Bill Text: NY S08493 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Prohibits the imposition of limits on the length of stay at homeless shelters and emergency congregate housing operated by state agencies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-06 - REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES [S08493 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S08493-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          8493

                    IN SENATE

                                    February 6, 2024
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by Sen. HOYLMAN-SIGAL -- 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  prohibiting
          restrictions on the length of shelter stay

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new  section
     2  44-a to read as follows:
     3    §  44-a.  Shelter  stay limitation prohibition. 1. For the purposes of
     4  this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
     5    (a) "Emergency congregate housing" shall mean any location operated by
     6  a state agency, city agency, or local municipality or a  provider  under
     7  contract or similar agreement with a state agency, city agency, or local
     8  municipality  where  individuals and families reside for more than nine-
     9  ty-six continuous hours and where such individuals and families sleep in
    10  a congregate setting with shared facilities, including but  not  limited
    11  to  sleeping  quarters and bathrooms, but shall not include any location
    12  operated by the department, or a  provider  under  contract  or  similar
    13  agreement with the department.
    14    (b)  "Homeless  youth"  shall  have  the  same meaning as set forth in
    15  subdivision two of section five hundred thirty-two-a  of  the  executive
    16  law, and shall include homeless young adults.
    17    (c) "Homeless young adult" shall have the same meaning as set forth in
    18  subdivision  nine  of section five hundred thirty-two-a of the executive
    19  law.
    20    (d) "Shelter" shall have the same meaning as  "homeless  project",  as
    21  defined by subdivision one of section forty-two of this title.
    22    2.  (a)  No  state agency shall impose limits on the length of time an
    23  individual or family may reside in shelter or emergency congregate hous-
    24  ing. Absent imminent danger or  a request from an individual  or  family
    25  to be transferred, the state  agency, city agency, or local municipality
    26  or  a provider under contract  or similar agreement with a state agency,
    27  city agency, or local  municipality shall not move individuals or  fami-

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD14087-03-4
        S. 8493                             2

     1  lies  from  their placement, so long as that placement complies with all
     2  city, state, federal and municipal laws.
     3    (b)  To  reside  in  shelter operated by the department, or a provider
     4  under contract or similar agreement with the department,  an  individual
     5  or  family  must  maintain  eligibility for temporary housing assistance
     6  pursuant to section 352.25 of the New York code, rules and regulations.
     7    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.