING OR APPLYING FOR SNAP FOR ALL
 BENEFITS, SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD SHALL BE TRANSITIONED TO  FEDERAL
 SNAP  BENEFITS  AS  SOON AS IS PRACTICABLE. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH A
 STREAMLINED PROCEDURE FOR THIS TRANSITION AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE,  WHERE
 PRACTICABLE.
   (C) BEING A MEMBER OF A MIXED-STATUS HOUSEHOLD SHALL NOT BE A DISQUAL-
 IFYING FACTOR FOR AN INDIVIDUAL'S ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE BENEFITS.
   (D) ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS SHALL BE THE SAME AS FEDERAL
 SNAP  ELIGIBILITY WITH REGARD TO INCOME, RESOURCE, AND WORK REQUIREMENTS
 AND HOUSEHOLD STATUS, AS WELL AS SPECIAL  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  THOSE  WITH
 DISABILITIES,  DEPENDENTS,  THOSE  IN REHABILITATION PROGRAMS, AND OTHER
 EXCEPTIONAL SITUATIONS. NO RESOURCES WHICH ARE EXCLUDED FROM DETERMINING
 ELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS SHALL BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINING
 ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS.
   (E) IF THERE IS ANY UNCERTAINTY ABOUT  AN  INDIVIDUAL  OR  HOUSEHOLD'S
 ELIGIBILITY  TO  RECEIVE SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS, THE APPLICATION SHALL BE
 PROCESSED IN THE LIGHT MOST FAVORABLE TO THE APPLICANT.
   (F) AN INDIVIDUAL OR  HOUSEHOLD'S  ELIGIBILITY  OR  RECEIPT  OF  OTHER
 PUBLIC  BENEFITS  SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED BY RECEIPT OF SNAP FOR ALL BENE-
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 FITS, NOR SHALL THESE FACTORS AFFECT ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE SNAP FOR ALL
 BENEFITS.
   (G)  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  LAW  TO THE CONTRARY, SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS
 SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED INCOME OR RESOURCES FOR ANY  PURPOSE,  INCLUDING
 TAXATION.
   4.  (A) THE BENEFIT AMOUNT FOR A SNAP FOR ALL RECIPIENT SHALL BE IDEN-
 TICAL TO THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE PROVIDED TO  SUCH  RECIPIENT
 HAD THEY BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS.
   (B)  TO THE EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE LAW, THE DELIV-
 ERY OF SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS SHALL  BE  IDENTICAL  TO  THE  DELIVERY  OF
 FEDERAL  SNAP BENEFITS TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND HOUSEHOLDS, INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO PAYMENT SCHEDULE AND PAYMENT METHOD.
   (C) WHEN AN ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT UNDER THIS SECTION IS ISSUED AN AUTHOR-
 IZATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SNAP FOR ALL PROGRAM BY WRITTEN  OR  ELEC-
 TRONIC MEANS, SUCH AUTHORIZATION TO PARTICIPATE MAY BE REDEEMED FOR SNAP
 FOR ALL BENEFITS AT DESIGNATED REDEMPTION CENTERS BY THE RECIPIENT OR BY
 AN  AUTHORIZED  REPRESENTATIVE.  WHEN  AN  ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT UNDER THIS
 SECTION IS ISSUED SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS, SUCH SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS  MAY
 BE  USED TO PURCHASE FOOD ITEMS FROM A FOOD DISTRIBUTOR BY THE RECIPIENT
 OR BY AN AUTHORIZED  REPRESENTATIVE.  ANY  OTHER  TRANSFER  OR  SALE  OF
 AUTHORIZATIONS  TO PARTICIPATE IN SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS SHALL CONSTITUTE
 AN UNAUTHORIZED USE OF SAID AUTHORIZATIONS OR BENEFITS.
   (D) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "AUTHORIZED  REPRESENTATIVE"
 SHALL  BE  DEFINED  IN  REGULATIONS  PROMULGATED  BY THE COMMISSIONER OF
 TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE AND MADE  KNOWN  TO  ALL  DESIGNATED
 REDEMPTION  CENTERS.  SUCH  REPRESENTATIVE SHALL BE AN INDIVIDUAL WITHIN
 THE GUIDELINES THE COMMISSIONER DEFINES AND IS EXPLICITLY AUTHORIZED  BY
 THE  RECIPIENT  IN  SUCH  RECIPIENT'S BENEFIT APPLICATION. RECIPIENT MAY
 REVOKE OR INSTATE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES AT ANY TIME  ONCE  BENEFITS
 HAVE BEEN REDEEMED, PURSUANT TO THE OFFICE'S POLICY ON SUCH CHANGES.
