What's happening
This bill allows local social services districts to exempt income earned by individuals under 24 in youth employment programs from public assistance eligibility calculations.
Why it matters
Helps more young adults (up to age 24) keep their earnings from youth employment programs without losing eligibility for public assistance. , which can encourage work experience and financial independence without the risk of family aid being reduced.
Gives local social services districts the flexibility to adopt these income exemptions. , meaning the policy can be tailored to community needs or priorities, potentially expanding opportunities for low-income youth where local governments choose to implement it.
Addresses the common "benefits cliff" problem, where earning even small amounts of income can lead to a loss or reduction of public benefits. , making it easier for young people to participate in workforce development without negative financial consequences for themselves or their families.
Could support broader workforce development goals by incentivizing participation in youth employment programs. , which are often linked to better long-term employment and educational outcomes for low-income youth.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Youth Job Earnings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A6753A
- Ordered to third reading cal.1633
- Referred to rules
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.
Protect Youth Earnings for Aid
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Simcha Eichenstein
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6443
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 11, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PERSAUD -- (at request of the NYC H.R.A.) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to exempting income earned by persons under the age of twenty-four from certain workforce development programs from the determination of need for public assistance programs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (vii) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 8 of section 131-a of the social services law, as amended by section 12 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
(vii) all of the income of a dependent child living with a parent or other caretaker relative, who is receiving such aid or for whom an application for such aid has been made, which is derived from participation in (i) the summer youth employment program, provided however, that in the case of earned income such disregard must be applied for at least, but no longer than the length of such program; or (ii) a program carried out under the federal job training partnership act (P.L. 97-300) or any successor act, provided, however, that in the case of earned income such disregard must be applied for at least, but no longer than, six months per calendar year for each such child. Provided however, a local social services district may exempt all the income of an individual, up to the age of twenty-four, which is derived from their participation in the summer youth employment program, in accordance with clause (i) of this subparagraph;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10821-03-9
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 exempting income earned by persons under the age of twenty-four from certain workforce development programs from the determination of need for public assistance programs
Summary of provisions
This bill would amend the social services law to exclude income of an individual up to the age of twenty-four earned from their participation in the summer youth employment program from the calculation of family income for the purposes of public assistance.
Justification
In 2018, about 75,000 young people gained valuable work experience through the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP). However, for certain young people whose families rely on public benefits such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), their family's benefit could be reduced as a result of the additional income from SYEP. This reduction could have a serious impact on some families, and make them reluctant to allow their children to participate in career-enhancing programs. The City therefore proposes that income from SYEP and certain other subsi- dized youth workforce development programs, such as the federally-funded In-School and Out-of-School Youth program, be exempt from the family's income for the purpose of calculating public benefits.
Under current law, a young person's earnings from the Summer Yotith Employment Program are exempt only if the youth resides in a family with dependent children and is in school at least part-time. Workforce development programs may serve youth up to age 24. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, which stipulated that youth up to age 24 were eligible to receive ARRA-subsidized wages through summer youth employment programs, provided a. basis for offering such programs to this age group, and New York City has since served youth through age 24 though SYEP. In addition, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 raised the age of eligibility for Out-of-School youth programs to the age of 24. The City proposes to amend SSL 131-a to provide an exemption for all the earnings from the Summer Youth Employ- ment Program and other subsidized youth workforce development programs run by two of the City's social service agencies, regardless of the presence of dependent children in the household or whether the youth is in school. This would provide a stronger incentive for a young person to enroll in a youth workforce development program, because her earnings would have no negative impact on her family's public assistance. Addi- tionally, if a young person is living on her own, potentially with her own children to support, this exemption would also make sure her own benefits are not hurt by her choice to take advantage of a youth-orient- ed workforce development program.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
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.