Defines humanitarian emergency response and relief centers as shelters that provide assistance to arriving asylees or that provide shared sleeping and bathroom facilities for more than 96 hours and includes such centers within the definition of homeless project.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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8091
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 29, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. FORREST -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to defining humani-
tarian emergency response and relief centers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 42 of the social services law is amended by adding
2 a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
3 6. "Humanitarian emergency response and relief center" shall mean a
4 shelter for adults that is: (a) established and operated within the
5 state by a local government or provider under contract or similar agree-
6 ment with a state agency or a local government to provide assistance for
7 arriving asylees. Such assistance may include but is not limited to
8 respite, food, medical care, case work services, social services and
9 assistance in accessing a range of settlement options, including through
10 connections to family and friends within the United States and direct
11 referrals to alternative emergency supports; and (b) where individuals
12 and families reside for more than ninety-six hours and where such indi-
13 viduals and families sleep in a congregate setting with shared facili-
14 ties, including but not limited to, sleeping quarters and bathrooms.
15 § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 42 of the social services law, as
16 amended by chapter 458 of the laws of 1986, is amended to read as
17 follows:
18 1. "Homeless project" shall mean a humanitarian emergency response and
19 relief center or a specific facility, including lands, buildings and
20 improvements acquired, constructed, renovated or rehabilitated and oper-
21 ated by a not-for-profit corporation, charitable organization, wholly
22 owned subsidiary of a not-for-profit corporation or of a charitable
23 organization, public corporation or a municipality to increase the
24 availability of housing for homeless persons, which may include other
25 non-housing services such as but not limited to dining, recreational,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13247-02-3
A. 8091 2
1 sanitary, social, medical and mental health services as may be deemed by
2 the commissioner to be essential to such a project.
3 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
