STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4339
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 7, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to providing rent
subsidies to individuals living with roommates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5 of section 409-a of the
2 social services law, as amended by chapter 339 of the laws of 1993, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, where a
5 social services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is
6 the primary factor preventing the discharge of a child or children from
7 foster care including, but not limited to, children with the goal of
8 discharge to independent living, preventive services shall include, in
9 addition to any other payments or benefits received by the family,
10 special cash grants in the form of rent subsidies, including rent
11 arrears, or any other assistance, sufficient to obtain adequate housing.
12 Such rent subsidies or assistance shall not exceed the sum of three
13 hundred dollars per month, shall not be provided for a period of more
14 than three years, and shall be considered a special grant. Nothing in
15 this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability of those using
16 such rent subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions of this para-
17 graph shall not be construed to limit such official's authority to
18 provide other preventive services.
19 § 2. Subdivision 7 of section 409-a of the social services law, as
20 added by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
21 7. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a social
22 services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is a factor
23 that may cause the entry of a child or children into foster care and the
24 family has at least one service need other than lack of adequate hous-
25 ing, preventive services may include, in addition to any other payments
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01054-01-9
S. 4339 2
1 or benefits received by the family, special cash grants in the form of
2 rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance, suffi-
3 cient to obtain adequate housing. Such rent subsidies or assistance
4 shall not exceed the sum of three hundred dollars per month, shall not
5 be provided for a period of more than three years, and shall be consid-
6 ered a special grant. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to
7 limit the ability of those using such rent subsidy to live with room-
8 mates. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to limit
9 such official's authority to provide other preventive services.
10 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
