Changes the name of the office of temporary and disability assistance to the "office of economic support and opportunity"

Sections 2 through 23 of the bill would amend various provisions of the Social Services Law to change the name of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to the Office of Economic Support and Opportunity.

Sections 24 through 65 of the bill would amend various other provisions of the Consolidated Laws to change the name of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to the Office of Economic Support and Opportunity.

Section 66 of the bill would provide that whenever the former New York State Department of Social Services or the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is referred to in any law, contract or other document pertaining to the functions, powers, obligations and duties of that department transferred by Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997 to such office, such references will be deemed to refer to the Office of Economic Support and Opportunity or the Commissioner thereof.

Section 67 of the bill would provide that no existing right or remedy of any character will be lost, impaired or affected by reason of this bill.

Section 68 of the bill would provide for a severability clause.

Section 69 of the bill would provide for an immediate effective date.

Existing law

Section 122 of Part B of Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997 changed the name of the Department of Social Services to the Department of Family Assistance. Within the Department of Family Assistance, two autonomous offices were created, the Office of Children and Family Services and the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.

Prior legislative history

This bill was introduced in 2008 (A.10660/S.7448) and referred to the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Social Services, Children and Families Committee but did not pass.

Statement in support

The Welfare Reform Act of 1997 placed an emphasis on the need for public assistance recipients to receive such assistance for a temporary period of time. The goal was to transition adults who were capable of working from receiving public assistance to paid employment. New York State is now moving to the next stage of welfare reform by providing individuals and families with opportunities for sustained economic stability and growth through long-term gainful employment. This is a far broader mission than simply providing public assistance or reducing the caseload. It includes providing necessary skill development while families arc receiving assistance and it also includes providing necessary supports, such as Food Stamps and Low Income Home Energy Assistance (HEAP), for families who have left assistance. It includes providing those supplements so that some families will never need assistance. This mission also includes working with other agencies, such as the Departments of Taxation and Finance, Labor and Health, to ensure that a broad array of supports are known and accessible.

Changing the name of this agency reflects this change in philosophy and better informs applicants for and recipients of public assistance that opportunities await them. The agency's primary tools of public assistance, training and supports are particularly important in the current period of economic instability and the new name will more accurately describe the agency's pivotal role.

In addition, changing the name of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is necessitated by a practical difficulty. Throughout the years, the focus of the public and some social services organizations has been on the "disability" portion of the agency's name, which is misleading. While persons with disabilities need to be provided with necessary assistance, they constitute only a portion of the population that the agency serves. Individuals do not need to be disabled to obtain assistance from the agency, and the agency does not provide a separate "disability assistance." Moreover, there are a number of State agencies specifically designated to provide services to persons with disabilities. Those agencies include the Commission on Quality of Care and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities, the Office of Mental Health, the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and the State Education Department.

Budget implications

This bill would have no fiscal impact. The agency would deplete existing inventories of forms and supplies that require a name change. Other costs are expected to be insignificant and would be absorbed by the agency.

Effective date

This bill would take. effect immediately.