What's happening
This bill requires most public assistance applicants aged 6–34 without a high school diploma to enroll in diploma programs unless exempted.
Why it matters
Links public assistance eligibility to education. By requiring most applicants aged 6–34 without a high school diploma to enroll in diploma programs, the bill aims to use public assistance as leverage to increase educational attainment—potentially improving recipients’ long-term job prospects and financial independence.
Includes exemptions for those unable to participate. The bill allows exemptions for individuals determined by professionals to lack the capacity to complete a diploma program, or if the local district finds it impractical or not cost-effective, considering factors like health, disability, prior job experience, or lack of available programs.
Could impact access to benefits for vulnerable groups. Children as young as 6 and adults up to 34 could be affected, so families with minors, young adults, and those with learning differences or limited access to educational resources may face new hurdles to receiving aid.
Grants broad discretion to local social services. Local districts have significant say in determining whether participation is practical or cost-effective, which could lead to uneven implementation and differing impacts depending on where applicants live.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Link Diploma to Welfare Aid
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to social services
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.
Tie Public Assistance to Education
In Assembly Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Andrew Goodell
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1034
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2019
Introduced by Sens. YOUNG, HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring participation in educational programs leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma for those seeking public assistance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. The legislature hereby finds that obtaining a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma is often essential for successful private sector employment, and personal financial independence, self-sufficiency and success. Indeed, many occupations require a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma as a precondition for employment. Individuals without a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma are often relegated to low paying jobs, and suffer much higher unemployment rates than those with a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma. It is therefore in the public interest to require individuals who are capable of obtaining a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma to be engaged in good faith efforts to obtain that objective.
§ 2. Section 131 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 21 to read as follows:
21. Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter or other law to the contrary, no public assistance shall be given to or for any person over five years of age or under thirty-five years of age who does not have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma or is not duly enrolled and participating in good faith toward the attainment of a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma, unless such person has been determined by a medical, psychiatric or other appropriate professional to lack the requisite capacity to complete successfully such a course of study or the local social services district determines that such a course of study is not practical or cost-effective based on
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03856-01-9
S. 1034 2
the person's employment background or experience, job training, possession of a career development occupational studies credential, work skills, health, disability, the lack of available educational programs, or other factors.
§ 3. The commissioner of temporary and disability assistance shall have the authority to promulgate or amend any regulations necessary for the implementation of this act.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring participation in educational programs leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma for those seeking public assistance
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to increase the likelihood that indi- viduals will obtain a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma by requiring those who do not have such a diploma to participate in good faith in an educational program leading to such a diploma as a condition for receiving welfare benefits.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: States the legislative purpose and findings.
Section 2: Adds a new subdivision 21 to section 131 of the social services law to prohibit the payment of public assistance benefits to any person under the age of 35 who does not have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma unless such person is duly enrolled and participating in good faith toward the attainment of such a diploma. The local social services district is given broad discretionary authori- ty to waive this requirement where such a course of study is not practi- cal or cost-effective based on the person's mental capacity, employment background, job training, career development credentials, health, disa- bility, lack of educational programs, or other factors.
Section 3: Provides that the Commissioner of Temporary and Disability Assistance shall have the authority to promulgate or amend any regu- lations necessary for the implementation of this act.
Section 4: Provides that this bill shall take effect on the 120th day after enactment.
Justification
The empirical data regarding the importance of a high school degree is overwhelming. The vast majority of jobs require a high school diploma or its equivalent, including participation in the U.S. military. According to data from the U.S. Census, the average drop-out will earn one-third less than a high school graduate, will suffer from unemployment rates that are nearly 501 higher, and will be nearly three times more likely to live in poverty. High school drop-outs account for nearly 50% of the heads of households on welfare, and commit about 75W of all crimes.
For those who are struggling to complete their high school education, the current social services law offers an extraordinarily destructive option of enabling a young person to drop-out of high school and collect welfare benefits. This legislation would eliminate that option by making it clear that participating in good faith toward obtaining a high school diploma is a condition for any welfare benefits.
Recognizing that attaining a high school diploma or a high school equiv- alency diploma is not always cost-effective or feasible, the bill provides local social services districts with broad discretionary authority to exempt individuals from this requirement based on their mental health, disability, work experience, job training, the lack of sufficient programs, or other reasonable factors.
Prior legislative history
2017,2018: S.859/A.4357 Referred to Social Services 2016: S.3438/A.5110 Referred to Social Services 2015: S.3438/A.5110 Passed Senate 2014: S.6908/A.9185 Referred to Social Services
Fiscal implications
The implementation of this bill would require additional resources for adult education, but those costs would be offset by reduced welfare dependency, increased fiscal independence, reduced crime, and related savings.
Effective date
This bill would become effective 120 days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.