STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7276
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 8, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CAMARA -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring social
services districts to conspicuously post a notice of basic rights
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
2 134-c to read as follows:
3 § 134-c. Public notice of basic rights. Social services districts
4 shall conspicuously post in each of their facilities, which are open to
5 the public, the following notice of the basic rights of applicants and
6 recipients of public assistance and care:
7 "NOTICE OF BASIC RIGHTS
8 1. Right to a Fair Hearing: You have a right to a fair hearing if you
9 disagree with (a) the amount of benefits you are receiving, or (b) an
10 action or decision made by the agency, or (c) the agency's failure to
11 act upon your application.
12 2. Duty to Assist: The job center must help you obtain requested docu-
13 ments and/or information that you have been unable to obtain from anoth-
14 er person or agency after making reasonable efforts.
15 3. Right to Emergency Assistance: If you qualify, you have a right to
16 food stamps, within 5 days after the date of your application, and you
17 have a right to emergency needs assistance or care, including a cash
18 grant, upon application.
19 4. Right to Apply: Every individual has the right to apply for cash
20 assistance, and to receive a prompt written decision thereon.
21 5. Right to Child Care: Every person has the right to receive appro-
22 priate child care if they need such care to participate in required or
23 assigned activities.
24 6. Right to Free Language Services: You have a right to free interpre-
25 tation services if you do not speak or understand English well; and you
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10689-01-3
A. 7276 2
1 have a right to receive written notices in Arabic, Chinese, Haitian-
2 Creole, Korean, Russian or Spanish.
3 7. Right to Screening and special services if experiencing domestic
4 violence.
5 8. Right to Full and Equal Access to Benefits and Services, as well,
6 as a right to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disa-
7 bilities Act.
8 9. Right to Written Adequate Notice: You have the right to written
9 adequate notice of (a) any agency action to deny, discontinue, suspend,
10 reduce or restrict your benefits, and (b) any determination that you are
11 not eligible for an exemption from work."
12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
13 have become law.
