BILL NUMBER: S6545
SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to additional state
payment assistance
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To amend the social services law, in relation to requiring the Office of
Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to provide outreach and
assistance to applicants for or recipients of additional state supple-
ment payment (SSP) assistance.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends social service law by adding a new section 213, which
would require OTDA to contract with one or more not-for-profit providers
to provide outreach services to SSP applicants and recipients as it
relates to applying for, modifying, or maintaining benefits. The not-
for-profit provider would be required to provide a report annually to
the Governor and the legislature on their findings related to the
outreach they've performed.
Section 2 provides an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
SSP provides additional state-funded financial assistance to aged, blind
and disabled individuals and is part of the monthly benefit paid to most
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. In October 2014, OTDA
assumed administrative responsibility of SSP from the Social Security
Administration (SSA). When SSA also administered SSP as part of the SSI
application and payment process, individuals had the benefit of being
able to access SSA's supports, including being able to receive in-person
help at SSA offices throughout the state. These additional support
services were no longer available after OTDA assumed administrative
responsibility. This legislation would require OTDA to contract with
not-for profit agencies having relevant experience, with the purpose of
providing the outreach services previously provided by SSA.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22 REFERRED TO SENATE SOCIAL SERVICES
2021-22 referred to assembly social services
2020 REFERRED TO SENATE SOCIAL SERVICES
2020 referred to ways and means
2019 REFERRED TOSENATE RULES
2019 reported from social services referred to ways and means
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately