BILL NUMBER: S1902A
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the labor law, in relation to providing notice to unem-
ployment applicants of the supplemental nutrition assistance program and
special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide individuals filing a claim for unemployment insurance bene-
fits with information on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 would amend the Section 540 of the Labor Law to provide a
technical change, replacing the term "food stamp" with "supplemental
nutrition assistance program" in relation to information provided to
individuals filing a claim for unemployment insurance. The bill would
add the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
Children (WIC) to the programs about which individuals receive informa-
tion when filing a claim for unemployment insurance.
Section 2 would set the effective date.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The changes made remove the provisions relating to the establishment of
an outreach program and distribution of informational materials for the
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Chil-
dren (WIC) provides support to many low-income women, children and
infants through food assistance, nutrition education and assistance in
accessing health care and other services. The program is available to
families whose income is at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty
level, as well as others enrolled in TANF, SNAP or Medicaid. Since its
inception, the WIC program has helped to reduce premature births, low
and very low birth-weight babies, fetal and infant deaths and incidents
of low-iron anemia.
Despite being one of the nation's most successful and cost-effective
nutrition programs, many New Yorkers who may qualify remain unaware of
the program or are unsure of how to apply for benefits. An applicant for
unemployment benefits receives information about the Supplemental Nutri-
tion Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps, but not about
the WIC program, which provides additional benefits and resources not
covered by SNAP. This bill would ensure that applicants for unemployment
insurance would receive beneficial information on potential eligibility
for the WIC program.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.9661 - Referred to Labor; S.9065 - Referred to Labor
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill would take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become law.

Statutes affected:
S1902: 540 labor law
S1902A: 540 labor law