Bill Text: NY S01291 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Increases from $300 to $600 the monthly rent subsidy payable for housing for a foster child living independently in certain circumstances; doesn't limit those from living with roommates.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-09 - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE [S01291 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-S01291-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          1291
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                    IN SENATE
                                     January 9, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  Sens.  AVELLA, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed,
          and when printed to be committed to  the  Committee  on  Children  and
          Families
        AN  ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to increasing from
          $300 a month to $600 a month the rent  subsidy  payable  to  a  foster
          child living independently
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 5  of  section  409-a  of  the
     2  social  services  law, as amended by chapter 339 of the laws of 1993, is
     3  amended to read as follows:
     4    (c) Notwithstanding any other  provision  of  this  section,  where  a
     5  social  services  official determines that a lack of adequate housing is
     6  the primary factor preventing the discharge of a child or children  from
     7  foster  care  including,  but  not limited to, children with the goal of
     8  discharge to independent living, preventive services shall  include,  in
     9  addition  to  any  other  payments  or  benefits received by the family,
    10  special cash grants in  the  form  of  rent  subsidies,  including  rent
    11  arrears, or any other assistance, sufficient to obtain adequate housing.
    12  Such  rent  subsidies  or assistance shall not exceed the sum of [three]
    13  six hundred dollars per month, shall not be provided  for  a  period  of
    14  more  than  three years, may be provided up to age twenty-four for youth
    15  discharged from foster care, and shall be considered  a  special  grant.
    16  Nothing  in  this  paragraph  shall be construed to limit the ability of
    17  those using the rent subsidy to live with roommates. The  provisions  of
    18  this paragraph shall not be construed to limit such official's authority
    19  to provide other preventive services.
    20    §  2.  Subdivision  7  of section 409-a of the social services law, as
    21  added by section 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
    22    7. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,  if  a  social
    23  services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is a factor
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00964-02-7
        S. 1291                             2
     1  that may cause the entry of a child or children into foster care and the
     2  family  has  at least one service need other than lack of adequate hous-
     3  ing, preventive services may include, in addition to any other  payments
     4  or  benefits  received by the family, special cash grants in the form of
     5  rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance,  suffi-
     6  cient  to  obtain  adequate  housing.  Such rent subsidies or assistance
     7  shall not exceed the sum of [three] six hundred dollars per month, shall
     8  not be provided for a period of more than three years, may  be  provided
     9  up  to  age twenty-four for youth discharged from foster care, and shall
    10  be considered a special grant. Nothing  in  this  subdivision  shall  be
    11  construed  to  limit the ability of those using the rent subsidy to live
    12  with roommates. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be  construed
    13  to limit such official's authority to provide other preventive services.
    14    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.