S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7368
I N S E N A T E
April 1, 2010
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Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- 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 public assist-
ance applications
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
152-c to read as follows:
S 152-C. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE APPLICATIONS; NOTIFICATION. 1. NOTWITH-
STANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE OFFICE OF
TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL UNDERTAKE EFFORTS TO SIMPLIFY
THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFITS. SUCH EFFORTS,
SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, LISTING INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
ON SUCH APPLICATIONS IN A MANNER THAT WOULD BE COMPREHENSIBLE TO AN
INDIVIDUAL WITH A BASIC LITERACY LEVEL.
2. (A) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE
OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL DRAFT A SUPPLEMENTAL
NOTICE FORM TO BE PROVIDED TO APPLICANTS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. SUCH
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE FORM SHALL LIST ALL NOTIFICATIONS TO BE PROVIDED TO
APPLICANTS AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE, OR REQUIRED BY LAW, RULE OR REGU-
LATION.
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, EACH NOTIFI-
CATION LISTED ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL NOTIFICATION FORM SHALL BE PROVIDED IN
A FONT THAT IS AT LEAST SIXTEEN POINTS.
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE SUPPLE-
MENTAL NOTICE FORM SHALL INCLUDE A CHECK OFF BOX NEXT TO EACH NOTIFICA-
TION PROVIDED ON THE FORM FOR THE APPLICANT TO CHECK TO INDICATE THAT HE
OR SHE HAS RECEIVED THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE NOTIFICATION AND
UNDERSTANDS THE NOTIFICATION PROVIDED.
(D) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE SUPPLE-
MENTAL NOTIFICATION FORM SHALL PROVIDE A LINE FOR THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
APPLICANT TO SIGN TO INDICATE THAT HE OR SHE HAS RECEIVED THE INFORMA-
TION CONTAINED IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL NOTICE FORM AND UNDERSTANDS ALL
NOTIFICATIONS PROVIDED.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16564-02-0
S. 7368 2
3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, LOCAL SOCIAL
SERVICES DISTRICTS SHALL PROVIDE ALL APPLICANTS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
WITH THE SUPPLEMENTAL NOTIFICATION FORM.
4. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, SUBSE-
QUENT TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND
DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL REVIEW THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION FORM,
NOT LESS THAN ONCE EVERY SIX MONTHS AND SHALL ADD ANY ADDITIONAL NOTIFI-
CATIONS TO THE APPLICATION AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE OR REQUIRED BY LAW,
RULE OR REGULATION.
S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become law; provided however, that effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before the effec-
tive date.