What's happening
This bill requires county offices for the aging to accept and process SNAP and low-income home energy assistance applications from elderly individuals.
Why it matters
Eases access to critical benefits for older adults. By allowing county offices for the aging—places where many seniors already receive services—to directly accept and process SNAP and energy assistance applications, the bill removes barriers and simplifies the process for elderly individuals who may have difficulty navigating multiple agencies.
Creates a standardized, evidence-based approach. The law requires the development and implementation of a "best practice model" for handling these applications, ensuring that all counties follow effective, consistent methods and potentially improving the quality and efficiency of service delivery across the state.
Facilitates better coordination and information-sharing. By explicitly allowing county aging offices and local social services districts to share information related to these programs and applications, the bill may help reduce duplication, speed up processing, and improve outcomes for seniors in need.
Mandates statewide implementation with oversight. All county offices for the aging must adopt these practices within three years, unless granted an extension, and state agencies must create any regulations needed to support the change—ensuring that the policy is not optional and receives proper oversight.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Seniors Apply for Benefits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to aging
- Referred to aging
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.
Easier SNAP Help for Seniors
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Luis R. Sepúlveda
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6316
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law and the social services law, in relation to authorizing county offices for the aging to accept and process supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and low-income home energy assistance program applications
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 224 to read as follows:
§ 224. Supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and low-income home energy assistance program applications for the elderly. 1.(a) In consultation with the commissioner of temporary and disability assistance, the office shall establish, for use by county offices for the aging, a best practice model for such county offices to accept and process applications for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) pursuant to section ninety-five of the social services law and the low-income home energy assistance program pursuant to section ninety-seven of the social services law from elderly individuals seeking services from such county offices. Such best practices model shall be developed and established by the office after a review of all county offices for the aging programs offering similar services to elderly individuals at the effective date of this section.
(b) Within three years of the establishment of the best practice model pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision, all county offices for the aging shall adopt such best practice model and begin accepting and processing applications from elderly individuals for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) pursuant to section ninety-five of the social services law and the low-income home energy assistance program pursuant to section ninety-seven of the social services law. A
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08177-01-7
A. 6316 2
county office for the aging may request an extension to adopt such best practice model by making a written request to the director.
(c) County offices for the aging and local social services districts shall have the ability to disclose and share information with respect to such applications and the supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) and the low-income home energy assistance program. For purposes of this section, "elderly individual" shall mean a person sixty years of age or older.
2. The director shall promulgate any rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
§ 2. Section 95 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
11. The office for the aging is authorized and required, subject to state and federal laws and regulations and in consultation with the office, to act on behalf of the office and accept and process applications for the supplemental nutrition assistance program from elderly individuals pursuant to section two hundred twenty-four of the elder law.
§ 3. Section 97 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. The office for the aging is authorized and required, subject to state and federal laws and regulations and in consultation with the department, to act on behalf of the department and accept and process applications for the low-income home energy assistance program from elderly individuals pursuant to section two hundred twenty-four of the elder law.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.