S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
735
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, SIMON, SHIMSKY, FORREST,
GIBBS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Children and Fami-
lies
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to expanding the
age range for eligibility for the rent subsidy payable to a foster
child living independently
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5 of section 409-a of the
social services law, as amended by section 1 of part BB of chapter 56 of
the laws of 2023, is amended to read as follows:
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, where a
social services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is
the primary factor preventing the discharge of a child or children from
foster care including, but not limited to, children with the goal of
discharge to independent living, preventive services shall include, in
addition to any other payments or benefits received by the family,
special cash grants in the form of rent subsidies, including rent
arrears, or any other assistance, sufficient to obtain adequate housing.
Such rent subsidies or assistance shall not exceed the sum of seven
hundred twenty-five dollars per month, shall not be provided for a peri-
od of more than three years, MAY BE PROVIDED UP TO AGE TWENTY-FOUR FOR
YOUTH DISCHARGED FROM FOSTER CARE, and shall be considered a special
grant. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability
of those using such rent subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions
of this paragraph shall not be construed to limit such official's
authority to provide other preventive services.
§ 2. Subdivision 7 of section 409-a of the social services law, as
amended by section 2 of part BB of chapter 56 of the laws of 2023, is
amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01532-01-5
A. 735 2
7. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a social
services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is a factor
that may cause the entry of a child or children into foster care and the
family has at least one service need other than lack of adequate hous-
ing, preventive services may include, in addition to any other payments
or benefits received by the family, special cash grants in the form of
rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance, suffi-
cient to obtain adequate housing. Such rent subsidies or assistance
shall not exceed the sum of seven hundred twenty-five dollars per month,
shall not be provided for a period of more than three years, MAY BE
PROVIDED UP TO AGE TWENTY-FOUR FOR YOUTH DISCHARGED FROM FOSTER CARE,
and shall be considered a special grant. Nothing in this subdivision
shall be construed to limit the ability of those using such rent subsidy
to live with roommates. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be
construed to limit such official's authority to provide other preventive
services.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.