Bill Text: NY S04391 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to eliminating asset limits in calculating the amount of benefits for any household under any public assistance program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES [S04391 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-S04391-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4391 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN SENATE March 11, 2019 ___________ Introduced by Sen. BIAGGI -- 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 eliminating asset limits in calculating the amount of benefits for any household under any public assistance program The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 131-n of the social services law, 2 as amended by section 1 of part X of chapter 54 of the laws of 2016, is 3 amended to read as follows: 4 1. [The following resources] All assets held by the household shall be 5 exempt and disregarded in calculating the amount of benefits of any 6 household under any public assistance program[: (a) cash and liquid or7nonliquid resources up to two thousand dollars, or three thousand8dollars in the case of households in which any member is sixty years of9age or older, (b) an amount up to four thousand six hundred fifty10dollars in a separate bank account established by an individual while11currently in receipt of assistance for the sole purpose of enabling the12individual to purchase a first or replacement vehicle for the recipient13to seek, obtain or maintain employment, so long as the funds are not14used for any other purpose, (c) an amount up to one thousand four15hundred dollars in a separate bank account established by an individual16while currently in receipt of assistance for the purpose of paying17tuition at a two-year or four-year accredited post-secondary educational18institution, so long as the funds are not used for any other purpose,19(d) the home which is the usual residence of the household, (e) one20automobile, up to ten thousand dollars fair market value, through March21thirty-first, two thousand seventeen; one automobile, up to eleven thou-22sand dollars fair market value, from April first, two thousand seventeen23through March thirty-first, two thousand eighteen; and one automobile,24up to twelve thousand dollars fair market value, beginning April first,EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02259-01-9S. 4391 2 1two thousand eighteen and thereafter, or such other higher dollar value2as the local social services district may elect to adopt, (f) one burial3plot per household member as defined in department regulations, (g) bona4fide funeral agreements up to a total of one thousand five hundred5dollars in equity value per household member, (h) funds in an individual6development account established in accordance with subdivision five of7section three hundred fifty-eight of this chapter and section four8hundred three of the social security act and (i) for a period of six9months, real property which the household is making a good faith effort10to sell, in accordance with department regulations and tangible personal11property necessary for business or for employment purposes in accordance12with department regulations]. If federal law or regulations require the 13 exemption or disregard of additional income and resources in determining 14 need for family assistance, or medical assistance not exempted or disre- 15 garded pursuant to any other provision of this chapter, the department 16 may, by regulations subject to the approval of the director of the budg- 17 et, require social services officials to exempt or disregard such income 18 and resources. Refunds resulting from earned income tax credits shall be 19 disregarded in public assistance programs. 20 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that 21 the amendments to section 131-n of the social services law made by 22 section one of this act shall not affect the expiration of such section 23 and shall be deemed to expire therewith.