New York A 712: Prohibits the imposition of limits on the length of stay at homeless shelters and emergency congregate housing

Bill Text

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A00712 Summary:

BILL NOA00712 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORCruz

&nbsp

COSPNSRGonzalez-Rojas, Hevesi, Raga, Forrest, Glick

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §44-a, Soc Serv L

&nbsp

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

Go to top A00712 Actions:

BILL NOA00712 

&nbsp

01/08/2025referred to social services

01/07/2026referred to social services

Go to topA00712 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA00712 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA00712 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 712

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, HEVESI, RAGA -- read once
 and referred 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

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01698-01-5

 A. 712 2

 1 to be transferred, the state agency, city agency, or local municipality
 2 or a provider under contract or similar agreement with a state agency,
 3 city agency, or local municipality shall not move individuals or fami-
 4 lies from their placement, so long as that placement complies with all
 5 city, state, federal and municipal laws.
 6 (b) To reside in shelter operated by the department, or a provider
 7 under contract or similar agreement with the department, an individual
 8 or family must maintain eligibility for temporary housing assistance
 9 pursuant to section 352.25 of the New York code, rules and regulations.
 10 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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