   (E)  SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS SHALL BE ACCEPTED BY LOCAL NUTRITION INCEN-
 TIVES FOR FARMERS' AND GREEN MARKETS WHICH ACCEPT FEDERAL SNAP BENEFITS.
 THE OFFICE MAY WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO  ASSIST
 FARMERS'  AND  GREEN  MARKETS  TO ACCEPT SNAP BENEFITS TO REDUCE COMPLI-
 CATIONS FOR INDIVIDUAL BENEFICIARIES AND MARKETERS.
   5. (A) IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS OF THE OFFICE, EACH COMMISSIONER
 OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS AUTHORIZED AND SHALL APPLY FOR INCLUSION OF  THEIR
 SOCIAL  SERVICES DISTRICT IN THE SNAP FOR ALL PROGRAM. EACH COMMISSIONER
 SHALL ASSIST NEEDY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS  OF  THEIR  SOCIAL  SERVICES
 DISTRICT TO OBTAIN NUTRITIONALLY ADEQUATE DIETS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN
 SUCH  PROGRAM.  HOWEVER, ONLY THOSE PERSONS WHO QUALIFY FOR SNAP FOR ALL
 BENEFITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS, AND STANDARDS PROMULGAT-
 ED BY THE OFFICE, SHALL BE CERTIFIED AS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE  SUCH  BENE-
 FITS.
   (B)  SUBJECT  TO  STATE  REQUIREMENTS  THEREFOR,  EACH COMMISSIONER OF
 SOCIAL SERVICES IS AUTHORIZED AND SHALL ACT ON BEHALF OF THE OFFICE  AND
 RECEIVE,  STORE,  AND  ISSUE SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS, EITHER DIRECTLY, OR,
 WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE OFFICE, THROUGH A  BANKING  INSTITUTION  AND/OR
 OTHER APPROPRIATE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE AGENCY.
   (C)  EACH  COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL DEVELOP AND SUBMIT TO
 THE OFFICE FOR ITS APPROVAL A PLAN  DESCRIBING  THEIR  DISTRICT'S  OPER-
 ATIONS UNDER THIS SECTION, WHICH SHALL COMPLY WITH STATE REQUIREMENTS.
   (D)  (I)  EXCEPT AS NECESSARY FOR PROCESSING OF BENEFITS, ALL PERSONAL
 IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF APPLICANTS AND BENEFICIARIES OF THE SNAP  FOR
 ALL  PROGRAM,  INCLUDING  NAME,  DATE OF BIRTH, ADDRESS, FAMILY MEMBERS,
 PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS, EMPLOYER, IMMIGRATION STATUS,  COUNTRY  OF
 A. 6632                             4
 
 ORIGIN,  PERMANENT  RESIDENT  NUMBER,  ALIEN  REGISTRATION/UNITED STATES
 CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES NUMBER, OR  ANY  OTHER  IDENTIFYING
 NUMBERS OR INFORMATION THAT COULD BE USED TO LOCATE A PERSON OR GROUP OF
 PERSONS, SHALL BE TREATED AS HIGHLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION. THIS INFORMA-
 TION  SHALL  NOT BE DIVULGED TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCE-
 MENT OR ITS AGENTS, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE  OR  ITS  AGENTS,  OR  ANY
 OTHER  PROSECUTING  OR  IMMIGRATION  AUTHORITY  UNLESS DULY ORDERED BY A
 COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE AFFECTED SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT  OR
 THE OFFICE.
   (II)  AN INDIVIDUAL MAY ONLY ACCESS THE INFORMATION OF ANOTHER IF SUCH
 INDIVIDUAL IS SUCH BENEFICIARY OR APPLICANT'S CUSTODIAL PARENT OR GUARD-
 IAN OR SUCH INDIVIDUAL IS DESIGNATED AS AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE, AS
 DEFINED BY PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF THIS SECTION.
   (III) AN INDIVIDUAL MAY REQUEST ADDED SECURITY FOR  THEIR  INFORMATION
 SHOULD SUCH INDIVIDUAL BELIEVE THERE IS A THREAT OF UNLAWFUL USE OF THAT
 INFORMATION.
