S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10592
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               June 20, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  COMMITTEE  ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. L. Rosen-
   thal) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing the
   housing people and animals together grant program
 
   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
 45-aa to read as follows:
   § 45-AA. HOUSING PEOPLE AND ANIMALS TOGETHER GRANT PROGRAM FOR  PEOPLE
 EXPERIENCING  HOMELESSNESS.  1.  AS  USED  IN  THIS  SECTION,  THE  TERM
 "CO-SHELTERING" REFERS TO HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ENABLE  THE  COEX-
 ISTENCE OF PEOPLE AND THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS IN A SHELTER SETTING.
   2.  THERE  IS  HEREBY  ESTABLISHED A CO-SHELTERING GRANT PROGRAM TO BE
 IMPLEMENTED BY THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE OFFICE
 OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE TO AID  IN  EXPANDING  ACCESS  TO
 SHELTERED  HOUSING  FOR  PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH COMPANION
 ANIMALS. THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE FUNDING TO  NON-PROFIT  ORGANIZATIONS
 AND MUNICIPAL SHELTERS THAT PROVIDE HOUSING TO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOME-
 LESSNESS.  THE  PROGRAM  SHALL BE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION
 AND MAINTENANCE OF CO-SHELTERING PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE SUCH POPULATION TO
 GAIN ACCESS TO SHELTER WITH A COMPANION ANIMAL. FUNDING USED TO  SUPPORT
 THE PROGRAM SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION.
   3. FUNDS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE UNDER
 THIS  SECTION.  IN  DETERMINING  FUNDING  FOR APPLICANTS UNDER THE GRANT
 PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA AND GOALS MAY BE CONSIDERED:
   (A) THE PROVISION OF VETERINARY SERVICES TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL  MEDICAL
 CARE TO ANIMALS HOUSED ONSITE;
   (B)  THE  RENOVATION  OF  A  FACILITY TO INCORPORATE A KENNEL OR OTHER
 NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES TO SAFELY HOUSE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOME-
 LESSNESS WITH COMPANION ANIMALS;
   (C) THE TRAINING OF STAFF AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO APPLICA-
 BLE HEALTH AND HYGIENE PROTOCOL, OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS,  BEST  PRAC-
 TICES AND POLICIES; AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD15661-02-4
              

 A. 10592                            2
 
   (D)  THE  PROVISION  OF  FOOD,  SUPPLIES, AND EQUIPMENT TO ACCOMMODATE
 ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER.
   4. IN ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING THE PROGRAM, A RANGE OF EXPERTS SHALL
 BE  CONSULTED  INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND
 COMMUNITY RENEWAL, PROVIDERS OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PEOPLE  EXPE-
 RIENCING  HOMELESSNESS, AND ANY OTHER RELATED STATE AGENCY, MUNICIPALITY
 OR ORGANIZATION.
   § 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 459-bb
 to read as follows:
   § 459-BB. HOUSING  PEOPLE  AND  ANIMALS  TOGETHER  GRANT  PROGRAM  FOR
 VICTIMS  OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE.  1.  AS  USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM
 "CO-SHELTERING" REFERS TO HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS THAT ENABLE  THE  COEX-
 ISTENCE OF PEOPLE AND THEIR COMPANION ANIMALS IN A SHELTER SETTING.
   2.  THERE  IS  HEREBY  ESTABLISHED A CO-SHELTERING GRANT PROGRAM TO BE
 IMPLEMENTED BY THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND THE OFFICE
 OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE TO AID  IN  EXPANDING  ACCESS  TO
 SHELTERED  HOUSING  FOR  VICTIMS  OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE  WITH COMPANION
 ANIMALS. THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE FUNDING TO  NON-PROFIT  ORGANIZATIONS
 AND  MUNICIPAL  SHELTERS  THAT  PROVIDE  HOUSING  TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
 VIOLENCE OR PEOPLE  EXPERIENCING  HOMELESSNESS.  THE  PROGRAM  SHALL  BE
 DESIGNED  TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CO-SHELTERING
 PROGRAMS THAT ENABLE SUCH POPULATIONS TO GAIN ACCESS TO SHELTER  WITH  A
 COMPANION  ANIMAL.  FUNDING USED TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM SHALL BE SUBJECT
 TO APPROPRIATION.
   3. FUNDS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURE UNDER
 THIS SECTION. IN DETERMINING FUNDING  FOR  APPLICANTS  UNDER  THE  GRANT
 PROGRAM, THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA AND GOALS MAY BE CONSIDERED:
   (A)  THE PROVISION OF VETERINARY SERVICES TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MEDICAL
 CARE TO ANIMALS HOUSED ONSITE;
   (B) THE RENOVATION OF A FACILITY TO  INCORPORATE  A  KENNEL  OR  OTHER
 NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURAL CHANGES TO SAFELY HOUSE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOME-
 LESSNESS OR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH COMPANION ANIMALS;
   (C) THE TRAINING OF STAFF AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO APPLICA-
 BLE  HEALTH  AND HYGIENE PROTOCOL, OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIPS, BEST PRAC-
 TICES AND POLICIES; AND
   (D) THE PROVISION OF FOOD,  SUPPLIES,  AND  EQUIPMENT  TO  ACCOMMODATE
 ANIMALS IN THE SHELTER.
   4. IN ESTABLISHING AND OPERATING THE PROGRAM, A RANGE OF EXPERTS SHALL
 BE CONSULTED INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION
 OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE,  THE  DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL,
 PROVIDERS OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR  PEOPLE  EXPERIENCING  HOMELESS-
 NESS,  ORGANIZATIONS  SERVING THE NEEDS OF VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
 AND ANY OTHER RELATED STATE AGENCY, MUNICIPALITY OR ORGANIZATION.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law.