New York State Assembly

 
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A02497 Summary:

A02497 Actions:

A02497 Committee Votes:

Committee:SOCIAL SERVICES   Chair:Davila      
DATE:05/20/2025AYE/NAY:16/0  Action: Favorable refer to committee Ways and Means        
Davila
Aye
Molitor
Aye
Solages
Aye
Simpson
Aye
Eichenstein
Aye
McDonough
Excused
Reyes
Aye
Friend
Aye
Forrest
Aye
Bailey
Aye
Gonzalez-Rojas
Aye
De Los Santos
Aye
Simone
Aye
Raga
Aye
Berger
Aye
Valdez
Aye
Romero
Aye
O'Pharrow
Excused

Committee:WAYS AND MEANS   Chair:Pretlow      
DATE:05/29/2025AYE/NAY:33/1  Action: Favorable refer to committee Rules        
Pretlow
Aye
Ra
Aye
Glick
Aye
Fitzpatrick
Nay
Colton
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Cook
Aye
Blankenbush
Aye
Benedetto
Aye
Palmesano
Aye
Weprin
Aye
Walsh
Aye
Ramos
Aye
DeStefano
Aye
Braunstein
Aye
Manktelow
Aye
McDonald
Aye
Smullen
Aye
Rozic
Aye
Giglio
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Magnarelli
Aye
Bronson
Aye
Dilan
Aye
Seawright
Excused
Hyndman
Aye
Walker
Aye
Bichotte Hermel
Aye
Simon
Aye
Cruz
Aye
Otis
Aye
Solages
Aye
Hunter
Aye
Epstein
Aye
Septimo
Aye

Committee:RULES   Chair:Glick      
DATE:06/04/2025AYE/NAY:28/0  Action: Favorable         
Heastie
Excused
Barclay
Aye
Pretlow
Aye
Hawley
Aye
Cook
Aye
Blankenbush
Aye
Glick
Aye
Ra
Aye
Dinowitz
Aye
Brabenec
Aye
Colton
Aye
Palmesano
Aye
Magnarelli
Excused
Reilly
Aye
Paulin
Aye
Smith
Excused
Peoples-Stokes
Aye
Jensen
Aye
Benedetto
Aye
Lavine
Aye
Lupardo
Aye
Braunstein
Aye
Davila
Aye
Hyndman
Aye
Rozic
Aye
Bronson
Aye
Hevesi
Aye
Hunter
Aye
Taylor
Aye
Cruz
Aye
Vanel
Aye

A02497 Floor Votes:

A02497 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          2497
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    January 17, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  DAVILA,  MAHER,  TAYLOR,  SIMPSON,  LUPARDO,
          PEOPLES-STOKES, DILAN, WALSH -- read once and referred to the  Commit-
          tee on Social Services
 
        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,  2027.  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
    22  or his or her designee.  Appointments shall be made within sixty days of
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00920-01-5
        A. 2497                             2
 
     1  the effective date of this section. Vacancies in the task force shall be
     2  filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
     3    (ii) All appointments shall be coordinated to ensure geographic repre-
     4  sentation from the entire state.
     5    (iii) The task force shall elect a chair, vice-chair, and other neces-
     6  sary officers from among all appointed members.
     7    (iv)  A majority of the members of the task force then in office shall
     8  constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or the  exercise  of
     9  any  power or function of the task force. An act, determination or deci-
    10  sion of the majority of the members present during  the  presence  of  a
    11  quorum  shall  be  held to be the act, determination, or decision of the
    12  task force.
    13    (v) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the  call  of  the
    14  chair.  Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be
    15  called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members  of  the
    16  task force.
    17    (vi) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
    18  services  but  shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
    19  the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
    20    (c) The task force shall:
    21    (i) conduct a study on the fiscal cliffs  in  the  state.  Such  study
    22  shall  include,  but  not be limited to: public assistance programs; the
    23  supplemental  nutrition  assistance  program  (SNAP);  the  home  energy
    24  assistance program (HEAP); housing assistance; the child care tax credit
    25  and  other  tax  credits; the school tax relief program (STAR) and other
    26  real property tax credits and reductions; Medicaid; NY state of  health,
    27  the  official  health  plan  marketplace;  child  care subsidies tied to
    28  income; cash benefits; effective tax rates; and  any  other  program  or
    29  service provided by the state or any political subdivision thereof which
    30  is tied to income;
    31    (ii)  study the causes and reasons why fiscal cliffs occur to individ-
    32  uals on public benefits, including but not limited  to,  the  impact  of
    33  current  public  assistance  programs  monetary allotments, asset tests,
    34  asset limits, and income disregards, as well as  how  minimum  wage  and
    35  other earnings may impact those receiving public benefits; and
    36    (iii)  recommend ways to reduce and/or eliminate fiscal cliffs includ-
    37  ing, but not limited to, recommending program and policy  modifications,
    38  amendments  to the law, including but not limited to possible changes in
    39  calculating and paying the earned income tax credit or other  tax  cred-
    40  its, changes to the New York codes, rules and regulations, and any other
    41  recommendation the task force deems appropriate.
    42    (d) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
    43  surveys,  or  analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
    44  performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
    45  ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or  public  authorities
    46  shall  provide  information  and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
    47  assist the task force with its work.
    48    (e) The office of temporary and disability  assistance  shall  provide
    49  staff  services  to the task force and such other administrative assist-
    50  ance as may be necessary for the task force to  carry  out  its  duties,
    51  functions and powers.
    52    (f) The task force shall make a preliminary report to the governor and
    53  the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activ-
    54  ities  already  undertaken  by the task force, not later than January 1,
    55  2027, and a final report of its findings,  conclusions,  recommendations
    56  and  activities  already  undertaken  by  the task force, not later than
        A. 2497                             3
 
     1  September  1,  2027  and  shall  submit  with  its  reports  legislative
     2  proposals as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
     3    §  2.  This  act  shall take effect immediately and shall expire three
     4  years after it  shall  have  become  a  law  when  upon  such  date  the
     5  provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.