S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4780
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 14, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- 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 additional state
   payment assistance
 
   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
 213 to read as follows:
   § 213. ADDITIONAL STATE PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. 1. IF THERE IS  NO  AGREE-
 MENT  IN  EFFECT FOR FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL STATE PAYMENTS
 PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED ELEVEN OF THIS TITLE,  THE  COMMISSIONER
 OF  THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL BE RESPONSI-
 BLE FOR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO APPLICANTS FOR  OR  RECIPIENTS  OF  SUCH
 PAYMENTS  AS  IT  RELATES TO APPLYING FOR, MODIFYING OR MAINTAINING SUCH
 BENEFITS IN ORDER TO ENSURE MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION BY  ELIGIBLE  INDIVID-
 UALS.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE NOT-FOR-PROFIT
 PROVIDERS THAT HAVE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE WITH  SERVING  INDIVIDUALS  WITH
 DISABILITIES  AND,  AVAILABILITY  AND  ACCESSIBILITY  TO THIS PARTICULAR
 POPULATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING SUCH  ASSISTANCE  IN  ACCORDANCE
 WITH THIS SECTION.
   2. SUCH ASSISTANCE SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: (A) ASSISTING
 WITH  MEETING ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING GATHERING DOCUMENTATION
 WHICH MAY BE NECESSARY TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OR THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL
 OF BENEFITS; (B) EXPLAINING RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION AS IT RELATES  TO  AN
 INDIVIDUAL'S  BENEFIT  TO HELP ENSURE INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND THEIR BENE-
 FITS AND ARE RECEIVING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF BENEFITS; (C)  ASSISTING
 INDIVIDUALS TO ACCESS THE FAIR HEARING PROCESS BY SECURING ANY NECESSARY
 DOCUMENTATION  AND PROVIDING REFERRALS FOR LEGAL ADVOCACY; (D) PROVIDING
 THE OPTION OF IN PERSON ASSISTANCE AND  WHEN NECESSARY,  PROVIDING  SUCH
 ASSISTANCE AT THE INDIVIDUAL'S RESIDENCE OR OTHER APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS,
 SUCH AS A HOSPITAL; AND (E) IDENTIFYING ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05010-01-3
              

 S. 4780                             2
 
 RECEIVING  SUCH  BENEFITS  AND  CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO PROVIDE THEM WITH
 INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS (A) THROUGH (D) OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN SUCH  BENEFITS  AND  IDENTIFYING
 SYSTEMIC  BARRIERS ENCOUNTERED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES APPLYING
 FOR AND MAINTAINING SUCH BENEFITS. SUCH  NOT-FOR-PROFIT  PROVIDER  SHALL
 REPORT  ON  SUCH FINDINGS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPO-
 RARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY,  AND  THE
 CHAIRS OF THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE STANDING COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SERVICES,
 WITH  THE  INITIAL  REPORT TO BE PROVIDED ON JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
 TWENTY-FOUR.
   3. TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE TO FACILITATE AND  EFFECTU-
 ATE  THE  REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE, SUCH NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDER SHALL
 COORDINATE AND COOPERATE WITH THE FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
 AS IT PERTAINS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR WHICH THEY ARE PROVIDING  SERVICES  AS
 REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.