S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                   1281
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens. PERSAUD, BORRELLO, ROLISON, WEBB -- 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 establishing the
   New  York  healthy  incentive  program  (Part  A); to amend the social
   services law, in relation to automating SNAP and the New York  healthy
   incentive  program  (Part B); and to amend the social services law, in
   relation to  establishing  the  New  York  healthy  incentive  program
   outreach program (Part C)
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. This act enacts into law major  components  of  legislation
 which are necessary to implement the New York healthy incentive program.
 Each  component  is wholly contained within a Part identified as Parts A
 through C. The effective date for each  particular  provision  contained
 within  such  Part  is  set  forth in the last section of such Part. Any
 provision in any section contained within a Part, including  the  effec-
 tive  date  of  the  Part, which makes a reference to a section "of this
 act", when used in connection with that particular component,  shall  be
 deemed  to  mean  and  refer to the corresponding section of the Part in
 which it is found.  Section three of this act  sets  forth  the  general
 effective date of this act.
 
                                  PART A
 
   Section  1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
 95-b to read as follows:
   § 95-B. NEW YORK HEALTHY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (NYHIP).  1.    LEGISLATIVE
 FINDINGS.  THE  LEGISLATURE  HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT HEALTHY FOOD
 INCENTIVE PROGRAMS PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH, EDUCATIONAL, SOCIAL,  AND
 ECONOMIC  BENEFITS  TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE INDIVID-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03901-01-5
              

 S. 1281                             2
 
 UALS WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN EXCLUDED FROM ACCESS TO  FRESH  PRODUCE;
 IN  FOOD  DESERTS WHERE ACCESS TO HEALTHY AND AFFORDABLE FOOD IS LIMITED
 OR WHERE THERE ARE NO GROCERY STORES; AND LOCAL FARMERS WHO STRUGGLE  TO
 COMPETE  WITH  IMPORTED GOODS AND PRODUCE. FURTHERMORE, IT IS THE ARTIC-
 ULATED PUBLIC POLICY OF THIS STATE TO PROMOTE AND FOSTER GROWTH  IN  THE
 NUMBER  OF  FARM  TO  CONSUMER ENTITIES ACCEPTING SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION
 ASSISTANCE BENEFITS  AND  PARTICIPATE  IN  THE  HEALTHY  FOOD  INCENTIVE
 PROGRAM.  THE HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES EARNED DOLLARS FOR
 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM RECIPIENTS TO SPEND  ON  LOCAL
 HEALTHY FOOD THAT IS FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE UNABLE TO
 READILY  AFFORD  OR  HAVE EASY ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR
 THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILIES; PROMOTES HEALTHIER  INDIVIDUAL  LIFESTYLES
 BY  INCENTIVIZING BETTER EATING HABITS; FOSTERS THE RETENTION AND EXPAN-
 SION OF FARM TO CONSUMER ENTITIES, PARTICULARLY IN FOOD  INSECURE  ENVI-
 RONMENTS;  ENGENDERS A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
 FARMERS; INCREASES CAPACITY FOR LOCAL FARMS; AND STIMULATES LOCAL ECONO-
 MIES. IT IS THEREFORE THE INTENT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THE  PURPOSE  OF
 THIS  SECTION TO CREATE A STATE OPERATED HEALTHY FOOD INCENTIVE PROGRAM,
 KNOWN AS THE NEW YORK HEALTHY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (NYHIP),  FOR  ALL  SNAP
 RECIPIENTS AND LOCAL ECONOMIES ACROSS THE STATE.
   2.  DEFINITIONS.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION AND SECTION NINETY-
 FIVE-C OF THIS TITLE:
   A. "OFFICE" SHALL MEAN THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY  ASSIST-
 ANCE.
   B.  "COMMISSIONER" SHALL MEAN THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPO-
 RARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE.
   C. "FARM TO CONSUMER ENTITIES" SHALL MEAN ANY SORT OF ENTERPRISE  THAT
 ALLOWS  LOCAL  FARMERS TO SELL THEIR PRODUCE AND OTHER PRODUCTS DIRECTLY
 TO THE CONSUMER, SUCH AS FARMERS MARKETS, CO-OPS, LOCALLY SOURCED COMMU-
 NITY OWNED GROCERY  STORES,  AND  COMMUNITY  SUPPORTED  AGRICULTURE,  AS
 DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER WITH INPUT FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRI-
 CULTURE AND MARKETS.
