Assembly Bill A678

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to state assistance for food and vet expenses for guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs of individuals qualifying for social services; repealer

download bill text pdf

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2019-A678 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Social Services
Law Section:
Social Services Law
Laws Affected:
Rpld §303-a, add §131-y, Soc Serv L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2015-2016: A7489
2017-2018: A4938
2021-2022: A1302
2023-2024: A5499

2019-A678 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to state assistance for food and vet expenses for guide dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs of individuals qualifying for social services; requires regulations set an amount of no less than $50 a month; clarifies that service dogs do not have to be certified to qualify for such benefits.

2019-A678 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    678
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 9, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. L. ROSENTHAL, D'URSO, BARRON -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to  assistance  for
   guide  dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs and to repeal section 303-a
   of such law relating thereto

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Section 303-a of the social services law is REPEALED and a
 new section 131-y is added to read as follows:
   § 131-Y. ASSISTANCE FOR GUIDE DOGS, HEARING DOGS AND SERVICE DOGS.  1.
 IT  SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL TO PROVIDE ASSIST-
 ANCE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, TO A PERSON WITH
 A DISABILITY USING A GUIDE DOG, HEARING DOG OR SERVICE DOG WHO HAS  BEEN
 DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR OR IS RECEIVING, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
 TO,  FEDERAL  SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME BENEFITS, SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRI-
 TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM BENEFITS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR  NEEDY  PERSONS
 AND/OR ADDITIONAL STATE PAYMENTS UNDER THIS CHAPTER, FOR THE PURCHASE OF
 FOOD AND THE COST OF VETERINARIAN EXPENSES FOR SUCH DOG.
   2.  SUCH REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT SHALL FIX AN AMOUNT OF NOT LESS
 THAN FIFTY DOLLARS A MONTH, AND THE METHOD AND FREQUENCY OF DISTRIBUTION
 AND PROCEDURES FOR THE DETERMINATION AND PERIODICAL  REDETERMINATION  OF
 ELIGIBILITY FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE.
   3.  SUCH ASSISTANCE SHALL NOT BE GRANTED TO ANY PERSON FOR WHOM EARNED
 INCOME HAS BEEN EXEMPTED FOR SUCH PURPOSE PURSUANT  TO  FEDERAL  LAW  OR
 REGULATION.
   4.  THE  FULL  AMOUNT  PROPERLY  EXPENDED BY SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS
 UNDER THIS SECTION, INCLUDING COSTS OF ADMINISTRATION,  SHALL  BE  REIM-
 BURSED BY THE STATE.
   5.  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  THIS SECTION, "SERVICE DOG" SHALL MEAN ANY DOG,
 REGARDLESS OF CERTIFICATION, UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE  PERSON  USING  OR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

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