NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7754

Senate Bill S7754

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Provides that applicants or recipients for SNAP benefits shall not be subjected to finger imaging as a requirement of the supplemental nutrition assistance program

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
May 16, 2025	print number 7754a
May 16, 2025	amend (t) and recommit to social services
May 05, 2025	referred to social services

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S7754 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Social Services
Law Section:: Social Services Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §95, Soc Serv L

2025-S7754 - Summary

Provides that applicants for or recipients of SNAP benefits shall not be subjected to finger imaging as a requirement of the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

2025-S7754 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7754

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to finger imaging
for food stamps recipients

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the finger imaging matching
identification system for applicants or recipients of the food stamp
program.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Amends subdivision 3 of section 95 of the social services law, by adding
a new paragraph (d).

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Finger imaging requirements in the Food Stamp Program (also known as
SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) have proven to decrease
participation in this vital program while imposing an unnecessary admin-
istrative burden on the government. Prior to 2012, New York was one of
the only two states that required fingerprinting of Food Stamp appli-
cants and recipients. At that time, 30% of New Yorkers who were eligible
for the program did not participate.  Studies at that time demonstrated
that this policy resulted in the denial of needed benefits to eligible
households, often for months, while failing to reduce fraud. Since 2012,
it has been a policy of the state to simplify the application process
and remove this barrier, which perpetuated a negative stigma and kept
food off the table for those in need. The Office of Temporary and Disa-
bility Assistance (OTDA) put in place a new statewide system for deter-
mining Food and Stamp eligibility that, along with federal requirements,
prevents duplicate participation in a less costly and more effective
manner.

By 2015, participation increased significantly, with 87% of eligible
individuals participating in the Food Stamp Program. Given this success,
codification in state law is appropriate.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

No Senate history

2023-2024: A. 9594

2021-2022: A. 2367

2019-2020: A.4180;

2017-2018: A. 3044;

2015-2016: A.1489;

2013-2014: A.2666;

2011-2012: A.5303-A;
2009-10: A.1681;

2008-2009: A.10215;

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

No new fiscal implications.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
September 1, 2026

2025-S7754 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7754
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                May 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. PERSAUD -- 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  finger  imaging
   for food stamps recipients
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 95 of the social services  law  is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   (D) NO COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL REQUIRE APPLICANTS FOR OR
 RECIPIENTS  OF  FOOD  STAMPS  TO  BE  SUBJECTED  TO  FINGER IMAGING AS A
 REQUIREMENT OF THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM.
   § 2. This act shall take effect September 1, 2026.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04592-01-5

2025-S7754A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Social Services
Law Section:: Social Services Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §95, Soc Serv L

2025-S7754A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides that applicants for or recipients of SNAP benefits shall not be subjected to finger imaging as a requirement of the supplemental nutrition assistance program.

2025-S7754A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7754A

SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to finger imaging
for SNAP benefit recipients

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the finger imaging matching
identification system for applicants or recipients of food stamp
program.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Amends subdivision 3 of section 95 of the social services law, by adding
a new paragraph (d).

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Finger imaging requirements in the Food Stamp Program (also known as
SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) have proven to decrease
participation in this vital program while imposing an unnecessary admin-
istrative burden on the government. Prior to 2012, New York was one of
the only two states that required fingerprinting of Food Stamp appli-
cants and recipients. At that time, 3o% of New Yorkers who were eligible
for the program did not participate.  Studies at that time demonstrated
that this policy resulted in the denial of needed benefits to eligible
households, often for months, while failing to reduce fraud. Since 2012,
it has been a policy of the state to simplify the application process
and remove this barrier, which perpetuated a negative stigma and kept
food off the table for those in need. The Office of Temporary and Disa-
bility Assistance (OTDA) put in place a new statewide system for deter-
mining Food and Stamp eligibility that, along with federal requirements,
prevents duplicate participation in a less costly and more effective
manner.

By 2015, participation increased significantly, with 87% of eligible
individuals participating in the Food Stamp Program. Given this success,
codification in state law is appropriate.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

No Senate history

2023-2024: A.9594

2021-2022: A.2367

2019-2020: A.4180

2017-2018: A.3044

2015-2016: A.1489

2013-2014: A.2666

2011-2012: A.5303-A
2009-10: A.1681

2008-2009: A.10215

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

No new fiscal implications.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
September 1, 2026

2025-S7754A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7754--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                May 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services -- commit-
   tee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and  recom-
   mitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the social services law, in relation to finger imaging
   for SNAP benefit recipients

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision 3 of section 95 of the social services law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   (D) NO COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL REQUIRE APPLICANTS FOR OR
 RECIPIENTS OF SNAP BENEFITS TO BE  SUBJECTED  TO  FINGER  IMAGING  AS  A
 REQUIREMENT OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
   § 2. This act shall take effect September 1, 2026.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04592-04-5

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