   D.  "LOCAL"  OR  "LOCALLY"  SHALL MEAN LOCATED WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW
 YORK, HOWEVER, IF NEIGHBORING STATES CREATE THEIR OWN HEALTHY  INCENTIVE
 PROGRAMS  THE  OFFICE  MAY  MAKE AGREEMENTS OF RECIPROCITY TO ALLOW SNAP
 BENEFICIARIES TO EARN DOLLAR REWARDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF  HEALTHY  FOODS
 FROM SUCH NEIGHBORING STATE AND MAY PLACE A BOUNDARY LIMITATION BASED ON
 DISTANCE FROM STATE LINES.
   E.  "LOCAL  HEALTHY  FOOD"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT THAT
 PROVIDES NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT TO HUMANS SUCH AS PRODUCE, DAIRY, MEAT  AND
 PROCESSED  FOODS  THAT  MUST  CONSIST  OF INGREDIENTS THAT ARE GROWN AND
 CULTIVATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, BUT MAY BE PROCESSED ELSEWHERE. FOR
 THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "PROCESSED FOODS"  SHALL  MEAN  ANY  RAW
 AGRICULTURAL  COMMODITIES  THAT HAVE BEEN  MILLED, CUT, CHOPPED, HEATED,
 PASTEURIZED, BLANCHED, COOKED, CANNED, FROZEN, DRIED,  DEHYDRATED,    OR
 MIXED,  AND  SHALL  CONSIST  OF  AT  LEAST SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF LOCAL
 INGREDIENTS.
   F. "SIMILARLY SITUATED ENTITIES" SHALL MEAN STORES OF  ANY  SIZE  THAT
 HAVE  AGREED  TO  AND SIGNED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING DETAILING HOW
 THEY WILL PRIORITIZE SOURCING PRODUCE AND OTHER HEALTHY  FOODS  LOCALLY,
 AGREE  TO  GOAL METRICS TO INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO LOCALLY SOURCE, AND
 MEET THOSE METRICS TO MAINTAIN  THEIR  HEALTHY  FOOD  INCENTIVE  PROGRAM
 PARTICIPATION.  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS PARAGRAPH, "STORES" SHALL MEAN
 ANY NOT FARM TO CONSUMER PRODUCE RETAILER THAT IS  CURRENTLY  AUTHORIZED
 AS  AN  ELECTRONIC  BENEFIT  TRANSFER  RETAILER, SUCH AS GROCERY STORES,
 S. 1281                             3
 
 CORNER STORES, BODEGAS, FOOD MARTS, FOOD STORES, CONVENIENCE STORES,  OR
 MARKETS.
   G. "SNAP CARD" OR "SNAP BENEFIT CARD" SHALL MEAN ANY ELECTRONIC METHOD
 IN  WHICH  THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED
 TO BENEFICIARIES ON A CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD, INCLUDING THROUGH THE  ELEC-
 TRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER SYSTEM DESCRIBED IN SECTION TWENTY-ONE-A OF THIS
 CHAPTER.
   3.  OFFICE  POWERS  AND DUTIES TO PROMULGATE PROGRAM. A. THE OFFICE IS
 DIRECTED TO APPLY FOR ANY NECESSARY GRANT OR WAIVER  TO  PARTICIPATE  IN
 THE GUS SCHUMACHER NUTRITION INCENTIVE PROGRAM OR SIMILAR GRANT ADMINIS-
 TERED  BY  THE  UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE NATIONAL
 INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE FOR APPROVAL, AND TO ACT FOR THE STATE
 IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS RELATIVE TO THE  SUBMISSION  AND  APPROVAL  OF  SUCH
 PLAN,  WAIVER,  OR GRANT, AND SHALL MAKE SUCH ARRANGEMENTS AND TAKE SUCH
 ACTION, NOT INCONSISTENT WITH LAW, AS MAY  BE  REQUIRED  TO  OBTAIN  AND
 RETAIN  SUCH  APPROVAL,  TO IMPLEMENT SUCH PLAN, WAIVER, OR GRANT AND TO
 SECURE FOR THE STATE THE BENEFITS AVAILABLE.
