S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8311
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             October 20, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. J. M. GIGLIO -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in  relation  to  allowing  for
   three  forty-five  day extensions of necessary and available emergency
   shelter for victims of domestic violence

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  459-b  of the social services law, as amended by
 chapter 7 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   § 459-b. Residential services for victims  of  domestic  violence.  In
 accordance with section one hundred thirty-one-u of this chapter and the
 regulations  of  the  office  of  children and family services, a social
 services district shall offer and provide necessary and available  emer-
 gency  shelter  and  services  for  up  to  ninety days at a residential
 program for victims  of  domestic  violence  to  a  victim  of  domestic
 violence who was residing in the social services district at the time of
 the alleged domestic violence whether or not such victim is eligible for
 public  assistance.  [Two]  THREE forty-five day extensions of necessary
 and available emergency shelter may be granted beyond the maximum length
 of stay at a residential program for victims of  domestic  violence  for
 residents who continue to be in need of emergency services and temporary
 shelter. If the victim of domestic violence has a service animal as such
 term is defined in section one hundred twenty-three-b of the agriculture
 and  markets  law, or therapy dog as such term is defined in section one
 hundred eight of the agriculture and  markets  law,  respectively,  such
 service  animal  or therapy dog shall be allowed to accompany the victim
 at the residential program authorized pursuant to this section, so  long
 as  such  accompaniment  would  not create an undue burden as defined by
 section two hundred ninety-six of the executive law.
   Where such accompaniment would constitute an undue burden,  the  resi-
 dential program shall make reasonable efforts to facilitate placement of
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13244-01-1
              

 A. 8311                             2
 
 such animal at an off-site animal care facility or if reasonable efforts
 fail,  provide  referral to one or more off-site animal care facilities.
 Such off-site animal care may include, but not be limited  to,  boarding
 at  a  veterinary  hospital or under the auspices of a duly incorporated
 humane society,  or  duly  incorporated  animal  protection  association
 approved for such purpose by the department of agriculture and markets.
   Nothing  in  this  section  shall  be construed to limit any rights or
 obligations provided pursuant to federal or state law, including but not
 limited to providing  reasonable  accommodations  for  individuals  with
 disabilities.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.