NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A1524
SPONSOR: Reyes TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a
statewide restaurant meals program as part of the supplemental nutrition
assistance program
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To ensure that homeless, elderly and disabled SNAP recipients are able
to use their benefits for hot or prepared meals at participating grocery
stores, delis' and restaurants.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes a new Subdivision 11 of Section 95 of the Social
Services Law. Subdivision A mandates that the NYS Office of Temporary
and Disability Assistance establishes a Restaurant Meals. Program, in
accordance with the guidelines set at the federal level to allow the
elderly, disabled, their spouses, and the homeless to use SNAP benefits
for the purchase of hot or prepared foods from participating restau-
rants, delis', and grocery stores. Subdivision El allows the NYS Office
of Temporary and Disability Assistance to promulgate rules and regu-
lations to assist in implementing the program.
Section 2 establishes the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
-This bill adds the word "statewide" before the restaurant meals
program,* to denote that the stay should file an application for there
to be a statewide program to be considered by the federal government.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently in New York State, SNAP recipients cannot use their benefits
to purchase prepared foods- This policy prevents many populations that
are unable to have access to cooking or food preparation on their own
and for their families from fully utilizing their benefits to provide
them with food. This issue primarily affects the homeless, disabled and
elderly populations.
This bill mandates that New York State enters into the federal Restau-
rant Meals Program, which allows homeless, elderly and disabled SNAP
recipients to use their benefits for prepared or hot food from partic-
ipating restaurants, delis' and grocery stores at reduced prices. This
will ensure that those who are in the most need in our state, can use
their benefits and get access to food.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2020 - Passed Assembly, Died in the Senate
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Takes effect on the first of January of the following calendar year.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1524
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. REYES, EPSTEIN, GOTTFRIED, D. ROSENTHAL,
L. ROSENTHAL, AUBRY, SIMON, O'DONNELL, JOYNER, JEAN-PIERRE, MONTESANO,
STIRPE, BARRON, COOK, TAYLOR, WILLIAMS, CRUZ, ABBATE, WOERNER, NIOU,
HUNTER, JACOBSON, LAVINE, DICKENS, DINOWITZ, COLTON, HEVESI, LUPARDO,
SEAWRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. FRONTUS, HYNDMAN -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a
statewide restaurant meals program as part of the supplemental nutri-
tion assistance program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 95 of the social services law is amended by adding
2 a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
3 11. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
4 the office shall establish a statewide restaurant meals program as part
5 of SNAP. Under the restaurant meals program, households containing
6 elderly or disabled members, and their spouses, as defined in 7 U.S.C.
7 2012(j), or homeless individuals, as defined in 7 U.S.C. 2012(l), shall
8 have the option in accordance with 7 U.S.C. 2012(k) to redeem their SNAP
9 benefits at private establishments that contract with the office to
10 offer meals for eligible individuals at concessional prices subject to 7
11 U.S.C. 2018(h).
12 (b) The office shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the
13 provisions of this subdivision.
14 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
15 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00116-01-1