   B. THE OFFICE SHALL ACTIVELY SEARCH FOR, FIND AND APPLY FOR GRANTS AND
 OTHER STREAMS OF FUNDING  TO  PROMULGATE  THIS  SECTION  AND  FUND  THIS
 PROGRAM.
   C.  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  PROMULGATE  RULES AND REGULATIONS AND TAKE ALL
 OTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE EFFECTIVE CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF
 NYHIP, PROVIDING EARNED DOLLARS FOR SNAP BENEFICIARIES TO SPEND ON LOCAL
 HEALTHY FOOD THAT IS FRESH  AND  NUTRITIOUS,  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THIS
 SECTION.    NOTHING  IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT OR LIMIT THE COMMIS-
 SIONER'S ABILITY TO EXPAND ACCESS TO NYHIP TO ALL NEW YORKERS,  SO  LONG
 AS  IT  CONTINUES  TO  PRIORITIZE THE EARNED DOLLARS USED TO BUY LOCALLY
 GROWN HEALTHY FOODS. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT OR LIMIT THE
 OFFICE FROM INCLUDING NEW YORK GROWN AND CERTIFIED FOODS, AS CREATED  BY
 SECTION ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX-H OF THE AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS LAW, FROM
 BEING INCLUDED IN NYHIP. NYHIP SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
   I.  A  FIXED  EARNED  DOLLAR  AMOUNT FOR THE PURCHASE OF FRESH LOCALLY
 GROWN HEALTHY FOODS USING SNAP;
   II. AUTOMATION OF EARNED DOLLAR AMOUNTS ON SNAP CARDS;
   III. AUTOMATION OF SNAP BENEFIT CARDS SO SNAP BENEFICIARIES  ARE  ABLE
 TO  PARTICIPATE  IN  LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE SUBSCRIPTIONS
 AND EARN NYHIP DOLLARS;
   IV. ENSURING NYHIP IS AVAILABLE AT ALL FARM TO CONSUMER  ENTITIES  AND
 SIMILARLY SITUATED ENTITIES BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO PARTICIPATE;
   V.  CONNECTING  FARM TO CONSUMER ENTITIES AND SIMILARLY SITUATED ENTI-
 TIES WITH THE NECESSARY  RESOURCES  AND  TECHNOLOGY  TO  PARTICIPATE  IN
 NYHIP;
   VI.  REGULAR  UPDATES  AND  MAINTENANCE  OF THE MOBILE APPLICATION AND
 WEBSITE; AND
   VII. CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A NYHIP OUTREACH  PROGRAM  TO  ENSURE
 ALL  SNAP  BENEFICIARIES  ARE AWARE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN
 SUCH PROGRAM.
   D. THE OFFICE MAY CONTRACT WITH OUTSIDE ENTITIES TO EFFECT THE  IMPLE-
 MENTATION  AND  PROMULGATION  OF  NYHIP AND SHALL GIVE GREATER WEIGHT TO
 ENTITIES THAT MANAGE HEALTHY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS IN THE STATE WHEN DETER-
 MINING CONTRACT AWARD.
   E. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM,  FOR  FARMERS,  FARMERS
 MARKETS,  AND COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE PARTNERSHIPS, IN ATTAINING
 ANY TECHNOLOGY NEEDED  TO  TAKE  PAYMENT  FROM  SNAP  BENEFICIARIES  AND
 PARTICIPATE IN NYHIP. THE OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
 AGRICULTURE  AND  MARKETS, SHALL ESTABLISH AN OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR FARM-
 S. 1281                             4
 
 ERS, FARMERS MARKETS, AND COMMUNITY-SUPPORTED  AGRICULTURE  PARTNERSHIPS
 TO  BE INFORMED OF NYHIP AND THE AVAILABILITY OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL GRANT
 DESCRIBED ABOVE.
