S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5525
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                May 6, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  THOMAS -- 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  enacting  the
   intergenerational poverty mitigation act
 
   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  article
 10-E to read as follows:
                               ARTICLE 10-E
                 INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY MITIGATION ACT
 SECTION 484. SHORT TITLE.
         484-A. DEFINITIONS.
         484-B. NEW YORK INTERGENERATIONAL WELFARE REFORM COMMISSION.
         484-C. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY PLAN IMPLEMEN-
                  TATION PILOT PROGRAM.
   § 484. SHORT  TITLE.  THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE "INTERGENERA-
 TIONAL POVERTY MITIGATION ACT."
   § 484-A. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
   1. "CYCLE OF POVERTY" OR "POVERTY CYCLE" MEANS THE SET OF  FACTORS  OR
 EVENTS  BY WHICH THE LONG-TERM POVERTY OF A PERSON IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE
 AND BE EXPERIENCED BY EACH CHILD OF THE PERSON WHEN THE CHILD BECOMES AN
 ADULT UNLESS THERE IS OUTSIDE INTERVENTION.
   2. (A) "INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY" MEANS POVERTY IN WHICH TWO OR  MORE
 SUCCESSIVE  GENERATIONS OF A FAMILY CONTINUE IN THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND
 GOVERNMENT DEPENDENCE.
   (B) "INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY" DOES NOT INCLUDE  SITUATIONAL  POVERTY
 THAT:  (I)  IS GENERALLY TRACEABLE TO A SPECIFIC INCIDENT OR TIME PERIOD
 WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF A PERSON; AND (II) IS NOT CONTINUED TO  THE  NEXT
 GENERATION.
   3. "POVERTY" MEANS THE STATE OF A PERSON WHO LACKS A USUAL OR SOCIALLY
 ACCEPTABLE  AMOUNT  OF  MONEY OR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS AS DEMONSTRATED BY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD11253-01-9

