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- Referred to social services
- Referred to social services
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Increases the amount paid by social services districts for burial expenses
In Assembly Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Vito Lopez
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to burial of the dead
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that an indigent burial is conducted without placing a financial hardship on the relatives of the deceased who are public assistance recipients.
Summary of specific provisions
Current law provides that $900.00 for burial expenses of an indigent person are subject to State reimbursement at a rate of 100% for State charges and 50% for local charges for recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This bill would require local districts to make payment equal to the actual burial cost, however, districts are not required to make payments in excess of $900.00.
Justification
The NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) has a policy to refuse to make payments to provide for the cost of an indigent burial when such burial exceeds a cost of $1200.00. A recent survey indicates that the average cost for a "low-cost funeral" in the NYC area is over $2000.00. This HRA burial policy places a financial burden on the relatives of the deceased who, if they are public assistance recipients, would have to pay the entire bill from their public assistance grants. Although a burial may cost $1200.00 or more, the local districts should be required to make payments for these costs at least up to the amount the State will reimburse for.
Prior legislative history
2007/08 Session: S528 2007/08 Session: A1056 2005/06 Session: A2133 2003/04 Session: A5566 2001/02 Session: A3459 1999/00 Session: A2447 1997/98 Session: A1316 1995/96 Session: A2579 1993/94 Session: A5533 1991/92 Session: A5271
Fiscal implications
This bill would have a minimal fiscal impact to upstate districts since they are presently reimbursed at the actual costs.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.