Senate Bill S1966

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1966

SPONSOR: RYAN C
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring social
services districts to automatically re-enroll eligible persons or house-
holds for the low-income home energy assistance program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to require that all social services
districts in New York State automatically re-enroll eligible households
and individuals in HEAP

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would amend Section 97 of the social services law
to require that every social services district automatically re-enroll
individuals or households receiving home energy assistance through the
low-income home energy assistance program (HEAP) as long as they contin-
ue to meet federal and state eligibility requirements and standards.
              

Section 2 of this bill would provide that the effective date shall take
effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2022, New York State utility companies warned customers that their
home heating bills could rise 17' to 40k this winter. It is critical
that eligible low income New Yorkers continue to receive HEAP benefits
without interruption or are burdened with reapplying every year. Amid
record inflation and continuing economic hardships caused by the pandem-
ic, low-income families will continue to struggle to make ends meet. It
is critical low-income New Yorkers are able to keep their heating bills
as low as possible.

In some parts of the state, individuals and families who receive HEAP
benefits are already re-enrolled automatically if they qualify based on
their enrollment in other social service programs such as Public Assist-
ance, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, and the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, in many other parts of the
state New Yorkers need to reapply, and many people don't even know
whether they will be automatically re-enrolled or not. This legislation
would make automatic re-enrollment a uniform requirement in every social
services district throughout the state, ensuring all low-income New
Yorkers continue to receive this critical assistance in paying their
rising heating bills this winter.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: S.2496 (Mannion) - Passed the Senate in 2023 and 2024.

2021-22: S.9578 (Mannion) - Referred to Rules.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To Be Determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.