S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7803
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 23, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to additional state
   payment assistance
 
   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
 213 to read as follows:
   §  213.  ADDITIONAL STATE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. 1. IF THERE IS NO AGREE-
 MENT IN EFFECT FOR FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL  STATE  PAYMENTS
 PURSUANT  TO  SECTION TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS TITLE, THE COMMISSIONER
 OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL BE  RESPONSI-
 BLE  FOR  PROVIDING  ASSISTANCE  TO APPLICANTS FOR OR RECIPIENTS OF SUCH
 PAYMENTS AS IT RELATES TO APPLYING FOR, MODIFYING  OR  MAINTAINING  SUCH
 BENEFITS  IN  ORDER TO ENSURE MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION BY ELIGIBLE INDIVID-
 UALS. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONTRACT WITH ONE  OR  MORE  NOT-FOR-PROFIT
 PROVIDERS  THAT  HAVE  RELEVANT EXPERIENCE WITH SERVING INDIVIDUALS WITH
 DISABILITIES AND, AVAILABILITY  AND  ACCESSIBILITY  TO  THIS  PARTICULAR
 POPULATION  FOR  THE  PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUCH ASSISTANCE IN ACCORDANCE
 WITH THIS SECTION.
   2. SUCH ASSISTANCE SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: (A) ASSISTING
 WITH MEETING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING GATHERING  DOCUMENTATION
 WHICH MAY BE NECESSARY TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OR THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL
 OF  BENEFITS;  (B) EXPLAINING RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION AS IT RELATES TO AN
 INDIVIDUAL'S BENEFIT TO HELP ENSURE INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND  THEIR  BENE-
 FITS  AND ARE RECEIVING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF BENEFITS; (C) ASSISTING
 INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS THE FAIR HEARING PROCESS BY SECURING ANY NECESSARY
 DOCUMENTATION AND PROVIDING REFERRALS FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY; (D)  PROVIDING
 THE  OPTION  OF IN PERSON ASSISTANCE AND  WHEN NECESSARY, PROVIDING SUCH
 ASSISTANCE AT THE INDIVIDUAL'S RESIDENCE OR OTHER APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS,
 SUCH AS A HOSPITAL; AND (E) IDENTIFYING ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD06157-03-9

 A. 7803                             2
 
 RECEIVING SUCH BENEFITS AND CONDUCTING OUTREACH  TO  PROVIDE  THEM  WITH
 INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS (A) THROUGH (D) OF
 THIS  SUBDIVISION  TO  SECURE AND MAINTAIN SUCH BENEFITS AND IDENTIFYING
 SYSTEMIC  BARRIERS ENCOUNTERED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES APPLYING
 FOR AND MAINTAINING SUCH BENEFITS. SUCH  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  PROVIDER  SHALL
 REPORT  ON  SUCH FINDINGS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPO-
 RARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY,  AND  THE
 CHAIRS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICES,
 WITH  THE  INITIAL  REPORT TO BE PROVIDED ON JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
 TWENTY.
   3. TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE TO FACILITATE AND  EFFECTU-
 ATE  THE  REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE, SUCH NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDER SHALL
 COORDINATE AND COOPERATE WITH THE FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 AS IT PERTAINS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR WHICH THEY ARE PROVIDING  SERVICES  AS
 REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.