S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4115
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 9, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. MITAYNES, ANDERSON, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, ROZIC, CRUZ,
   FORREST, LUCAS, MAMDANI, SHRESTHA -- read once  and  referred  to  the
   Committee on Social Services
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the social services law and the state finance law, in
   relation to establishing a SNAP  and  cash  assistance  fraud  victims
   compensation fund; and making an appropriation therefor
 
   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
 95-b to read as follows:
   §  95-B.  SNAP AND CASH ASSISTANCE FRAUD VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM.
 1. THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL ESTABLISH AND
 MAINTAIN A SNAP AND CASH ASSISTANCE FRAUD VICTIMS  COMPENSATION  PROGRAM
 TO  COMPENSATE PERSONS WHO RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRI-
 TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) OR CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHO  HAVE  HAD
 SUCH BENEFITS STOLEN OR WHO HAVE BEEN DEFRAUDED OF SUCH BENEFITS.
   2.  THE  SNAP  AND  CASH ASSISTANCE FRAUD VICTIMS COMPENSATION PROGRAM
 SHALL HAVE AN APPLICATION PROCESS WHICH SHALL BE PROVIDED IN ENGLISH AND
 LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE TEN  MOST
 COMMONLY SPOKEN LANGUAGES, ASIDE FROM ENGLISH, IN THE STATE.
   3.  THE INSPECTOR GENERAL AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL WORK WITH THE
 COMMISSIONER OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE TO DETERMINE WHETHER
 A PERSON WHO RECEIVES BENEFITS UNDER THE SNAP OR CASH ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 WAS DEFRAUDED OF SUCH  BENEFITS  OR  IF  SUCH  BENEFITS  WERE  OTHERWISE
 STOLEN.
   § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-qq to
 read as follows:
   §  99-QQ. SNAP AND CASH ASSISTANCE FRAUD VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND. 1.
 THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT  CUSTODY  OF  THE  STATE  COMP-
 TROLLER  AND  THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01999-01-3
 A. 4115                             2
              

 
 ASSISTANCE A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE  SNAP  AND  CASH  ASSISTANCE  FRAUD
 VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND, HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE "FUND".
   2. MONEY ALLOCATED TO THE FUND SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE AND SHALL NOT BE
 COMMINGLED WITH ANY OTHER FUNDS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER.
   3.  THE  FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONEYS APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSE
 OF SUCH ACCOUNT, MONEYS TRANSFERRED TO SUCH  ACCOUNT  PURSUANT  TO  LAW,
 MONIES  RECEIVED  FROM CIVIL PENALTIES REGARDING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRI-
 TION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, CONTRIBUTIONS CONSISTING OF PROMISES OR  GRANTS
 OF  ANY  MONEY  OR  PROPERTY OF ANY KIND OR VALUE, OR ANY OTHER THING OF
 VALUE, INCLUDING GRANTS OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM ANY AGENCY OF
 GOVERNMENT AND MONEYS REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION OR  ANY
 OTHER LAW TO BE PAID INTO OR CREDITED TO THIS ACCOUNT.
   4.  MONEY  EXPENDED  FROM  SUCH FUND SHALL BE USED CONSISTENT WITH THE
 SNAP AND CASH ASSISTANCE FRAUD VICTIMS COMPENSATION  PROGRAM  AS  ESTAB-
 LISHED UNDER SECTION NINETY-FIVE-B OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW.
   § 3. The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000)
 is  hereby  appropriated  to  the SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims
 compensation fund as established pursuant to section 99-qq of the  state
 finance  law  from  the  general  fund  to the credit of the account not
 otherwise appropriated for services and expenses of the account for  the
 purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.