BILL NUMBER: S8130
SPONSOR: GONZALEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to reissuing SNAP
benefits in instances of fraud or theft of such benefits
 
PURPOSE:
Authorizes the reissuance of SNAP benefits in instances of fraud or
theft of such benefits
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 152-d of the social services law to include
SNAP benefits in the replacement of stolen benefits
Section 2 amends Section 95 of the social services law by adding a new
subdivision to stipulate that replacements would occur for after Decem-
ber 20, 2024 and any replacement assistance provided under this subdivi-
sion shall be exempt from recoupment and recovery provisions under title
six of this article.
Section 3 amends Subdivision 1 of section 303 of the social services law
by adding a new subdivision to stipulate that any replacement would
occur for after December 20, 2024 and assistance provided under this
subdivision shall be exempt from recoupment and recovery provisions
under title six of this article.
Section 4 amends paragraph (e) of subdivision 2 of section 350-j of the
social 15 services law to include that the applicant would have had no
control in the theft of their public benefits
Section 5 amends Section 350-j of the social services law by adding a
new subdivision to stipulate that any replacement would occur for after
December 20, 2024 and assistance provided under this subdivision shall
be exempt from recoupment and recovery provisions under title six of
this article.
Section 6 amends Section 159 of the social services law by adding a new
subdivision to stipulate that any replacement would occur for after
December 20, 2024 and assistance provided under this subdivision shall
be exempt from recoupment and recovery provisions under title this arti-
cle.
Section 7 sets the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The theft of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits
from New Yorkers has been a major issue since 2022. Per the New York
State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) from August
2023 to December 2024 there have been 84,969 claims made to OTDA for
stolen SNAP benefits. This was summed up to about $65 million which have
been stolen from New Yorkers exacerbating food insecurity and an afford-
ability crisis in our state. While the 2023 Congressional Consolidated
Appropriations Act attempted to address this issue and reimburse indi-
viduals who had their benefits skimmed, it had several limitations.
According to New York Focus, "most victims of theft reported losing at
least $250 in SNAP funds, white nearly 30 percent lost over $500...More
than half of affected households said the theft forced them to skip or
cut back on meals, and 46 percent reported borrowing money or going into
debt to cover costs."
This bill would allow the use of state dollars to replace stolen SNAP,
would limit replacement funds to two months (in line with the 152-d) and
would make replacement funds exempt from recoupment and recovery.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S8130: 95 social services law, 303 social services law, 303(1) social services law, 350-j social services law, 350-j(2) social services law, 159 social services law