NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5925

Senate Bill S5925

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires local social services districts distribute shelter information specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming persons

download bill text pdf

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
Mar 04, 2025	referred to social services

2025-S5925 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5409
Current Committee:: Senate Social Services
Law Section:: Social Services Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §17, Soc Serv L

2025-S5925 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires local social services districts distribute shelter information specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming persons on the district's website and as pamphlets at intake shelters.

2025-S5925 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5925

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring local
social services districts distribute shelter information specifically
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming
persons

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill requires all local social service districts to provide infor-
mation on resources and shelter options available for LGBTQ+ residents.
This information shall be listed on the local social service agency's
webpage and in pamphlets provided at intake shelters.

If no LGBTQ+ shelter beds are available or offered, the agency shall
list resources of nearby non-profits and other LGBTQ+ shelter options
available.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends Section 17 of the social services law by adding a new
subdivision 40 which would require all local social service districts to
provide information on resources and accommodations for lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming individuals on their
shelter webpage and as a pamphlet provided to intake shelters.  Such
information shall: (i) specify where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen-
der, and gender non-conforming individuals may go if they are looking to
be housed in a shelter and (ii) include whether lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and gender non-conforming shelter beds are an option in
their municipality. In the case that there are no such shelter beds, the
agency shall list resources of nearby non-profits or other lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming shelter options within
the municipality.

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Often, when someone searches for information on homeless shelters, only
"Male" and "Femal" shelter options appear. It can be difficult for some-
one to know if LGBTQ+ shelter beds or shelter alternatives are available
within their municipality. This bill, therefore, ensures LGBTQ+ resi-
dents are informed of all their options and what resources are avail-
able.

This bill is especially pertinent as LGBTQ+ adults and youth are fat
more likely to experience homelessness than the general population.  In
New York City, about 40% of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers report experiencing home-
lessness although they only make up 10% of the general population.

This bill will ensure the shelter application process is inclusive of
everyone.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New legislation.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2025-S5925 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5925
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- 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 requiring  local
   social  services districts distribute shelter information specifically
   for lesbian, gay, bisexual,  transgender,  and  gender  non-conforming
   persons
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 17 of the social services law is amended by  adding
 a new subdivision (m) to read as follows:
   (M) REQUIRE ALL LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
 INCLUDING  RESOURCES  AND  ACCOMMODATIONS  FOR  LESBIAN,  GAY, BISEXUAL,
 TRANSGENDER, AND GENDER  NON-CONFORMING  INDIVIDUALS  ON  THEIR  SHELTER
 WEBPAGE  AND AS A PAMPHLET PROVIDED TO INTAKE SHELTERS. SUCH INFORMATION
 SHALL:
   (I) SPECIFY WHERE LESBIAN,  GAY,  BISEXUAL,  TRANSGENDER,  AND  GENDER
 NON-CONFORMING INDIVIDUALS SHOULD GO IF THEY ARE LOOKING TO BE HOUSED IN
 A SHELTER.
   (II)  INCLUDE  WHETHER LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND GENDER
 NON-CONFORMING SHELTER BEDS ARE AN OPTION IN THEIR MUNICIPALITY AND,  IF
 THERE ARE NO SUCH SHELTER BEDS, THE AGENCY SHALL LIST RESOURCES OF NEAR-
 BY  NON-PROFITS OR OTHER LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND GENDER
 NON-CONFORMING SHELTER OPTIONS WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04143-01-5

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