S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    474
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 9, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. PAULIN, GALEF -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
   RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing  social
   services  districts to offer participants in public assistance employ-
   ment programs an option to complete a course in financial literacy and
   personal finance
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subdivision 1 of section 336 of the social
 services  law, as amended by section 148 of part B of chapter 436 of the
 laws of 1997, is amended and a new paragraph (j-l) is added to  read  as
 follows:
   (f)  job search and job readiness assistance, provided that job search
 is an active and continuing effort to secure  employment  configured  by
 the  local  social  services official; AND SUCH SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICT
 MAY WORK IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR  TO  PROVIDE  WORK-
 FORCE  GUIDANCE  AND INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION TEN-C OF THE
 LABOR LAW;
   (J-L) EDUCATION OR A COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IN FINANCIAL  LITERACY  AND
 PERSONAL  FINANCE THAT INCLUDES INSTRUCTION ON HOUSEHOLD CASH MANAGEMENT
 TECHNIQUES, CAREER ADVICE TO OBTAIN A WELL PAYING AND SECURE JOB,  USING
 CHECKING  AND  SAVINGS  ACCOUNTS, OBTAINING AND UTILIZING SHORT AND LONG
 TERM CREDIT, SECURING A LOAN OR OTHER LONG  TERM  FINANCING  ARRANGEMENT
 FOR  HIGH COST ITEMS SUCH AS A MOTOR VEHICLE, HOME OR PARTICIPATION IN A
 HIGHER EDUCATION COURSE OF INSTRUCTION OR TRADE  SCHOOL,  OBTAINING  AND
 USING  CREDIT  AND DEBIT CARDS, INVESTING AND SAVING MONEY, AND PLANNING
 FOR RETIREMENT;
   § 2. Subdivision 1 of section 336-a of the  social  services  law,  as
 amended  by  section  4  of part J of chapter 58 of the laws of 2014, is
 amended to read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01848-01-7
              

 A. 474                              2
 
   1. Social services districts shall make  available  vocational  educa-
 tional training and educational activities.  Such activities may include
 but  need not be limited to, high school education or education designed
 to prepare a participant for  a  high  school  equivalency  certificate,
 basic  and  remedial education, education in English proficiency, EDUCA-
 TION IN FINANCIAL LITERACY AND PERSONAL FINANCE  PURSUANT  TO  PARAGRAPH
 (J-1)  OF  SUBDIVISION  ONE  OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX OF THIS
 TITLE, and no more than a total of four years of  post-secondary  educa-
 tion  (or  the part-time equivalent). Educational activities pursuant to
 this section may be offered with any of the  following  providers  which
 meet  the performance or assessment standards established in regulations
 by the commissioner for such providers: a  community  college,  licensed
 trade  school,  registered  business  school, or a two-year or four-year
 college; provided, however, that such post-secondary education  must  be
 necessary  to  the attainment of the participant's individual employment
 goal as set forth in the employability plan and such  goal  must  relate
 directly to obtaining useful employment in a recognized occupation. When
 making  any  assignment  to  any  educational  activity pursuant to this
 subdivision, such assignment shall be permitted only to the extent  that
 such  assignment  is  consistent  with  the  individual's assessment and
 employment plan goals in accordance with sections three hundred  thirty-
 five  and  three  hundred  thirty-five-a of this title and shall require
 that the individual maintains satisfactory academic progress and  hourly
 participation  is  documented consistent with federal and state require-
 ments. For purposes of this provision "satisfactory  academic  progress"
 shall  mean  having a cumulative C average, or its equivalent, as deter-
 mined by the academic institution. The requirement to maintain satisfac-
 tory academic progress may be waived if done so by the academic institu-
 tion and the social services district based on undue hardship caused  by
 an  event such as a personal injury or illness of the student, the death
 of a relative of the student or  other  extenuating  circumstances.  Any
 enrollment in post-secondary education beyond a twelve month period must
 be  combined  with  no  less than twenty hours of participation averaged
 weekly in paid employment or work activities or community  service  when
 paid employment is not available.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it  shall have become a law; provided, however, that the commissioner of
 temporary  and  disability  assistance  is  immediately  authorized  and
 directed  to  promulgate,  amend and/or repeal any rules and regulations
 that may be necessary to implement the provisions of  this  act  on  its
 effective date.