   6.  (A)  APPLICATION  AND  RECEIPT  OF SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS SHALL NOT
 AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S IMMIGRATION STATUS OR NATURALIZATION PROCESS, NOR
 SHALL SUCH APPLICATION BE REPORTED TO  ANY  IMMIGRATION  OR  PROSECUTING
 AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (D) OF SUBDIVISION FIVE OF THIS SECTION.
   (B)  APPLICATION  AND  RECEIPT OF SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS SHALL NOT MAKE
 SUCH APPLICANT OR RECIPIENT A PUBLIC CHARGE AND SHALL NOT BE  CONSIDERED
 IN A PUBLIC CHARGE DETERMINATION.
   7. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY, EXPENDITURES MADE BY A
 SOCIAL  SERVICES  DISTRICT  FOR THE PURPOSE OF CERTIFYING ELIGIBILITY OF
 NEEDY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE NOT  IN  RECEIPT
 OF  PUBLIC  ASSISTANCE  AND  CARE,  FOR  SNAP  FOR ALL BENEFITS, AND FOR
 DISTRIBUTING AND REDEEMING SUCH BENEFITS, SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS EXPEND-
 ITURES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND CARE AND SHALL BE
 SUBJECT TO REIMBURSEMENT BY THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE  PROVISIONS
 OF  SECTION ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER TO THE EXTENT OF ONE
 HUNDRED PERCENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION.
   (B) SUCH EXPENDITURES FOR SNAP FOR ALL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS  SHALL  BE
 SUBJECT  TO REIMBURSEMENT BY THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS TO
 BE DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE, WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE  APPROVAL  OF
 THE  DIRECTOR  OF  THE  BUDGET, SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL LAW AND
 REGULATIONS, AND SHALL BE BASED ON AN ALLOCATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
 ATTRIBUTABLE TO SNAP FOR ALL BENEFITS.
   8. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW  TO  THE  CONTRARY,  THE  OFFICE  SHALL
 DEVELOP  A  BRIEF, SIMPLE APPLICATION FORM FOR THE SNAP FOR ALL PROGRAM,
 WIDELY AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND ANY  ADDITIONAL  LANGUAGE  THE
 OFFICE DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
   (B)  THE  OFFICE SHALL DEVELOP AN OUTREACH PLAN THAT SEEKS TO MAXIMIZE
 PARTICIPATION IN SNAP FOR ALL BY ELIGIBLE  INDIVIDUALS  AND  HOUSEHOLDS.
 THE  OFFICE  SHALL  DEVELOP THIS PLAN IN CONSULTATION WITH FOOD OUTREACH
 ORGANIZATIONS AND CONSIDER HOW SUCH OUTREACH MAY BE  USED  TO  REACH  AS
 MANY POTENTIAL APPLICANTS AS POSSIBLE.
   (C)  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  ENSURE  SNAP  FOR ALL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES ARE
 PROVIDED IN A CULTURALLY COMPETENT MANNER, INCLUDING TIMELY  INTERPRETA-
 TION  SERVICES  TO  INDIVIDUALS  IN THEIR PRIMARY OR PREFERRED LANGUAGE.
 THIS INCLUDES IN-OFFICE  SERVICES,  SERVICES  PROVIDED  OUTSIDE  OF  THE
 OFFICE,  AND  PUBLIC-FACING  MATERIALS  INCLUDING  APPLICATION FORMS AND
 INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS RELATED TO SNAP  FOR  ALL.  THIS  SHALL  INCLUDE
 SPOKEN  OR  SIGNED, REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION IN WHICH THE QUALIFIED HUMAN
 INTERPRETER IS FLUENT IN BOTH THE SOURCE  AND  TARGET  LANGUAGE  AND  IS
 TRAINED AS AN INTERPRETER.
 A. 6632                             5
 
   9. THE OFFICE SHALL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE AND PUBLISH
 MONTHLY DATA WITH NON-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
 TO,  NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED, NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS PROCESSED,
 APPLICATION DETERMINATIONS, THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING BENEFITS,
 AND  THE  TOTAL  AMOUNT  OF  BENEFITS  PAID.  THE OFFICE MAY, BUT IS NOT
 REQUIRED TO, INCLUDE SNAP FOR ALL DATA WITH ITS MONTHLY SNAP REPORTING.
   § 4. This act shall take effect six months 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.