Authorizes the assignment of social services recipients and applicants to accessible local offices

BILL NUMBER:A2417A

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to assignment of social services recipients to local offices

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to improve an individual's accessibility to a local social services office.

Summary of specific provisions

The social services law is amended by adding a new section 134-c. This bill would provide that an individual applying for or receiving public assistance or care may choose the local social services office most geographically accessible to that person's residence, provided that the office in question has the capacity to handle the case. An applicant or recipient would receive written notice of this provision.

Justification

Many social services applicants and recipients have to travel to offices which are far from their place of residence. This bill would require the assignment of these people to the local office which is the most accessible to their residence. By requiring this, social services applicants and recipients will not have to travel to a randomly assigned social services office and incur unnecessary expenses. In addition, the social services office will be accessible to the community it serves and more aware of the needs of its clients.

Prior legislative history

1991/1992 Session: A.5272 1995/1996 Session: A.2300 1997/1998 Session: A.1631 1999/2000 Session: A.2496 2001/2002 Session: A.1345 2003/2004 Session: A.2183 2004/2005 Session: A.3368 2005/2006 Session: A.3688A 2007/2008 Session: A.950-A

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately provided, however, that the commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Services shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this act on or before January 1, 2012.