BILL NUMBER: S8179
SPONSOR: PERSAUD
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, constituting the
welfare reform act of 1997, in relation to extending the current
exemptions of income and resources for public assistance programs
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
The bill will extend, for two years, the income and resources exemptions
provisions of Social Services Law § 131-n to help ensure that families
will not have to divest themselves of certain resources to qualify for
public assistance.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill will amend subdivision (c) of § 153 of Part B of
Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997, constituting the Welfare Reform Act of
1997, to extend the provisions of Social Services Law § 131-n from
August 22, 2025 to August 22, 2027.
Section two of the bill will provide for an immediate effective date and
will be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after August
22, 2025.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Under current law, households receiving public assistance have certain
resources exempt from consideration when determining eligibility for
public assistance. This bill will extend those exemptions for an addi-
tional two years. Such exemptions include liquid resources, subject to a
specified amount; the home that is the usual residence of the household;
one automobile subject to a certain fair market value; one burial plot
per household member; bona fide funeral agreements subject to a certain
amount; and certain other resources. These exemptions recognize that
households in receipt of public assistance should be able to have
certain resources exempt from consideration when determining eligibility
for public assistance, especially when the resources may be an essential
component of self-sufficiency.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This provision was last extended for two years by Chapter 195 of the
Laws of 2023. It has been extended regularly since it was first enacted
pursuant to Chapter 436 of the Laws of 1997. Pursuant to Part U of Chap-
ter 56 of the Laws of 2022, the amounts of the resource exemptions were
increased.
Fiscal implications:
This bill will have no fiscal impact since the bill will merely extend
the current statutory policy.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The bill provides for an immediate effective date and will be deemed to
have been in full force and effect on and after August 22, 2025.