Bill Text: NY A10592 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the housing people and animals together grant program to expand access for co-sheltering people experiencing homelessness and victims of domestic violence with companion animals.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-20 - referred to social services [A10592 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-A10592-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 10592 IN ASSEMBLY June 20, 2024 ___________ Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. L. Rosen- thal) -- read once and referred to the Committee on Social Services AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing the housing people and animals together grant program The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 2 45-aa to read as follows: 3 § 45-aa. Housing people and animals together grant program for people 4 experiencing homelessness. 1. As used in this section, the term 5 "co-sheltering" refers to housing accommodations that enable the coex- 6 istence of people and their companion animals in a shelter setting. 7 2. There is hereby established a co-sheltering grant program to be 8 implemented by the office of children and family services and the office 9 of temporary and disability assistance to aid in expanding access to 10 sheltered housing for people experiencing homelessness with companion 11 animals. The program shall provide funding to non-profit organizations 12 and municipal shelters that provide housing to people experiencing home- 13 lessness. The program shall be designed to support the implementation 14 and maintenance of co-sheltering programs that enable such population to 15 gain access to shelter with a companion animal. Funding used to support 16 the program shall be subject to appropriation. 17 3. Funds shall be distributed and made available for expenditure under 18 this section. In determining funding for applicants under the grant 19 program, the following criteria and goals may be considered: 20 (a) The provision of veterinary services to provide essential medical 21 care to animals housed onsite; 22 (b) The renovation of a facility to incorporate a kennel or other 23 needed infrastructural changes to safely house people experiencing home- 24 lessness with companion animals; 25 (c) The training of staff and technical assistance related to applica- 26 ble health and hygiene protocol, outreach and partnerships, best prac- 27 tices and policies; and EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD15661-02-4A. 10592 2 1 (d) The provision of food, supplies, and equipment to accommodate 2 animals in the shelter. 3 4. In establishing and operating the program, a range of experts shall 4 be consulted including but not limited to, the division of housing and 5 community renewal, providers of housing accommodations for people expe- 6 riencing homelessness, and any other related state agency, municipality 7 or organization. 8 § 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 459-bb 9 to read as follows: 10 § 459-bb. Housing people and animals together grant program for 11 victims of domestic violence. 1. As used in this section, the term 12 "co-sheltering" refers to housing accommodations that enable the coex- 13 istence of people and their companion animals in a shelter setting. 14 2. There is hereby established a co-sheltering grant program to be 15 implemented by the office of children and family services and the office 16 of temporary and disability assistance to aid in expanding access to 17 sheltered housing for victims of domestic violence with companion 18 animals. The program shall provide funding to non-profit organizations 19 and municipal shelters that provide housing to victims of domestic 20 violence or people experiencing homelessness. The program shall be 21 designed to support the implementation and maintenance of co-sheltering 22 programs that enable such populations to gain access to shelter with a 23 companion animal. Funding used to support the program shall be subject 24 to appropriation. 25 3. Funds shall be distributed and made available for expenditure under 26 this section. In determining funding for applicants under the grant 27 program, the following criteria and goals may be considered: 28 (a) The provision of veterinary services to provide essential medical 29 care to animals housed onsite; 30 (b) The renovation of a facility to incorporate a kennel or other 31 needed infrastructural changes to safely house people experiencing home- 32 lessness or victims of domestic violence with companion animals; 33 (c) The training of staff and technical assistance related to applica- 34 ble health and hygiene protocol, outreach and partnerships, best prac- 35 tices and policies; and 36 (d) The provision of food, supplies, and equipment to accommodate 37 animals in the shelter. 38 4. In establishing and operating the program, a range of experts shall 39 be consulted including but not limited to, the office for the prevention 40 of domestic violence, the division of housing and community renewal, 41 providers of housing accommodations for people experiencing homeless- 42 ness, organizations serving the needs of victims of domestic violence, 43 and any other related state agency, municipality or organization. 44 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 45 it shall have become a law.
