BILL NUMBER: S2944
SPONSOR: KAVANAGH
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to prohibiting the
requirement that a court proceeding has been initiated against an indi-
vidual in order for such individual to qualify for a rent arrears grant
or ongoing rental assistance
 
PURPOSE:
To remove the requirement that a court proceeding be initiated against
an individual to obtain rental assistance.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 131 of the social services law by adding a
new subdivision 21.
Section two establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current law, to qualify for certain rental assistance, individuals
must be able to show that an eviction proceeding has already been initi-
ated against them. Even in cases where an eviction is imminent and a
person will soon become homeless, individuals are not eligible for
certain rental assistance until the court proceeding has been initiated.
This process is not only traumatic for the tenant, it creates an unnec-
essary burden for all parties involved when the tenant could simply be
provided assistance before the eviction process has formally begun. This
legislation would remove such a requirement that an individual must be
facing a court proceeding before receiving rental assistance.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: S6844 (Kavanagh) / A7219A (Rosenthal, L) - REPORTED AND
COMMITTED TO FINANCE/advanced to third reading cal.601
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Undetermined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S2944: 131 social services law