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A05543 Summary:

BILL NOA05543
 
SAME ASSAME AS S02982
 
SPONSORRosenthal L
 
COSPNSRMeeks, Taylor, Aubry, Cruz, Epstein, Bichotte Hermelyn, Tapia, Mitaynes, Levenberg, Kelles, Simone, Mamdani
 
MLTSPNSRForrest, Steck
 
Add §131-cc, Soc Serv L
 
Requires shelter allowances be set at up to one hundred percent of the fair market rent for the local social services district.
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A05543 Actions:

BILL NOA05543
 
03/16/2023referred to social services
01/03/2024referred to social services
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A05543 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A5543
 
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring shel- ter allowances be set at up to one hundred percent of the fair market rent for the local social services district   PURPOSE: This bill would ensure that individuals can access safe and stable hous- ing by ensuring those receiving shelter allowances may receive up to 100% of the fair market rent for their area.   SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section one amends the social services law by adding a new section 131- cc. Section two establishes the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: Individuals receiving temporary assistance are provided with a monthly shelter allowance that can be used to cover their housing costs. The shelter allowance varies depending on household size, county of resi- dence and other factors and is based on a schedule set by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). However, the allowance amounts have not been updated in recent years and are inadequate to cover the actual cost of housing in New York State. The shelter allow- ance for adult-only households was last increased in 1988; for house- holds with children the shelter allowance was last increased in 2003. As a result, a three-person household with children in Essex County, for example, would be eligible to receive a maximum shelter allowance of $268 per month, while the fair market rent for a two-bedroom home in Essex county is $844. The fair market rent, an amount determined annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, is already used to deter- mine allowances for numerous other housing subsidy and benefits programs. In 2021, legislation was signed into law to increase the New York State Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) program voucher to 100% of fair market rent, providing families at risk of homelessness with a voucher that more closely reflects the actual cost of housing in their area. The shelter allowance amounts, as determined by OTDA, are no longer adequate and are forcing families to use other allowances that should cover food and other necessities to help cover their housing costs. This legislation would help reduce housing instability and homelessness by allowing shelter allowances to cover up to 100% of fair market rent for the individual's area.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2021-22: A.8900-A -Reported to Ways and Means; S.8632 - Committed to Finance   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.   EFFECTIVE DATE: 30 days.
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A05543 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          5543
 
                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                     March 16, 2023
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
          Committee on Social Services
 
        AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring  shel-
          ter  allowances be set at up to one hundred percent of the fair market
          rent for the local social services district

          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  131-cc to read as follows:
     3    § 131-cc. Shelter allowances. Notwithstanding any other  provision  of
     4  law to the contrary, local social services districts shall pay the shel-
     5  ter  allowance  equal  to the actual rent obligation of recipients up to
     6  one hundred percent of the current United States department  of  housing
     7  and  urban  development's fair market rent as of the date of issuance of
     8  the shelter allowance to the recipient for the corresponding  unit  size
     9  in the district in which the recipient resides.
    10    §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
    11  have become a law.
 
 
 
 
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07258-01-3
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