   4.  NYHIP  MOBILE  APPLICATION, WEBSITE AND INTERACTIVE MAP. A. I. THE
 OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH A MOBILE APPLICATION AND WEBSITE TO PROMOTE NYHIP
 AND LOCATIONS AVAILABLE TO SNAP RECIPIENTS ACROSS THE STATE AND  PROMOTE
 FARM  TO  CONSUMER  ENTITIES  THAT TAKE SNAP. THE MOBILE APPLICATION AND
 WEBSITE SHALL INCLUDE, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:
   A. NAME, LOCATION, HOURS OF OPERATION, CONTACT INFORMATION, AND HYPER-
 LINKS, AS AVAILABLE, TO ALL FARM TO CONSUMER ENTITIES THAT SELL  LOCALLY
 GROWN HEALTHY FOOD AND ACCEPT SNAP BENEFITS; AND
   B. NAME, LOCATION, HOURS OF OPERATION, CONTACT INFORMATION, AND HYPER-
 LINKS,  AS  AVAILABLE, TO ALL FARMERS MARKETS, MOBILE MARKETS, COMMUNITY
 SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE, OR SIMILARLY SITUATED ENTITIES THAT SELL  LOCALLY
 GROWN HEALTHY FOOD THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS OF NYHIP.
   II.  THE MOBILE APPLICATION AND WEBSITE SHOULD HAVE AN INTERACTIVE MAP
 WHERE A USER MAY FIND FARM TO CONSUMER ENTITIES THAT TAKE SNAP  AND  ARE
 NYHIP  PARTICIPANTS.  THIS  INFORMATION  SHOULD  ALSO  BE  SEARCHABLE BY
 TOWN/CITY, COUNTY, REGION OR ANY OTHER CRITERIA THE  COMMISSIONER  DEEMS
 RELEVANT.
   III. THE MOBILE APPLICATION AND WEBSITE SHOULD MAKE CLEAR DISTINCTIONS
 BETWEEN FARM TO CONSUMER ENTITIES THAT JUST TAKE SNAP AND THOSE THAT ARE
 PARTICIPANTS OF NYHIP.
   B.  EACH  COMMISSIONER  OF  SOCIAL  SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE INFORMATION
 REGARDING NYHIP ON THEIR WEBSITE  AND  HYPERLINKS  TO  THIS  INTERACTIVE
 WEBSITE  AND  WHERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MOBILE APPLICATION ON THE SNAP PAGES
 OF ALL SOCIAL SERVICES WEBSITES.
   C. THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR FARM TO CONSUMER ENTITIES
 THAT ACCEPT SNAP BENEFITS AND NYHIP TO PROVIDE THE  UPDATED  INFORMATION
 DETAILED  ABOVE  FOR  THE  MOBILE APPLICATION AND WEBSITE. IN DEVELOPING
 SUCH PROCEDURES, THE OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE A SYSTEM IN WHICH THE INFORMA-
 TION REQUIRED IN THE MOBILE APPLICATION AND WEBSITE IS  UPDATED  MONTHLY
 AND CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE IS PROVIDED.
   D.  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  PROMULGATE  RULES AND REGULATIONS AND TAKE ALL
 OTHER  ACTIONS  NECESSARY  FOR  THE  EFFECTIVE  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  THIS
 SECTION.    NOTHING  IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT OR LIMIT THE DEPART-
 MENT'S ABILITY TO EXPAND ACCESS TO THE NYHIP INCENTIVE  PROGRAM  MAP  TO
 ALL NEW YORKERS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
                                  PART B
 
   Section  1. Section 95 of the social services law is amended by adding
 a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
   12. (A) THE OFFICE SHALL PROMPTLY SEEK ANY  NECESSARY  APPROVALS  FROM
 THE  UNITED  STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE
 (USDA) TO AUTOMATE THE USE OF SNAP BENEFIT CARDS TO STREAMLINE THE PROC-
 ESS FOR POTENTIAL AND CURRENT RECIPIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN LOCALLY GROWN
 FRESH FOOD SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES, SUCH AS COMMUNITY  SUPPORTED  AGRICUL-
 TURE  PARTNERSHIPS,  BY  CONDUCTING  AN  AUTOMATIC DEDUCTION ON A WEEKLY
 BASIS. THE OFFICE SHALL ALSO CREATE AN AUTOMATION PROCESS  FOR  THE  NEW
 YORK  HEALTHY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (NYHIP) AS PRESCRIBED IN SECTION NINETY-
 FIVE-B OF THIS TITLE, BY ALLOWING THE STATE TO ADD  THE  ACCRUED  INCEN-
 TIVES  DIRECTLY TO A SNAP CARD. ONCE THE OFFICE RECEIVES THE WAIVER, THE
