What's happening
This bill requires social services districts to notify and report to counties and the state before relocating public assistance recipients to another district.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and accountability. By requiring detailed notifications—including service plans, housing and employment arrangements, and benefit terms—counties will be better informed about new individuals entering their social service systems, aiding in planning and oversight.
Aims to prevent sudden strain on local resources. Advance notice and annual reporting help counties anticipate and prepare for changes in demand for social services, housing, and employment support, reducing the risk of unexpected local burdens.
Creates a centralized record for oversight. The requirement that social services districts report annually to the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance establishes a state-level record of relocation programs, supporting policy evaluation and public accountability.
Empowers local officials. Counties can request additional relevant information, giving local social services commissioners more control and insight into how incoming populations may affect their communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Counties of Relocations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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
334
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. AKSHAR -- 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 notifying counties of any relocation program established by another social services district
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 62 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2 to read as follows:
2. (a) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, when a social services district establishes any publicly funded program to assist recipients in relocation to another social services district such social services district shall notify the county commissioner of social services in the county in which such recipients may be relocated within thirty days of any planned relocation. Such notification shall include, at minimum:
(i) a copy of any plan of service developed for such recipient, including the applicable employability plan;
(ii) the physical address of any permanent housing that has been secured on behalf of such recipient, including copies of any lease agreement that has been executed;
(iii) the name and physical address of any employer that has been contacted, or with whom any arrangement has been made, on behalf of the recipient;
(iv) terms and conditions of any publicly funded relocation program, including any payments or other benefits provided to such recipient; and
(v) any other relevant information as requested by such county commissioner.
(b) Beginning January first, two thousand twenty, and annually thereafter, each social services district that has established a publicly
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05170-01-9
S. 334 2
funded program to assist recipients in relocating to another social services district shall report to the office of temporary and disability assistance on such program, including, at a minimum:
(i) all information provided to any county commissioner of social services pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision; and
(ii) any other relevant information required by the office of temporary and disability assistance.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 notifying counties of any relocation program established by another social services district
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation requires that when a social services district uses a publicly funded program to assist recipients in relocation to another social services district, such social services district shall notify the county commissioner of social services in the county in which such recipients may be relocated.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends section 62 of the social services law by adding subdi- vision 2.
a. When a social services district establishes any publicly funded program to assist recipients in relocation to another social services district, such social services district shall notify the county commis- sioner of social services in the county in which such recipients may be relocated within thirty days and the notification shall include:
(i) A copy of the plan of service developed for the recipient
(ii) The physical address or any permanent housing that has been secured along with a copy of the lease
(iii) The name and physical address of the employer who has been contacted or with whom any arrangement has been made
(iv) The terms and conditions, including payments and other benefits provided to the recipient of the publicly funded relocation program
(v) Any other relevant information as requested by the county commis- sioner
b. Beginning January 1St, 2019 and annually thereafter, each social service district that has established a publicly funded program to assist recipients in relocating to another social services district shall report to the office of temporary and disability on such program, including:
(i) All information provided to any county commissioner of social services pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdivision
Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.
Justification
This bill requires social services districts that use publicly funded programs to move recipients to another social services district to noti- fy that social services district within thirty days and provide crucial information. This information includes a plan of service, the address of housing that has been secured for the recipient, the name and address of any employer with whom and arrangement has been made, the terms and conditions of the program and any other information requested by the county commissioner.
This issue recently came up after Broome County discovered NYC's SOTA program had relocated multiple recipients and paid their rent for a year without notifying the county.
This legislation will improve communication between New York City and the counties being sent SOTA eligible recipients as well as ensure continuity of services for these vulnerable populations. It also adds a layer of oversight by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance with an annual reporting requirement for social service districts that use publicly funding to relocate recipients.
Prior legislative history
S8800 of 2018: Referred to Social Services
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.