STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1848
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI, PERRY, BARRON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
of A. GOTTFRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social
Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to clarifying the
definitions of vocational educational training and educational activ-
ities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 336-a of the social services law,
2 as amended by chapter 275 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 1. Social services districts shall make available vocational educa-
5 tional training and educational activities. Such activities [may] shall
6 include but need not be limited to, high school education or education
7 designed to prepare a participant for a high school equivalency certif-
8 icate, basic and remedial education, education in English proficiency,
9 education or a course of instruction in financial literacy and personal
10 finance that includes instruction on household cash management tech-
11 niques, career advice to obtain a well paying and secure job, using
12 checking and savings accounts, obtaining and utilizing short and long
13 term credit, securing a loan or other long term financing arrangement
14 for high cost items, participation in a higher education course of
15 instruction or trade school, and no more than a total of four years of
16 post-secondary education (or the part-time equivalent). Educational
17 activities pursuant to this section may be offered with any of the
18 following providers which meet the performance or assessment standards
19 established in regulations by the commissioner for such providers: a
20 community college, licensed trade school, registered business school, or
21 a two-year or four-year college; provided, however, that such post-sec-
22 ondary education must be necessary to the attainment of the partic-
23 ipant's individual employment goal as set forth in the employability
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01508-01-1
A. 1848 2
1 plan and such goal must relate directly to obtaining useful employment
2 in a recognized occupation. When making any assignment to any educa-
3 tional activity pursuant to this subdivision, such assignment shall be
4 permitted only to the extent that such assignment is consistent with the
5 individual's assessment and employment plan goals in accordance with
6 sections three hundred thirty-five and three hundred thirty-five-a of
7 this title and shall require that the individual maintains satisfactory
8 academic progress and hourly participation is documented consistent with
9 federal and state requirements. For purposes of this provision "satis-
10 factory academic progress" shall mean having a cumulative C average, or
11 its equivalent, as determined by the academic institution. The require-
12 ment to maintain satisfactory academic progress may be waived if done so
13 by the academic institution and the social services district based on
14 undue hardship caused by an event such as a personal injury or illness
15 of the student, the death of a relative of the student or other exten-
16 uating circumstances. Any enrollment in post-secondary education beyond
17 a twelve month period must be combined with no less than twenty hours of
18 participation averaged weekly in paid employment or work activities or
19 community service when paid employment is not available.
20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.