Bill Text: NY S05419 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Increases from $300 to $725 the monthly rent subsidy payable for housing for a foster child living independently in certain circumstances.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2022-05-18 - referred to ways and means [S05419 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-S05419-Amended.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         5419--B
            Cal. No. 682

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                      March 4, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sens. BRISPORT, BIAGGI, GOUNARDES, SALAZAR -- read twice
          and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
          on Children and Families -- recommitted to the Committee  on  Children
          and  Families  in  accordance  with  Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported
          favorably from said committee, ordered to  first  and  second  report,
          ordered  to  a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining
          its place in the order of third reading -- again amended  and  ordered
          reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading

        AN  ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to increasing from
          $300 a month to $725 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 624 of the laws of 2019, is
     3  amended to read as follows:
     4    (c) (i) 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  seven hundred twenty-five dollars per month, shall not be provided for a
    14  period of more than three years, may be provided up to  age  twenty-four
    15  for youth discharged from foster care, and shall be considered a special
    16  grant. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the ability
    17  of  those using such rent subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD01533-03-2
        S. 5419--B                          2

     1  of this paragraph shall  not  be  construed  to  limit  such  official's
     2  authority to provide other preventive services.
     3    (ii) Provided, however, that  for each fiscal year beginning after the
     4  effective  date  of  this  subparagraph,  the commissioner shall set the
     5  maximum amount for such  rent  subsidies    or  assistance  pursuant  to
     6  subparagraph  (i) of this paragraph at the amount of the previous fiscal
     7  year indexed to any  positive growth in the consumer price index as  set
     8  by the United  States bureau of labor statistics.
     9    §  2.  Subdivision  7  of section 409-a of the social services law, as
    10  amended by chapter 624 of the laws  of  2019,  is  amended  to  read  as
    11  follows:
    12    7.  (a)  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of this section, if a
    13  social services official determines that a lack of adequate housing is a
    14  factor that may cause the entry of a child or children into foster  care
    15  and the family has at least one service need other than lack of adequate
    16  housing,  preventive  services  may  include,  in  addition to any other
    17  payments or benefits received by the family, special cash grants in  the
    18  form of rent subsidies, including rent arrears, or any other assistance,
    19  sufficient to obtain adequate housing. Such rent subsidies or assistance
    20  shall  not  exceed  the sum of [three] seven hundred twenty-five dollars
    21  per month, shall not be provided for a period of more than three  years,
    22  may  be  provided up to age twenty-four for youth discharged from foster
    23  care, and shall be considered a special grant. Nothing in this  subdivi-
    24  sion  shall  be  construed to limit the ability of those using such rent
    25  subsidy to live with roommates. The provisions of this  paragraph  shall
    26  not  be  construed  to  limit such official's authority to provide other
    27  preventive services.
    28    (b) Provided, however, that  for each fiscal year beginning after  the
    29  effective date of this paragraph, the commissioner shall set the maximum
    30  amount  for such rent subsidies  or assistance pursuant to paragraph (a)
    31  of this subdivision at the amount of the previous fiscal year indexed to
    32  any  positive growth in the consumer price index as set  by  the  United
    33  States bureau of labor statistics.
    34    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.