 S. 5525                             2
 
 THE PERSON'S INCOME LEVEL BEING AT OR BELOW THE  UNITED  STATES  POVERTY
 LEVEL  AS DEFINED BY THE MOST RECENTLY REVISED POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES
 PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
   § 484-B. NEW  YORK  INTERGENERATIONAL  WELFARE  REFORM  COMMISSION. 1.
 THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE NEW YORK  INTERGENERATIONAL  WELFARE  REFORM
 COMMISSION  COMPOSED  OF  THE  FOLLOWING  NINE  MEMBERS:  (A) ONE MEMBER
 APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER; (B) TWO MEMBERS TO BE  APPOINTED  BY  THE
 GOVERNOR;  (C)  THREE MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
 OF THE SENATE; AND (D) THREE MEMBERS TO BE APPOINTED BY THE  SPEAKER  OF
 THE ASSEMBLY.
   2.  THE  APPOINTEE  OF  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE
 COMMISSION. THE CHAIR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR: (A) THE CALL  AND  CONDUCT  OF
 MEETINGS  AT  LEAST FOUR TIMES PER YEAR; (B) CALLING ADDITIONAL MEETINGS
 UPON REQUEST BY A MAJORITY OF THE COMMISSION'S MEMBERS; AND (C) DELEGAT-
 ING DUTIES TO OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION.
   3. A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION CONSTITUTES A QUORUM OF
 THE COMMISSION AT ANY MEETING AND THE ACTION OF THE MAJORITY OF  MEMBERS
 PRESENT IS THE ACTION OF THE COMMISSION.
   4.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  PROVIDE STAFF SUPPORT TO THE COMMISSION AS
 REQUESTED.
   5. THE COMMISSION'S PURPOSE IS TO:  (A)  COLLABORATE  IN  SHARING  AND
 ANALYZING  DATA  AND  INFORMATION REGARDING INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY IN
 THE STATE WITH A PRIMARY FOCUS ON DATA AND INFORMATION  REGARDING  CHIL-
 DREN  WHO  ARE  AT  RISK  OF CONTINUING THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND WELFARE
 DEPENDENCY UNLESS OUTSIDE INTERVENTION IS MADE; (B) EXAMINE AND  ANALYZE
 SHARED DATA AND INFORMATION REGARDING INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY, INCLUD-
 ING  THE DATA PROVIDED BY THE INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY REPORT, TO IDEN-
 TIFY AND DEVELOP EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT PLANS, PROGRAMS, AND  RECOMMEN-
 DATIONS  TO  HELP  AT-RISK  CHILDREN  IN  THE  STATE ESCAPE THE CYCLE OF
 POVERTY AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE AVOIDING  HOMELESSNESS
 AMONG  CHILDREN AT RISK OF REMAINING IN POVERTY; (C) IMPLEMENT DATA-DRI-
 VEN POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ADDRESSING POVERTY, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,  EDUCA-
 TION,  AND  OTHER  AREAS AS NEEDED TO MEASURABLY REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF
 CHILDREN IN THE STATE WHO REMAIN IN THE CYCLE  OF  POVERTY  AND  WELFARE
 DEPENDENCY  AS  THEY  BECOME  ADULTS;  AND  (D) ESTABLISH AND FACILITATE
 IMPROVED COOPERATION BETWEEN  POLICYMAKERS  IN  RESCUING  CHILDREN  FROM
 INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY.
   6. THE COMMISSION SHALL: (A) STUDY, EVALUATE, AND REPORT ON THE STATUS
 AND  EFFECTIVENESS  OF  POLICIES,  PROCEDURES, AND PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE
 SERVICES TO CHILDREN IN THE STATE AFFECTED BY INTERGENERATIONAL  POVERTY
 AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY; (B) STUDY AND EVALUATE THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES,
 AND  PROGRAMS  IMPLEMENTED  BY OTHER STATES AND NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES
 THAT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AFFECTED BY INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY
 AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY; (C) IDENTIFY POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND PROGRAMS,
 INCLUDING ANY LACK OF INTERAGENCY DATA SHARING, LACK OF  POLICY  COORDI-
 NATION,  OR  CURRENT  FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS, THAT ARE IMPEDING EFFORTS TO
 HELP CHILDREN IN THE STATE AFFECTED BY INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY  ESCAPE
 THE  POVERTY  CYCLE AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY AND RECOMMEND CHANGES TO SUCH
 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES; (D) CREATE AN ONGOING FIVE- AND TEN-YEAR  PLAN,
 WHICH  IS  UPDATED ANNUALLY, CONTAINING MEASURABLE GOALS AND BENCHMARKS,
 INCLUDING FUTURE ACTION NEEDED TO ATTAIN THOSE GOALS AND BENCHMARKS, FOR
 DECREASING THE INCIDENCE OF INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY AMONG THE  STATE'S
 CHILDREN,  INCLUDING  REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF HOMELESSNESS AMONG CHIL-
 DREN AFFECTED BY INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY AND INCREASING THE NUMBER  OF
 THE  STATE'S CHILDREN WHO ESCAPE THE POVERTY CYCLE AND WELFARE DEPENDEN-
 CY; (E) IMPLEMENT POLICY, PROCEDURE, AND PROGRAM CHANGES TO ADDRESS  THE

