Allows college coursework to be credited as a work activity which may be used toward fulfilling the employment requirements for public assistance benefits

BILL NUMBER:S621

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to access to a college education by public assistance recipients who are subject to work participation requirements

Purpose

Allows individuals receiving public assistance to be able to pursue a college education. Allows college course work to be credited as a work activity, which can be used toward fulfilling the employment requirements for public assistance benefits. Also changes the amount of time that a participant in a vocational school can spend in preparation for a GED from 25% to 50%.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends five different parts of section 336-a of the social services law, as amended by section 148 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997.

Subdivision 1 is amended to add four year colleges to the list of eligible educational activities.

Subdivision 2 is amended to increase the amount of time participants in vocational schools devote to preparation for a high school equivalency diploma from 25% of their time to 50%.

Subdivision 3 is amended to direct the state commissioner of education to establish a minimum standard of educational services for programs in which recipients will participate. Subparagraph (b) of subdivision 4 is amended by providing circumstances when educational activities are not required for 18 and 19 year-olds. This section requires the social services district to document why 18 and 19 year-olds are not required to participate in an educational activity. Adds a new subdivision 7, which allows participants to count post-secondary education in a four year college, to satisfy work activity requirements. The local districts shall count each hour of classroom participation as work activity, as well as counting reasonable study time and class preparation. No social services district can assign a participant to any activities that would interfere with their educational program if the participant is enrolled at least part-time in a post secondary program and has at least a cumulative C average or its equivalent. A social services district may waive the cumulative C average requirement for circumstances where an undue hardship exists.

Existing law

Currently, educational activities do not include four year colleges.

Justification

Higher education is a path to self-sufficiency. By assisting individuals to gain greater access to higher education they are given the opportunity to pursue professional career·s, instead of simply getting a job. It has been shown through numerous reports that simply

obtaining employment does not significantly help an individual to overcome financial hardship. Individuals with minimum education and low skilled jobs are the first to be laid off during times of economic trouble. By allowing individuals to fulfill their TANF work requirements while pursuing a college degree, those individuals will be better equipped to compete in the labor market and have more opportunity for upward mobility.

Legislative history

2011-12: S.1062/A5256 - Referred to Social Services 2009-10: S.2162/A.10496 - Referred to Social Services/ Referred to Higher Education 2007-08: S.2478/A.3036 - Referred to Social Services/Children and Families/Referred to Social Services 2005-06: S.638/A.10651 2001-02: A.7286A/S.7313

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall become law, provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation of the foregoing section of this act on its effective date is authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.