Authorizes social services districts to offer participants in public assistance employment programs an option to complete a course of instruction in financial literacy and personal finance

3 Co-sponsors

• Jeffrey D. Klein
• Diane J. Savino
• David J. Valesky

BILL NUMBER:S5249A

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing social services districts to offer participants in public assistance employment programs an option to complete a course in financial literacy and personal finance

Purpose

Provides that social service districts may offer, on a case-by-case basis, those who are collecting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to participate in a course of instruction in financial literacy and personal finance, with such instruction counting toward meeting the 30 hour work requirement or as an educational activity. Further, that such district may cooperate with the Department of Labor to provide workforce guidance and information as provided in the Labor Law regarding nontraditional careers for women, such as in the trades, to TANF recipients. The purpose of this provision is to encourage women recipients of TANF to pursue and be able to secure certain nontraditional careers that pay above average salaries.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends Social Services Law section 336 to authorize the staff at social service districts to cooperate with the Labor Department to provide workforce guidance and information regarding nontraditional careers, including the trades, for women as provided for in Labor Law section 10-c. Further it adds a new subdivision (j-1) to authorize the social services district staff to be able to consider as "work activity" participation in a course of instruction in financial literacy and personal finance so that such person may still receive TANF benefits.

Section 2 amends Social Services Law section 336-a to add the provision of education in financial literacy and personal finance pursuant to Social Services Law section 336 (1) (j-1) to be considered to be "educational activity" pursuant to the Social Services Law. Under this provision, not only can taking part in a financial literacy and personal finance course of instruction count as a "work activity" for the purposes of obtaining TANF aid, but also it can count as an "educational activity."

Section 3 provides the effective date.

Justification

This bill incorporates into the Social Services Law the proposition that women who receive TANF aid may be helped if they are provided access to nontraditional careers, such as the trades, that can lead to higher salaries, career growth and economic security. Too often, low-income women are tracked into low-paying jobs, keeping them locked into perpetual basic survival with no future. This bill is one more step toward helping low-income women access better-paying careers with upward mobility.

Additionally, this bill allows TANF caseworkers to decide, on a case-by-case basis, whether participation in financial literacy and personal finance courses would be of additional benefit. By participating in such classes, such recipients may become more aware of their current financial choices and course of conduct and change that behavior in a manner that leads to a more secure financial future. Under this bill, those TANF recipients that take such workforce guidance and/or financial literacy classes can have such activities to be considered as fulfilling their work or educational activities under the Social Services Law.

The combination of access to nontraditional careers and financial literacy instruction can greatly support the transition of low-income women from basic survival to economic security and empowerment.

Legislative history

2013: Passed Senate

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.