 S. 5525                             3
 
 NEEDS  OF  CHILDREN AFFECTED BY INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY AND HELP THOSE
 CHILDREN ESCAPE THE POVERTY CYCLE AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY, INCLUDING,  AS
 AVAILABLE OVER TIME, DATA TO TRACK THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH CHANGE; (F)
 RECOMMEND POLICY, PROCEDURE, AND PROGRAM CHANGES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF
 CHILDREN  AFFECTED  BY INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY AND TO HELP THOSE CHIL-
 DREN ESCAPE THE POVERTY CYCLE  AND  WELFARE  DEPENDENCY,  INCLUDING  THE
 STEPS  THAT WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES AND WHETHER
 FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE; AND (G) PROVIDE  A  FORUM
 FOR  PUBLIC COMMENT AND PARTICIPATION IN EFFORTS TO HELP CHILDREN IN THE
 STATE ESCAPE THE CYCLE OF POVERTY AND WELFARE DEPENDENCY.
   7. TO ACCOMPLISH ITS DUTIES,  THE  COMMISSION  MAY:  (A)  REQUEST  AND
 RECEIVE  FROM  ANY  STATE  OR  LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR INSTITUTION,
 INFORMATION RELATING  TO  POVERTY  IN  THE  STATE,  INCLUDING:  REPORTS,
 AUDITS,  DATA,  PROJECTIONS  AND  STATISTICS;  AND  (B)  APPOINT SPECIAL
 COMMITTEES, TO ADVISE AND ASSIST THE COMMISSION; PROVIDED  THAT  MEMBERS
 OF  SUCH  SPECIAL COMMITTEE SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSION AND MAY
 BE: (I) MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION; OR (II) INDIVIDUALS FROM THE  PRIVATE
 OR PUBLIC SECTOR;
   § 484-C. ESTABLISHMENT  OF  INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY PLAN IMPLEMENTA-
 TION PILOT PROGRAM.
   1. THERE IS  HEREBY  ESTABLISHED  AN  INTERGENERATIONAL  POVERTY  PLAN
 IMPLEMENTATION  PILOT  PROGRAM  TO ENCOURAGE COUNTIES TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL
 SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY.
   2. A COUNTY OR A GROUP OF CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES MAY SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO
 THE DEPARTMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM. SUCH PROPOSALS FOR PARTIC-
 IPATION SHALL SPECIFY: (A) OUTCOMES THAT WILL ADDRESS  INTERGENERATIONAL
 POVERTY  THAT  THE COUNTY AIMS TO ACHIEVE WITH SUCH PROGRAM; (B) METRICS
 THAT WOULD BE USED TO MEASURE PROGRESS TOWARD  THE  SPECIFIED  OUTCOMES;
 (C)  BASELINE  MEASUREMENTS  FOR  EACH  SPECIFIED OUTCOME AND THE METRIC
 AGAINST WHICH PROGRESS WILL BE MEASURED; AND (D)  THE  TOTAL  AMOUNT  OF
 MONEY NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE SPECIFIED OUTCOMES.
   3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL: (A) SPECIFY THE FORMAT FOR A PROPOSAL; (B)
 SET A DEADLINE FOR A COUNTY OR GROUP OF COUNTIES TO SUBMIT  A  PROPOSAL;
 (C)  DEFINE  CRITERIA  FOR  SELECTING  A  COUNTY OR GROUP OF COUNTIES TO
 PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, WHICH MAY INCLUDE: (I) A SIGNIFICANT  NUMBER
 OF  INDIVIDUALS  WITHIN  THE  COUNTY  OR  GROUP OF COUNTIES EXPERIENCING
 INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY; (II) AN ESTABLISHED STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS
 INTERGENERATIONAL POVERTY; (III) EVIDENCE OF STRONG ENGAGEMENT AND LEAD-
 ERSHIP; AND (IV) PARTNERSHIPS WITH  GROUPS  OVERSEEING  HUMAN  SERVICES,
 EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES PUBLIC HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND JUVENILE JUSTICE.
   4.  ONE  YEAR AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT
 SHALL SELECT AT LEAST ONE COUNTY OR GROUP OF COUNTIES TO  SERVE  AS  THE
 PILOT  PROGRAM  LOCATION, AND SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO GRANT ANY APPROPRI-
 ATED FUNDS TO SUCH COUNTY OR GROUP OF  COUNTIES  TO  ACHIEVE  THE  PILOT
 PROGRAM INDICATORS AND OUTCOMES.
   5. A COUNTY OR GROUP OF COUNTIES THAT RECEIVES A GRANT UNDER THE PILOT
 PROGRAM  SHALL:  (A) PROVIDE A CASH OR IN-KIND MATCH THAT IS EQUAL TO AT
 LEAST TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT OF THE GRANT; (B) USE THE  FUNDS
 PROVIDED  BY  THE  PROGRAM  AND  THE  CASH OR IN-KIND MATCH FOR PURPOSES
 APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT; AND (C) REPORT QUARTERLY TO  THE  DEPARTMENT
 ON  PROGRESS  REGARDING  THE  INDICATORS  AND  OUTCOMES  DESCRIBED  THIS
 SECTION.
   6.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  ISSUE  A  REPORT  ANNUALLY   DETAILING   A
 DESCRIPTION  OF  THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE NUMBER AND AMOUNTS OF GRANTS
 AWARDED, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE GRANTS, AND AN EVALUATION OF THE PROGRESS

 S. 5525                             4
 
 GRANT RECIPIENTS HAVE MADE TOWARD THE INDICATORS AND OUTCOMES  DESCRIBED
 IN THIS SECTION.
   7. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HAVE THE POWER: (A) TO MAKE SUCH PILOT PROGRAM
 PERMANENT  IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL;
 AND (B) TO EXPAND THE PILOT PROGRAM TO AN ADDITIONAL COUNTY OR  COUNTIES
 AFTER THE INITIAL ONE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.