Relates to authorizing the payment of costs, up to eighty dollars, of diapers for an eligible child two years of age or younger for children receiving safety net assistance.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2872
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to allowances for
the costs of diapers
PURPOSE:
This bill creates an allowance for eligible parents to receive a quar-
terly allowance to assist in the purchasing of diapers for their chil-
dren two years and under.
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Amends subdivision 1 of section 350 of the social services
law by adding a new paragraph (c).
Section 2. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Children under the age of two require frequent diaper changes, which can
become financially challenging for low-income parents. The increasing
cost of diapers is putting a massive burden on these families. According
to the National Diaper Bank Network, the cost of diapers per young child
is around $930 per year. Frequent diaper changes are also necessary to
prevent diaper rash, which if left untreated, could lead to other health
issues for a child.
Helping parents purchase an adequate supply of diapers will assist in
avoiding further health issues for their children. This bill will
provide eligible parents with an allowance to purchase diapers. Every
three months, parents of children aged two years and younger will be
eligible to receive up to eighty dollars, which will assist those who
have trouble affording diapers.
RACIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
A recent report jointly issued by the. National Diaper Bank Network and
the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has shown that Black and
Latino infants and toddlers are more likely to live in poverty. The
inability to afford diapers disproportionately impacts children and
families of color which further compounds financial and health burdens
they face.
GENDER JUSTICE IMPACT:
The same report mentioned above also highlights that women are more
likely to live in poverty than men. Further, transgender individuals are
more likely to face financial hardship than cisgender people. These
compounding factors result in the cost of diapers becoming an even larg-
er burden to our most vulnerable children and families.
This bill will provide direct financial assistance for diapers that will
reduce this dangerous inequality.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A3451b; reported from Social Services, referred to Ways and
Means.
2019-20: A2567b; referred to Social Services.
2017-18: A5973; reported from Social Services, referred to Ways and
Means.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2872
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, SAYEGH, CRUZ, EICHENSTEIN, SIMON,
LAVINE, TAYLOR, L. ROSENTHAL, GLICK, EPSTEIN -- read once and referred
to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to allowances for
the costs of diapers
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 350 of the social services law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
3 (c) In accordance with the regulations of the department approved by
4 the director of the budget, allowances granted under the provisions of
5 this title may include the costs of diapers for an eligible child, two
6 years of age or younger. Said allowances shall not exceed eighty
7 dollars, every three months, per eligible child.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
9 the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04174-01-3
