What's happening
This bill allows families receiving federal temporary assistance to get up to $80 every three months to cover diaper costs for children two years old or younger.
Why it matters
Addresses a basic health and hygiene need. By helping low-income families pay for diapers, the bill recognizes that a lack of diapers can lead to health issues for children—such as rashes and infections—and stress for parents, which can impact child well-being and family stability.
Eases a specific financial burden not covered by other assistance. Diapers are not covered by SNAP (food stamps) or WIC benefits, so this targeted allowance closes a gap in support for families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Potentially impacts child care and parental employment. Many child care providers require parents to supply diapers. By helping cover this cost, the bill may make it easier for parents to use child care and, by extension, to pursue or maintain employment.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Low-Income Families Buy Diapers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to children and families
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to social services
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–1
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.854
- Reported and committed to finance
- Print number 1086b
Show 4 earlier actions
- Amend and recommit to children and families
- Print number 1086a
- Amend and recommit to children and families
- Referred to children and families
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.
Help Pay for Diapers
In Assembly Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1086--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2019
Introduced by Sens. PERSAUD, BOYLE, KRUEGER, MONTGOMERY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to allowances for the costs of diapers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 350 of the social services law is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) In accordance with the regulations of the department approved by the director of the budget, allowances granted under the provisions of this title may include the costs of diapers for an eligible child, two years of age or younger. Said allowances shall not exceed eighty dollars, every three months, per eligible child. For the purposes of this paragraph, an eligible child shall be any child with a parent, guardian, or custodian who qualifies for assistance from the federal temporary assistance for needy families block grant.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00913-04-9
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 allowances for the costs of diapers
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill creates an allowance for eligible parents to receive an allow- ance every three months to assist in the purchasing of diapers for their children two years and under.
Summary of specific provisions
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to allowances for the costs of diapers. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 350 of the social services law is amended by adding a new para- graph (c) to read as follows: (c) In accordance with the regulations of the department approved by the director of the budget, allowances grant- ed under the provisions of this title may include the costs of diapers for an eligible child, two years of age or younger. Said allowances shall not exceed eighty dollars every three months, per eligible child.
Justification
Children under the age of two require frequent diaper changes, which can become financially challenging for low-income parents. Frequent diaper changes are also necessary to prevent diaper rash, which if left untreated, could lead to other health issues for the baby. Helping parents gain an adequate supply of diapers will assist in avoiding further health issues for their children. The bill aims to provide eligible parents with an allowance to purchase diapers. Every three months, parents of children aged two years and younger will be eligible to receive eighty dollars, which will assist those who have trouble affording diapers. For the purposes of this legislation, an eligible child is defined as any child two years or younger, with a parent, guar- dian, or custodian who qualifies for assistance from the federal tempo- rary assistance for needy families block grant.
Prior legislative history
2017/2018: Referred to Senate Children and Families 2016/2017: Referred to Senate Children and Families
Fiscal implications to state and local government
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.