What's happening
This bill directs a comprehensive study on how increased minimum wage affects eligibility for income-based services, programs, and subsidies in New York.
Why it matters
Examines the “benefits cliff” problem. The study will specifically analyze whether raising the minimum wage could unintentionally make low-income workers ineligible for essential public assistance (like SNAP, Medicaid, or childcare support), potentially leaving them worse off despite higher pay.
Impact on families close to the poverty line. The bill requires a focus on how families hovering just above eligibility thresholds might lose key services, and whether increased wages are actually enough to make up for those lost supports.
Informs future policy decisions. By requiring a comprehensive, cross-agency analysis, the study aims to build a holistic understanding of minimum wage impacts, potentially guiding future adjustments to income-based program eligibility or benefit structures.
Transparency and accountability. The mandated report to top state officials ensures that findings will be shared publicly, creating an evidence base for both lawmakers and the public to evaluate the broader consequences of minimum wage increases.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Minimum Wage Effects
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Vetoed memo.221
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.677
- Substituted for A8276A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 44–18
- Ordered to third reading cal.1555
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 5202a
Show 2 earlier actions
- Amend and recommit to labor
- Referred to labor
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.
Study Minimum Wage Impact
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Joseph Lentol
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5202--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 16, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GOUNARDES, ADDABBO, COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Labor -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT directing a study on the impact of increased minimum wage on eligibility for income-based services, programs and subsidies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of the department of labor, in consultation with the commissioners of the office of temporary and disability assistance, the department of health, the office of children and family services, and the department of taxation and finance (hereinafter, "the commissioners"), any other department, division, board, bureau, commission, agency or public authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof deemed necessary by the commissioners, shall prepare a comprehensive study and report on the impact that the increase in minimum wage has or will have on the eligibility of the working poor to receive important and necessary services. Such study shall include an analysis of any effect on the eligibility of working individuals for all programs with an income eligibility requirement and/or the potential reduction in benefits under such programs, which may occur due to increased wages. The study shall also examine the impact on individuals and families near the poverty level of the loss of services, programs and subsidies and the adequacy of increased wages to cover the costs of such expenses.
§ 2. The commissioners shall publish such report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the assembly, no later than December 31, 2020.
§ 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11012-02-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act directing a study on the impact of increased minimum wage on eligibility for income-based services, programs and subsidies
Title of bill
An act directing a study on the impact of increased minimum wage on eligibility for income-based services, programs and subsidies
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill requires a study to be performed and a report to be produced on the effects of increased minimum wage on the working poor's eligibil- ity for critical and relied upon social services, programs and subsi- dies.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill describes a group of participating commission- ers of State departments, divisions and agencies that will perform the study and that will work together to create the extensive report. The Section also outlines the required elements of the report as including the effects on eligibility and the reduction of benefits of income-based social services, programs and subsidies currently received by the work- ing poor in New York State. The report is also required to include an examination of the impact of increased wages and the increase's ability to cover the cost of potentially lost services, programs and subsidies.
Section two of the bill requires the commissioners to publish the report to the Governor, the temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly and the minority leaders of both the Senate and the Assembly.
Section three of the bill sets the effective date.
Justification
It is the State's responsibility to protect and to ensure that working class New Yorkers are not harmed by legislative action. Furthermore, in a time when the State of New York is tackling the issues of poverty and of a living wage for the working class, it is essential to make sure that any extrinsic services, programs and subsidies related to or involved with the State are carefully examined to not negate the purposes of raising the minimum wage. New York is a State focused on prosperity for all and the study and report required by this bill - will advance that ideal by making sure that the State is helping families more than hindering their financial and personal growth.
Prior legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
One year after it shall have become a law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.