STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
970
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 8, 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 public assist-
ance applications
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
2 152-c to read as follows:
3 § 152-c. Public assistance applications; notification. 1. Notwith-
4 standing any other provision of law to the contrary, the office of
5 temporary and disability assistance shall undertake efforts to simplify
6 the application process for public assistance benefits. Such efforts,
7 shall include, but not be limited to, listing information and questions
8 on such applications in a manner that would be comprehensible to an
9 individual with a basic literacy level.
10 2. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
11 office of temporary and disability assistance shall draft a supplemental
12 notice form to be provided to applicants for public assistance. Such
13 supplemental notice form shall list all notifications to be provided to
14 applicants as may be appropriate, or required by law, rule or regu-
15 lation.
16 (b) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each notifi-
17 cation listed on the supplemental notification form shall be provided in
18 a font that is at least sixteen points.
19 (c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the supple-
20 mental notice form shall include a check off box next to each notifica-
21 tion provided on the form for the applicant to check to indicate that he
22 or she has received the information contained in the notification and
23 understands the notification provided.
24 (d) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the supple-
25 mental notification form shall provide a line for the public assistance
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03932-01-5
A. 970 2
1 applicant to sign to indicate that he or she has received the informa-
2 tion contained in the supplemental notice form and understands all
3 notifications provided.
4 3. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, local social
5 services districts shall provide all applicants for public assistance
6 with the supplemental notification form.
7 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, subse-
8 quent to the effective date of this section, the office of temporary and
9 disability assistance shall review the supplemental application form,
10 not less than once every six months and shall add any additional notifi-
11 cations to the application as may be appropriate or required by law,
12 rule or regulation.
13 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
14 it shall have become law; provided however, that effective immediately,
15 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
16 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
17 authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before the effec-
18 tive date.