 OFFICE SHALL WORK WITH THE USDA AND NYHIP TO ENSURE THAT ANY  INCENTIVES
 ACCRUED  ARE  USED  BY SNAP BENEFICIARIES TO PURCHASE LOCAL FOOD THAT IS
 S. 1281                             5
 
 FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE UNABLE TO  READILY  AFFORD  OR
 HAVE  EASY ACCESS TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR
 FAMILIES. THE OFFICE SHALL PROMPTLY SEEK ANY  NECESSARY  APPROVALS  FROM
 THE  USDA  IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE AVAILABILITY OF NYHIP PURCHASING OPTIONS
 THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
   (B) THE OFFICE SHALL ENSURE SNAP BENEFICIARIES AND LOCALLY GROWN FRESH
 FOOD SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES,  SUCH  AS  COMMUNITY  SUPPORTED  AGRICULTURE
 PARTNERSHIPS, ARE HELD HARMLESS UNDER SITUATIONS IN WHICH SNAP BENEFICI-
 ARIES LOSE BENEFITS DURING THEIR SUBSCRIPTION CONTRACT. THE OFFICE SHALL
 HONOR  THE  ENTIRETY OF THE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE CONTRACT AT THE EXPENSE
 OF THE STATE.
   (C)  WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE  OF  THIS
 SUBDIVISION,  THE OFFICE SHALL APPLY FOR A WAIVER OR ANY OTHER NECESSARY
 MEASURE TO THE USDA TO AUTOMATE THE USE OF SNAP IN THE STATE TO  STREAM-
 LINE NYHIP AND INCREASE ACCESS TO LOCALLY GROWN CSA SUBSCRIPTIONS.
   (D)  FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRI-
 CULTURE PARTNERSHIPS" OR "CSA" SHALL MEAN A SYSTEM THAT CONNECTS FARMERS
 AND CONSUMERS BY ALLOWING THE CONSUMER TO INVEST IN FARMERS BY SUBSCRIB-
 ING TO A HARVEST OF A CERTAIN FARM OR GROUP OF FARMS,  USUALLY  DONE  BY
 CROP SEASON BUT MAY BE YEAR ROUND.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
                                  PART C
 
   Section  1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
 95-c to read as follows:
   § 95-C. NEW YORK HEALTHY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (NYHIP)  OUTREACH  PROGRAM.
 1.    IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  FEDERAL  REQUIREMENTS AND TO THE EXTENT THAT
 FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS ARE  AVAILABLE,  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  DEVELOP  AND
 IMPLEMENT  AN  OUTREACH PLAN TO INFORM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS POTENTIALLY
 ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FOOD STAMPS AND PARTICIPATE IN  NYHIP  TO  ENCOURAGE
 THE PARTICIPATION OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS THAT WISH TO PARTICIPATE.
   2. IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SUCH A PLAN THE OFFICE IS AUTHORIZED
 AND EMPOWERED, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET AND
 PROVIDED  THAT FEDERAL AID IS AVAILABLE THEREFOR, TO ENTER INTO CONTRAC-
 TUAL AGREEMENTS WITH PUBLIC AND/OR PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP  AND
 IMPLEMENT LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATEWIDE OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
   3.  EACH  COMMISSIONER  OF SOCIAL SERVICES SHALL DEVELOP AND SUBMIT TO
 THE OFFICE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS FOR ITS APPROVAL, A  LOCAL  OUTREACH  PLAN
 GOVERNING  THE  USE  OF  LOCAL  SOCIAL  SERVICES  PERSONNEL AND SERVICES
 PROVIDED BY FEDERALLY FUNDED AND OTHER  AGENCIES  AND  ORGANIZATIONS  TO
 INFORM  POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS OF THE AVAILABILITY AND BENEFITS
 OF NYHIP AND TO ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE THE PARTICIPATION  OF  ELIGIBLE
 HOUSEHOLDS.  THE  OFFICE  SHALL PROVIDE COMMISSIONERS OF SOCIAL SERVICES
 WITH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AS NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF  THIS
 SUBDIVISION.
