New York S 5951: Relates to recipients of public assistance who lack appropriate child care

Bill Text

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S05951 Summary:

BILL NOS05951 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§131, 332 & 336-d, Soc Serv L

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Relates to recipients of public assistance who lack appropriate child care.

Go to top S05951 Actions:

BILL NOS05951 

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03/04/2025REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

01/07/2026REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

Go to topS05951 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05951 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS05951 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5951

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 March 4, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- 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 recipients of
 public assistance who lack appropriate child care

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

 1 Section 1. Subdivision 5 of section 131 of the social services law, as
 2 added by section 11 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is
 3 amended to read as follows:
 4 5. No public assistance shall be given to an applicant for or recipi-
 5 ent of public assistance who has failed to comply with the requirements
 6 of this chapter, or has refused to accept employment in which [he or
 7 she] such applicant or recipient is able to engage. Except that no
 8 applicant or recipient who is the parent or caretaker relative of an
 9 eligible child shall be subject to the ineligibility provisions of this
 10 chapter if the lack of child care that is appropriate, suitable, within
 11 a reasonable distance, and reflects parental preferences prevents the
 12 individual from complying with the requirements therein.
 13 § 2. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 332 of the social
 14 services law, as amended by section 148 of part B of chapter 436 of the
 15 laws of 1997, is amended and a new paragraph (f) is added to read as
 16 follows:
 17 (e) a [woman] person who is pregnant, beginning thirty days prior to
 18 the medically verified date of delivery of [her] such person's child[.];
 19 (f) the parent or caretaker relative of an eligible child, for the
 20 period of time during which such participation is prevented by the lack
 21 of child care that is appropriate, suitable and within a reasonable
 22 distance, and that is reflective of the child care preferences included
 23 in the parent's assessment.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD10550-01-5

 S. 5951 2

 1 § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 336-d of the social services law, as
 2 added by section 148 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is
 3 amended to read as follows:
 4 1. Each applicant for or recipient of public assistance shall, upon
 5 request of the social services official, demonstrate that [he or she]
 6 such applicant or recipient is engaged in an active and continuing
 7 effort to achieve self-sufficiency as defined by the department. Such
 8 effort shall include but not be limited to an active and continuing
 9 search for employment, or for persons otherwise exempt in accordance
 10 with section three hundred thirty-two of this title, and where deemed
 11 appropriate by the social services official, activities that foster
 12 preparation for employment. Each such applicant or recipient shall have
 13 an affirmative duty to accept any offer of lawful employment in which
 14 [he or she] such applicant or recipient may engage. The failure of a
 15 social services district to assign applicants and recipients to activ-
 16 ities pursuant to this title shall not relieve such persons from the
 17 requirements of this section. An individual who fails to comply with
 18 the requirements of [the] this section shall be subject to the
 19 provisions set forth in subdivision five of section one hundred thirty-
 20 one of this chapter and [of section] sections three hundred forty-one
 21 and three hundred forty-two of this title. Except that no applicant or
 22 recipient who is the parent or caretaker relative of an eligible child
 23 shall be subject to the ineligibility provision