STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6626
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 27, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to authorizing
service animals or therapy dogs to accompany victims of domestic
violence at residential programs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 459-b of the social services law, as amended by
2 chapter 459 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
3 § 459-b. Residential services for victims of domestic violence. In
4 accordance with section one hundred thirty-one-u of this chapter and the
5 regulations of the office of children and family services, a social
6 services district shall offer and provide necessary and available emer-
7 gency shelter and services for up to ninety days at a residential
8 program for victims of domestic violence to a victim of domestic
9 violence who was residing in the social services district at the time of
10 the alleged domestic violence whether or not such victim is eligible for
11 public assistance. Two forty-five day extensions of necessary and avail-
12 able emergency shelter may be granted beyond the maximum length of stay
13 at a residential program for victims of domestic violence for residents
14 who continue to be in need of emergency services and temporary shelter.
15 If the victim of domestic violence has a service animal or therapy dog
16 as such terms are defined in section 123-b and section 108 of the agri-
17 culture and markets law, respectively, such service animal or therapy
18 dog shall be allowed to accompany the victim at the residential program
19 authorized pursuant to this section.
20 § 2. The office of children and family services is authorized to
21 promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take any other measures
22 necessary to implement this act.
23 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09820-01-5
