NY State Senate Bill 2021-S6419

Senate Bill S6419

2021-2022 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

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Social Services 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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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 05, 2022	referred to social services
Apr 27, 2021	referred to social services

co-Sponsors

2021-S6419 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1302
Current Committee:: Senate 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
2019-2020: A678
2023-2024: S4081, A5499

2021-S6419 (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.

2021-S6419 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S6419

SPONSOR: BRISPORT
 
TITLE OF BILL:

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

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one repeals section 303-a of the social services law and adds a
new section 131-y.

Section two sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Certain expenses are incurred for necessities, such as for housing and
heat. These expenses are then used in calculations to reduce the total
income an individual has when applying or reapplying for social service

benefits.

Many disabled individuals require the assistance of a guide, hearing or
other form of service dog, to perform basic tasks associated with daily
life, making the service dog a necessity. Like any other companion
animal, service dogs need sustenance and regular veterinary care, which
can be very costly. It is only logical that the cost of regular care for
the animal should be considered what it is, a necessity, and calculated
as an unavoidable expense when attempting to receive or keep assistance
such as Medicaid, Medicare or supplemental nutrition assistance bene-
fits.

This legislation will codify the existing policy of the Office of Tempo-
rary and Disability Assistance when it reviews qualified expenses during
fair hearings.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: A.678 - Referred to Social Services

2017-18: A.4938 - Reported to Ways and Means

2015-16: A.7489 - Reported to Ways and Means

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Undetermined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day after

2021-S6419 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6419
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 27, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. BRISPORT -- 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  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
 TRAINING  IT  AND  THAT  HAS BEEN OR IS BEING INDIVIDUALLY TRAINED TO DO
 WORK OR PERFORM TASKS FOR THE BENEFIT OF A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.

 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00637-01-1

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Senate Bill S6419

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Jabari Brisport