Establishes a fiscal cliff task force to conduct a study on fiscal cliffs in the state's public assistance programs and to make recommendations related thereto.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7259--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 19, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. PERSAUD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services -- commit-
tee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
mitted to said committee
AN ACT establishing a fiscal cliff task force to conduct a study on
fiscal cliffs in the state's public assistance programs and to make
recommendations related thereto; and providing for the repeal of such
provision upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. (a) There is hereby established a fiscal cliff task force
2 to study fiscal cliffs in the state's public assistance programs and
3 make recommendations on how to reduce and eliminate such fiscal cliffs.
4 For the purposes of this section, the term "fiscal cliff" shall mean a
5 sudden decrease in public benefits that can occur with a small increase
6 in earnings.
7 (b) (i) The task force shall consist of nineteen members, each to
8 serve for a term ending December 31, 2025. Such members shall be
9 appointed as follows: two members shall be appointed by the temporary
10 president of the senate; one member shall be appointed by the minority
11 leader of the senate; two members shall be appointed by the speaker of
12 the assembly; one member shall be appointed by the minority leader of
13 the assembly; five members shall be appointed by the governor; three
14 local social services district commissioners or their designees having
15 relevant experience in administering public benefits shall be appointed
16 by the governor, of which one district shall have five million or more
17 inhabitants; the commissioner of the office of temporary and disability
18 assistance or his or her designee; the commissioner of health or his or
19 her designee; the commissioner of taxation and finance or his or her
20 designee; the commissioner of the department of labor or his or her
21 designee; the commissioner of the office of children and family services
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10565-04-3
S. 7259--A 2
1 or his or her designee. Appointments shall be made within sixty days of
2 the effective date of this section. Vacancies in the task force shall be
3 filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
4 (ii) All appointments shall be coordinated to ensure geographic repre-
5 sentation from the entire state.
6 (iii) The task force shall elect a chair, vice-chair, and other neces-
7 sary officers from among all appointed members.
8 (iv) A majority of the members of the task force then in office shall
9 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or the exercise of
10 any power or function of the task force. An act, determination or deci-
11 sion of the majority of the members present during the presence of a
12 quorum shall be held to be the act, determination, or decision of the
13 task force.
14 (v) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
15 chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be
16 called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the
17 task force.
18 (vi) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
19 services but shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
20 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
21 (c) The task force shall:
22 (i) conduct a study on the fiscal cliffs in the state. Such study
23 shall include, but not be limited to: public assistance programs; the
24 supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP); the home energy
25 assistance program (HEAP); housing assistance; the child care tax credit
26 and other tax credits; the school tax relief program (STAR) and other
27 real property tax credits and reductions; Medicaid; NY state of health,
28 the official health plan marketplace; child care subsidies tied to
29 income; cash benefits; effective tax rates; and any other program or
30 service provided by the state or any political subdivision thereof which
31 is tied to income;
32 (ii) study the causes and reasons why fiscal cliffs occur to individ-
33 uals on public benefits, including but not limited to, the impact of
34 current public assistance programs monetary allotments, asset tests,
35 asset limits, and income disregards, as well as how minimum wage and
36 other earnings may impact those receiving public benefits; and
37 (iii) recommend ways to reduce and/or eliminate fiscal cliffs includ-
38 ing, but not limited to, recommending program and policy modifications,
39 amendments to the law, including but not limited to possible changes in
40 calculating and paying the earned income tax credit or other tax cred-
41 its, changes to the New York codes, rules and regulations, and any other
42 recommendation the task force deems appropriate.
43 (d) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
44 surveys, or analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
45 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
46 ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or public authorities
47 shall provide information and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
48 assist the task force with its work.
49 (e) The office of temporary and disability assistance shall provide
50 staff services to the task force and such other administrative assist-
51 ance as may be necessary for the task force to carry out its duties,
52 functions and powers.
53 (f) The task force shall make a preliminary report to the governor and
54 the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activ-
55 ities already undertaken by the task force, not later than January 1,
56 2025, and a final report of its findings, conclusions, recommendations
S. 7259--A 3
1 and activities already undertaken by the task force, not later than
2 September 1, 2025 and shall submit with its reports legislative
3 proposals as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
4 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire three
5 years after it shall have become a law when upon such date the
6 provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
