New York S 673: Establishes the housing people and animals together grant program

Bill Text

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S00673 Summary:

BILL NOS00673 

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SAME ASSAME AS A01693

&nbsp

SPONSORMARTINEZ

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COSPNSRBRISPORT

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §§45-aa & 459-bb, Soc Serv L

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Establishes the housing people and animals together grant program to expand access for co-sheltering people experiencing homelessness and victims of domestic violence with companion animals.

Go to top S00673 Actions:

BILL NOS00673 

&nbsp

01/08/2025REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

01/07/2026REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

Go to topS00673 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS00673 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS00673 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 673

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- 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
 housing people and animals together grant program

 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 45-aa to read as follows:
 3 § 45-aa. Housing people and animals together grant program for people
 4 experiencing homelessness. 1. As used in this section, the term
 5 "co-sheltering" refers to housing accommodations that enable the coex-
 6 istence of people and their companion animals in a shelter setting.
 7 2. There is hereby established a co-sheltering grant program to be
 8 implemented by the office of children and family services and the office
 9 of temporary and disability assistance to aid in expanding access to
 10 sheltered housing for people experiencing homelessness with companion
 11 animals. The program shall provide funding to non-profit organizations
 12 and municipal shelters that provide housing to people experiencing home-
 13 lessness. The program shall be designed to support the implementation
 14 and maintenance of co-sheltering programs that enable such population to
 15 gain access to shelter with a companion animal. Funding used to support
 16 the program shall be subject to appropriation.
 17 3. Funds shall be distributed and made available for expenditure under
 18 this section. In determining funding for applicants under the grant
 19 program, the following criteria and goals may be considered:
 20 (a) The provision of veterinary services to provide essential medical
 21 care to animals housed onsite;
 22 (b) The renovation of a facility to incorporate a kennel or other
 23 needed infrastructural changes to safely house people experiencing home-
 24 lessness with companion animals;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD02748-01-5

 S. 673 2

 1 (c) The training of staff and technical assistance related to applica-
 2 ble health and hygiene protocol, outreach and partnerships, best prac-
 3 tices and policies; and
 4 (d) The provision of food, supplies, and equipment to accommodate
 5 animals in the shelter.
 6 4. In establishing and operating the program, a range of experts shall
 7 be consulted including but not limited to, the division of housing and
 8 community renewal, providers of housing accommodations for people expe-
 9 riencing homelessness, and any other related state agency, municipality
 10 or organization.
 11 § 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 459-bb
 12 to read as follows:
 13 § 459-bb. Housing people and animals together grant program for
 14 victims of domestic violence. 1. As used in this section, the term
 15 "co-sheltering" refers to housing accommodations that enable the coex-
 16 istence of people and their companion animals in a shelter setting.
 17 2. There is hereby established a co-sheltering grant program to be
 18 implemented by the office of children and family services and the office
 19 of temporary and disability assistance to aid in expanding access to
 20 sheltered housing for victims of domestic violence with companion
 21 animals. The program shall provide funding to non-profit organizations
 22 and municipal shelters that provide housi