Provides for the extension of current exemptions of income and resources to qualify for public assistance programs

BILL NUMBER:A7450

Title of bill

An act to amend chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, consti- tuting the welfare reform act of 1997, in relation to extending the current exemptions of income and resources for public assistance programs

Purpose of the bill:

The bill would extend the income and resource exemption provisions of Social Services Law (SSL) § 131-n for another two years until August 22, 2011, to set forth income and resources that are exempt when determining the amount of benefits to be provided to a household receiving public assistance.

Summary of provisions:

Section 1 of the bill would amend subdivision (c) of section 153 of Part B of Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997, constituting the Welfare Reform Act of 1997, to extend the provisions of section 13l-n of the Social Services Law from August 22, 2009, to August 22, 2011.

Section 2 of the bill would provide for an immediate effective date.

Existing law:

SSL § 131-n sets forth the income and resources that are exempt and disregarded when calculating the amount of public assistance benefits that are provided to a household. This provision currently expires on August 22, 2009.

Prior legislative history:

This is a new proposal. The income and resource exemption provisions of SSL § 13l-n were last extended by Chapter 123 of the Laws of 2007.

Statement in support:

As a critical component of improving the economic well-being of low income families, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance has had a long-standing policy that households in receipt of public assist- ance should have certain income and resources exempt from consideration when determining eligibility for public assistance. This bill would continue to preserve statutorily the existing exemptions for income and resources that a recipient of public assistance may possess without affecting eligibility for or the amount of assistance. The income and resources covered by the exemptions include liquid resources, subject to a specified amount, the home that is the usual residence of the house- hold, one automobile subject to a certain fair market value, one burial plot per household member, bona fide funeral agreements subject to a certain amount, and certain other resources. The income and resource exemptions continued by the bill recognize that households in receipt of

public assistance should have certain income and resources exempt from consideration when determining eligibility for public assistance to assist households in improving their economic well-being. This bill would extend the current statute without any changes.

Budget implications:

There is no fiscal impact associated with this proposal.

Effective date:

This bill would be effective immediately upon enactment.