Senate Bill S5951

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5951
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- 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  recipients  of
   public assistance who lack appropriate child care
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 131 of the social services law, as
 added by section 11 of part B of chapter 436 of the  laws  of  1997,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   5.  No public assistance shall be given to an applicant for or recipi-
 ent of public assistance who has failed to comply with the  requirements
 of  this  chapter,  or  has refused to accept employment in which [he or
 she] SUCH APPLICANT OR RECIPIENT is able to  engage.    EXCEPT  THAT  NO
 APPLICANT  OR  RECIPIENT  WHO  IS THE PARENT OR CARETAKER RELATIVE OF AN
 ELIGIBLE CHILD SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE INELIGIBILITY PROVISIONS OF  THIS
 CHAPTER  IF THE LACK OF CHILD CARE THAT IS APPROPRIATE, SUITABLE, WITHIN
 A REASONABLE DISTANCE, AND REFLECTS PARENTAL  PREFERENCES  PREVENTS  THE
 INDIVIDUAL FROM COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS THEREIN.
   §  2.  Paragraph  (e)  of  subdivision  1 of section 332 of the social
 services law, as amended by section 148 of part B of chapter 436 of  the
 laws  of  1997,  is  amended and a new paragraph (f) is added to read as
 follows:
   (e) a [woman] PERSON who is pregnant, beginning thirty days  prior  to
 the medically verified date of delivery of [her] SUCH PERSON'S child[.];
   (F)  THE  PARENT  OR  CARETAKER RELATIVE OF AN ELIGIBLE CHILD, FOR THE
 PERIOD OF TIME DURING WHICH SUCH PARTICIPATION IS PREVENTED BY THE  LACK
 OF  CHILD  CARE  THAT  IS  APPROPRIATE, SUITABLE AND WITHIN A REASONABLE
 DISTANCE, AND THAT IS REFLECTIVE OF THE CHILD CARE PREFERENCES  INCLUDED
 IN THE PARENT'S ASSESSMENT.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10550-01-5
 S. 5951                             2
 
              

   §  3.  Subdivision  1  of section 336-d of the social services law, as
 added by section 148 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws  of  1997,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   1.  Each  applicant  for or recipient of public assistance shall, upon
 request of the social services official, demonstrate that  [he  or  she]
 SUCH  APPLICANT  OR  RECIPIENT  is  engaged  in an active and continuing
 effort to achieve self-sufficiency as defined by the department.    Such
 effort  shall  include  but  not  be limited to an active and continuing
 search for employment, or for persons  otherwise  exempt  in  accordance
 with  section  three  hundred thirty-two of this title, and where deemed
 appropriate by the social  services  official,  activities  that  foster
 preparation for employment.  Each such applicant or recipient shall have
 an  affirmative  duty  to accept any offer of lawful employment in which
 [he or she] SUCH APPLICANT OR RECIPIENT may engage.  The  failure  of  a
 social  services  district to assign applicants and recipients to activ-
 ities pursuant to this title shall not relieve  such  persons  from  the
 requirements    of  this section. An individual who fails to comply with
 the  requirements  of  [the]  THIS  section  shall  be  subject  to  the
 provisions  set forth in subdivision five of section one hundred thirty-
 one of this chapter and [of section] SECTIONS  three  hundred  forty-one
 and  three  hundred forty-two of this title. EXCEPT THAT NO APPLICANT OR
 RECIPIENT WHO IS THE PARENT OR CARETAKER RELATIVE OF AN  ELIGIBLE  CHILD
 SHALL  BE SUBJECT TO THE INELIGIBILITY PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IF THE
 LACK OF CHILD CARE THAT IS APPROPRIATE, SUITABLE, AND WITHIN  A  REASON-
 ABLE  DISTANCE  PREVENTS  THE  INDIVIDUAL  FROM  COMPLYING WITH THE WORK
 REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law.  Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and
 completed on or before such effective date.