What's happening
This bill requires the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to coordinate public notice of basic rights for public assistance applicants and recipients, including information on its website.
Why it matters
Improves transparency and access to information. By requiring clear public notice of basic rights for those seeking or receiving public assistance, the bill seeks to ensure that individuals understand what benefits and protections they are entitled to, reducing confusion and potential exploitation.
Promotes accountability across agencies. The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance must coordinate with local social services districts, which could help ensure that communication about rights is consistent statewide and not left to the discretion of individual districts.
Modernizes information delivery. Mandating that certain rights information be posted on the agency’s website means critical details will be more readily accessible, especially for those who may not be able to visit offices in person, thus bridging some digital and informational divides.
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Who cares
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
The bill would require the office to work with local social services districts to determine what information public assistance applicants and recipients should receive and which information to post on its website.
Local social services districts
The bill would give districts a role in determining what information should be provided to public assistance applicants and recipients.
Public assistance applicants and recipients
The bill would require state and local officials to determine what information they should receive, without specifying the information itself.
Headline styles
Require Notice of Basic Rights
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to social services
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.163
- Referred to social services
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to social services
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.897
- 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.
Post Basic Rights Notices
In Assembly Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Pamela J. Hunter
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3041
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- 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 public notice of basic rights
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 134-c to read as follows:
§ 134-c. Public notice of basic rights. The office of temporary and disability assistance shall work with the local social services districts to determine what information should be given to applicants and recipients of public assistance. The office of temporary and disability assistance shall further determine which of that information shall be placed on the office's website.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09200-01-9
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 public notice of basic rights
Purpose or general idea of bill
Social Services sill of Rights Act. To amend the social services law, in relation to requiring social services districts to conspicuously post a notice of basic rights.
Summary of specific provisions
Offices of social services, which are open to the public, are to post conspicuously a notice of recipients basic rights, already established by law, which are as follows:
- Right to a Fair Hearing - Duty to Assist - Right to Emergency Assistance - Right to Apply - Right to Child Care - Right to Free Language Services - Right to Screening and Special Services If Experiencing Domestic Violence - Right to Full and Equal Access to Benefits and Services - Right to a Written Adequate Notice.
Justification
The aforementioned rights are all enshrined in law or through preced- ence. However, those seeking benefits may not be aware of their exist- ence or specific details. This bill will require all public assistance offices that are open to the public to post discernibly the document containing these rights with details of their utility so that the appli- cant may make informed decisions about benefits. This will allow employ- ees at said agencies may better serve the public.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications for state local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.