Allows for the denial, suspension or discontinuance of public assistance or care where a person does not participate in three consecutive scheduled interviews with a social services official.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4058
SPONSOR: Brown K TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing for the
denial, suspension or discontinuance of public assistance or care where
a person does not participate in three consecutive scheduled interviews
with a social services official
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Allows for the denial, suspension or discontinuance of public assistance
or care where a person does not participate in three consecutive sched-
uled interviews with a social services official.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Subdivision 3 of section 134-a of the social services law, as
amended by chapter 144 of the laws of 2021, is amended.
Section 2: Identifies effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Social workers must take reasonable steps to ensure that documentation
in records are accurate, reflects the services provided and include
sufficient and timely documentation in records to facilitate the deliv-
ery of services. Interviewing is a highly important tool used to identi-
fy need, qualifications, and necessary supports needed. These interviews
can help illustrate patterns of in/effective interventions, ensures
agency/organization/state or other governing body protocols are followed
and can even improve quality of service. Attendance is vital and appli-
cant participation of certain interviews are required in order to
receive benefits. This bill would require that in the event a person
applying for or receiving public assistance and care who is required to
be interviewed by a social services official and does not participate in
three consecutive scheduled interviews, the social services official may
deny, suspend or discontinue public assistance or care until such time
as the person applying for or receiving public assistance and care
participates in an interview.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.10384
2023-24: A.05584
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4058
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing for the
denial, suspension or discontinuance of public assistance or care
where a person does not participate in three consecutive scheduled
interviews with a social services official
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 134-a of the social services law,
2 as amended by chapter 144 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 3. The social services official shall require that persons applying
5 for or receiving public assistance and care be interviewed personally at
6 a time and in a manner provided by the regulations of the department,
7 and the social services official may provide the option of a phone
8 interview or other digital means for such interview at the request of
9 the applicant or recipient. In the event a person applying for or
10 receiving public assistance and care who is required to be interviewed
11 by a social services official does not participate in three consecutive
12 scheduled interviews, the social services official may deny, suspend or
13 discontinue public assistance or care until such time as the person
14 applying for or receiving public assistance and care participates in an
15 interview.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06283-01-5
