Relates to applications for child care assistance; authorizes the use of a simplified application form for persons applying only for child care assistance.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A4469
SPONSOR: Barrett (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to applications for
child care assistance
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To create better access to child care assistance by making the applica-
tion process easier.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill would require local social services districts to
utilize a shortened application fowl for persons only applying for child
care assistance, and to post such form on their respective websites for
online application. The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
and the Office of Children and Family Serves would be required to post
links to each district's application on their respective websites.
Section two sets an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Applying for child care benefits can be a daunting and complicated proc-
ess. Application forms often require information not pertaining to child
care eligibility, and can be lengthy and confusing for applicants. Addi-
tionally, low-income families are often not able to take paid time off
from work to go into the local social services district office to fill
out the applications. This bill would help to ameliorate these issues by
requiring a shortened application form that could be filled out online,
or mailed to the applicant at his or her request.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2014: A8925; passed the Assembly
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4469
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT, SILVER, LUPARDO, HEASTIE, TITUS,
GUNTHER, RUSSELL, OTIS, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. DAVI-
LA, FAHY, JAFFEE, LAVINE, PERRY, ROBINSON, SOLAGES, STECK -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to applications for
child care assistance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 410-w of the social services law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
3 8. (a) Subject to the approval of the office of children and family
4 services, local social services districts shall utilize a simplified
5 application form for persons applying only for child care assistance,
6 and no other types of benefits. Such form shall contain no more informa-
7 tion than is required to determine eligibility for child care assistance
8 and required pursuant to state and federal reporting requirements. Each
9 local social services district shall maintain the simplified application
10 on its website so that applicants may apply online, and shall mail such
11 application to the applicant at his or her request.
12 (b) The office of temporary and disability assistance and the office
13 of children and family services shall maintain hyperlinks on their
14 respective websites directing applicants for child care assistance to
15 the online application maintained by their respective local social
16 services district.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05143-01-5