   4.  AS  PART  OF  EACH  LOCAL OUTREACH PLAN, SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIALS
 SHALL TAKE ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF INFORMATION LEAF-
 LETS IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO  LOCAL  UNEMPLOY-
 MENT  INSURANCE  AND  EMPLOYMENT  SERVICES  OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
 LABOR, INSTITUTIONS AND FACILITIES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OR  CONTROL  OF
 THE  DEPARTMENT  OF HEALTH, FOOD STORES, UNION HALLS, COMMUNITY CENTERS,
 ENTITIES PARTICIPATING IN NYHIP, AND LOCAL AGENCIES  PROVIDING  SERVICES
 TO  THE ELDERLY TO HELP ENSURE THAT ELIGIBLE PERSONS ARE INFORMED OF THE
 SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND  NYHIP.  ADDITIONALLY,  AS
 PART  OF THE LOCAL OUTREACH PLAN, SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIALS SHALL ENSURE
 S. 1281                             6
 
 THAT EVERY  NEW  SUPPLEMENTAL  NUTRITION  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  APPLICANT
 RECEIVES  INFORMATION  ON  NYHIP  UPON  SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION AND
 SHALL PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION IN THE HOME  LANGUAGE  OF  THE  APPLICANT
 PURSUANT TO ANY FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS.
   5.  THE OFFICE SHALL PERIODICALLY DISTRIBUTE TO ALL NEWSPAPERS, AND TO
 TELEVISION AND RADIO  STATIONS  THROUGHOUT  THE  STATE,  PUBLIC  SERVICE
 ANNOUNCEMENTS  DESCRIBING NYHIP, INCLUDING THE NYHIP INTERACTIVE MAP AND
 WEBSITE, AND SHALL PROMPTLY INFORM SUCH MEDIA OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES  IN
 THE  PROGRAM  AFFECTING  ELIGIBILITY  REQUIREMENTS  AND/OR THE AMOUNT OF
 NYHIP EARNINGS.
   6. THE OFFICE SHALL  ESTABLISH  PROCEDURES  IN  COOPERATION  WITH  THE
 INDUSTRIAL COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO ENSURE THAT INFOR-
 MATIONAL LEAFLETS ABOUT NYHIP ARE SENT TO EACH LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
 OFFICE  FOR  DISTRIBUTION  PURSUANT TO SECTION FIVE HUNDRED FORTY OF THE
 LABOR LAW. EACH LEAFLET SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: THE  PHONE
 NUMBER  FOR  THE  NEW  YORK  STATE FOOD STAMP HOTLINE; HOW TO ACCESS THE
 NYHIP WEBSITE AND INTERACTIVE MAP; HOW  SNAP  BENEFICIARIES  EARN  NYHIP
 BENEFITS  BUYING LOCAL HEALTHY FOODS; ESTIMATED MAXIMUM INCOME ELIGIBIL-
 ITY LEVELS BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE FOR PARTICIPATION IN SNAP; AND  THE  AVAIL-
 ABILITY  OF  LOCAL  SOCIAL  SERVICES  DEPARTMENTS  TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL
 INFORMATION ABOUT NYHIP.
   7. IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE FEDERAL AND  STATE  LAWS,  RULES  AND
 REGULATIONS,  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  MAKE  AVAILABLE APPROPRIATE TRANSLATED
 MATERIALS SO THAT POTENTIALLY ELIGIBLE NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING  INDIVIDUALS
 MAY BE INFORMED ABOUT NYHIP.
   8.  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  PROMULGATE  RULES AND REGULATIONS AND TAKE ALL
 OTHER  ACTIONS  NECESSARY  FOR  THE  EFFECTIVE  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  THIS
 SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
   § 2. Severability clause. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivi-
 sion,  section  or  part  of  this act shall be adjudged by any court of
 competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment  shall  not  affect,
 impair,  or  invalidate  the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in
 its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph,  subdivision,  section
 or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judg-
 ment shall have been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of
 the  legislature  that  this  act  would  have been enacted even if such
 invalid provisions had not been included herein.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided,  however,  that
 the  applicable effective date of Parts A through C of this act shall be
 as specifically set forth in the last section of such Parts.