What's happening
This bill expands public assistance ineligibility and information disclosure to include individuals fleeing prosecution for misdemeanors, not just felonies.
Why it matters
Expands ineligibility for public assistance. to include individuals fleeing prosecution for misdemeanors, not just felonies, meaning more people could be denied benefits if they have outstanding misdemeanor charges.
Broadens information-sharing requirements. for social services officials, who must now provide law enforcement not only with current addresses but also any information necessary for apprehension of individuals fleeing misdemeanor or felony charges.
Increases potential law enforcement access to applicant data. , as the threshold for disclosure is lowered to include those sought for misdemeanors, raising possible privacy and civil liberties concerns for a larger segment of public assistance applicants and recipients.
May lead to greater administrative burden. on social service agencies, as they will need to screen for and respond to a wider range of law enforcement requests related to both misdemeanor and felony cases.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Tighten Welfare Eligibility Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to social services
- Referred to social services
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
56
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to eligibility for public assistance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 14 of section 131 of the social services law, as amended by section 152 of subpart B of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or other law to the contrary, no public assistance shall be given to any individual who is (i) fleeing to avoid prosecution or custody or conviction under the laws of the place from which the individual flees for a crime, or an attempt to commit a crime, [which is a felony] under the laws of the place from which the individual flees [or which, in the case of the state of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor under the laws of such state] or (ii) violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under federal or state law.
§ 2. Subdivision 5 of section 136 of the social services law, as added by section 25 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
5. A social services official shall disclose to a federal, state or local law enforcement officer, upon request of the officer, the current address or any other information necessary for the apprehension of any applicant or recipient of family assistance, or safety net assistance if the duties of the officer include the location or apprehension of the applicant or recipient and the officer furnishes the social services official with the name of the applicant or recipient and notifies the agency that such applicant or recipient is fleeing to avoid prosecution, custody or confinement after conviction, under the laws of the place
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01897-01-7
A. 56 2
from which the applicant or recipient is fleeing, for a crime or an attempt to commit a crime which is a felony or misdemeanor under the laws of the place from which the applicant or recipient is fleeing, [or which, in the case of the state of New Jersey, is a high misdemeanor under the laws of that state,] or is violating a condition of probation or parole imposed under a federal or state law or has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct his or her official duties. In a request for disclosure pursuant to this subdivision, such law enforcement officer shall endeavor to include identifying information to help ensure that the social services official discloses only the address of the person sought and not the address of a person with the same or similar name.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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