Establishes the "SNAP for students act" requiring the office of temporary and disability assistance to create informational materials to provide information regarding student eligibility for SNAP benefits and to provide digital versions of such materials to institutions of higher education in the state; requires institutions of higher education to notify students of their potential eligibility for SNAP benefits.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8757
SPONSOR: Forrest TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to providing infor-
mation on the supplemental nutrition assistance program to students at
institutions of higher education
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To establish the "SNAP for Students Act," requiring the dissemination of
comprehensive information on SNAP eligibility and application processes
to students enrolled in institutions of higher education in New York
State.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 names the act as the "SNAP for Students Act."
Section 2 amends the social services law by adding a new section 95-b
Section 3 sets the effective date as the first of January following
enactment.
JUSTIFICATION:
College students across New York face alarming rates of food insecurity,
jeopardizing their academic success and well-being. Studies have shown
that the prevalence of food insecurity on campuses ranges anywhere from
19% to 56% with minority students being disproportionately impacted. In
New York, the situation is particularly pressing given the state's large
public higher education systems and high cost of living.
Currently, student eligibility for SNAP is underutilized due to wide-
spread misinformation and confusion surrounding eligibility criteria.
This bill addresses the knowledge gap by mandating clear, accessible,
and updated informational resources. By requiring institutions to
actively inform students about their potential eligibility and providing
centralized, multilingual, and consistent materials, this legislation
empowers students to access critical food support.
Every year in New York, there are food-insecure, SNAP eligible students,
who are unaware of SNAP and the help it could provide. The SNAP for
Students Act would ensure every student is notified of this vital
support program, and is provided with the necessary information to learn
more, and apply. This notification would occur in a manner that does not
burden the State of New York, nor the institutions that these students
are enrolled in. It is imperative that the hunger crisis plaguing
students is addressed swiftly and effectively. Notifying students of
SNAP is a great way to address this crisis, as SNAP has been proven to
improve health outcomes, reduce poverty, and stimulate local economies.
This proactive, preventative approach not only tackles hunger among
students but promotes academic retention, mental health, and graduation
rates.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8757
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 2, 2025
___________
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 providing infor-
mation on the supplemental nutrition assistance program to students at
institutions of higher education
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "SNAP for
2 students act".
3 § 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 95-b
4 to read as follows:
5 § 95-b. SNAP for students. 1. Definitions. As used in this section:
6 (a) "SNAP" means the supplemental nutrition assistance program as
7 defined in section 3(t) of the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
8 U.S.C. 2012 (t)).
9 (b) "Institution of higher education" means any institution of higher
10 education, recognized and approved by the regents of the university of
11 the state of New York or accredited by a nationally recognized accredit-
12 ing agency or association accepted as such by the regents of the univer-
13 sity of the state of New York, which provides a course of study leading
14 to the granting of a post-secondary degree, certificate or diploma.
15 (c) "Student" means a person who is enrolled at least half-time in an
16 institution of higher education. The number of hours required to be
17 deemed as enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher educa-
18 tion enrollment shall be determined by the institution of higher educa-
19 tion in which such person is enrolled.
20 2. Creation of informational materials. (a) The office shall create
21 informational materials regarding student eligibility for SNAP benefits,
22 which shall be updated at least annually; provided, however, that the
23 office shall update the informational materials as needed if there are
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11992-01-5
A. 8757 2
1 changes to the eligibility requirements or application process for SNAP
2 benefits before the annual update of such materials.
3 (b) The informational materials created pursuant to paragraph (a) of
4 this subdivision shall be made available on the office's website and on
5 each local social services office's website.
6 (c) The informational materials created pursuant to paragraph (a) of
7 this subdivision shall be made available in English, Spanish, and any
8 other language that is required by law or that the office deems appro-
9 priate.
10 (d) The informational materials shall include, but need not be limited
11 to, information on:
12 (i) the application process and methods of applying for SNAP benefits;
13 (ii) eligibility requirements for students to qualify for SNAP bene-
14 fits;
15 (iii) how to re-apply for SNAP benefits;
16 (iv) sources of assistance for students applying for SNAP benefits or
17 who have questions about SNAP, including but not limited to the contact
18 information for local social services offices and contact information
19 for any and all organizations that aid individuals with SNAP applica-
20 tions;
21 (v) information about programs associated with SNAP, including but not
22 limited to DoubleUp, SNAP-Ed, and SNAP to Market;
23 (vi) a list of stores in the state that allow using SNAP benefits
24 online; and
25 (vii) methods of contacting the office regarding SNAP benefits and
26 other SNAP related inquiries.
27 3. Distribution of informational materials. (a) The office, in coordi-
28 nation with the state education department, shall distribute, at mini-
29 mum, digital versions of the informational materials to every institu-
30 tion of higher education in the state.
31 (b) The office shall have the authority to establish and conduct an
32 outreach program to inform students attending institutions of higher
33 education about SNAP and other sources of aid for combating food insecu-
34 rity. The office shall have the authority to consult and collaborate
35 with any state department, agency, office, division, commission, author-
36 ity or other entity as the office deems appropriate or necessary for the
37 purposes of carrying out the requirements of this section.
38 (c) Every institution of higher education in the state shall be
39 required to notify each student of such institution of such student's
40 potential eligibility for SNAP benefits. Such notification shall be
41 provided at least annually and through electronic means; provided,
42 however, that every institution of higher education shall be authorized
43 to conduct additional outreach and provide additional eligibility
44 notifications as deemed necessary by the institution to comply with the
45 requirements of this section. The notification provided to students
46 shall, to the greatest extent practicable, be specific to New York state
47 and shall provide contact information for the local social services
48 office where an application for SNAP benefits may be submitted.
49 (d) The New York state higher education services corporation shall
50 notify all students that applied for tuition assistance program awards
51 that they may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Such notification shall be
52 provided at least annually and through electronic means.
53 (e) All notifications provided through electronic means regarding
54 potential student eligibility for SNAP benefits shall include, but need
55 not be limited to:
A. 8757 3
1 (i) the informational materials created pursuant to subdivision two of
2 this section;
3 (ii) information on where and how to apply for SNAP benefits;
4 (iii) information on obtaining assistance with the application proc-
5 ess; and
6 (iv) information on where to go for more information.
7 4. Annual reports. The office shall submit an annual report to the
8 governor and the legislature which shall be made available to the public
9 on the office's website and which shall include, but need not be limited
10 to:
11 (a) the number of students that applied for SNAP benefits;
12 (b) the number of students that applied for SNAP benefits and were
13 found to be eligible for such benefits;
14 (c) the number of students that received SNAP benefits;
15 (d) the number of institutions of higher education that notified
16 students of potential eligibility for SNAP benefits;
17 (e) a list of all institutions of higher education in the state, indi-
18 cating which institutions complied with the requirements of this
19 section; and
20 (f) an assessment of the effectiveness of this section in notifying
21 students of potential eligibility for SNAP benefits.
22 § 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
23 ing the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately,
24 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
25 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
26 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
