Bill Text: NY A04357 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to requiring participation in education programs leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma for those seeking public assistance.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-04-24 - held for consideration in social services [A04357 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A04357-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          4357
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    February 2, 2017
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by M. of A. GOODELL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Social Services
        AN ACT to amend the  social  services  law,  in  relation  to  requiring
          participation in educational programs leading to a high school diploma
          or high school equivalency diploma for those seeking public assistance
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Purpose.   The legislature hereby finds  that  obtaining  a
     2  high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma is often essen-
     3  tial  for  successful  private sector employment, and personal financial
     4  independence, self-sufficiency and  success.  Indeed,  many  occupations
     5  require  a  high  school diploma or high school equivalency diploma as a
     6  precondition for employment. Individuals without a high  school  diploma
     7  or  high  school  equivalency  diploma are often relegated to low paying
     8  jobs, and suffer much higher unemployment rates than those with  a  high
     9  school  diploma  or  high school equivalency diploma. It is therefore in
    10  the public interest to require individuals who are capable of  obtaining
    11  a  high  school diploma or high school equivalency diploma to be engaged
    12  in good faith efforts to obtain that objective.
    13    § 2. Section 131 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
    14  subdivision 21 to read as follows:
    15    21. Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter or other law to the
    16  contrary, no public assistance shall be given to or for any person  over
    17  five  years of age or under thirty-five years of age who does not have a
    18  high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma or is not  duly
    19  enrolled and participating in good faith toward the attainment of a high
    20  school  diploma or a high school equivalency diploma, unless such person
    21  has been determined by  a  medical,  psychiatric  or  other  appropriate
    22  professional  to  lack  the  requisite capacity to complete successfully
    23  such a course of study or the local social services district  determines
    24  that  such a course of study is not practical or cost-effective based on
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05946-01-7
        A. 4357                             2
     1  the  person's  employment  background  or  experience,   job   training,
     2  possession of a career development occupational studies credential, work
     3  skills,  health, disability, the lack of available educational programs,
     4  or other factors.
     5    §  3.  The  commissioner  of temporary and disability assistance shall
     6  have the authority to promulgate or amend any regulations necessary  for
     7  the implementation of this act.
     8    § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
     9  it shall have become a law.