Bill Text: NY S09589 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Establishes a SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims compensation fund.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-10-31 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [S09589 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-S09589-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          9589

                    IN SENATE

                                    October 31, 2022
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  MYRIE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

        AN ACT to amend the social services law and the state  finance  law,  in
          relation  to  establishing  a  SNAP  and cash assistance fraud victims
          compensation fund; and making an appropriation therefor

          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  95-b to read as follows:
     3    § 95-b. SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims  compensation  program.
     4  1. The office of temporary and disability assistance shall establish and
     5  maintain  a  SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims compensation program
     6  to compensate persons who receive benefits from the supplemental  nutri-
     7  tion  assistance  program (SNAP) or cash assistance program who have had
     8  such benefits stolen or who have been defrauded of such benefits.
     9    2. The SNAP and cash assistance  fraud  victims  compensation  program
    10  shall have an application process which shall be provided in English and
    11  languages  other than English, including but not limited to the ten most
    12  commonly spoken languages, aside from English, in the state.
    13    3. The inspector general and the attorney general shall work with  the
    14  commissioner of temporary and disability assistance to determine whether
    15  a person who receives benefits under the SNAP or cash assistance program
    16  was  defrauded  of  such  benefits  or  if  such benefits were otherwise
    17  stolen.
    18    § 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-qq to
    19  read as follows:
    20    § 99-qq. SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims compensation fund.  1.
    21  There  is  hereby  established  in  the joint custody of the state comp-
    22  troller and the commissioner of the office of temporary  and  disability
    23  assistance  a  fund  to  be  known as the SNAP and cash assistance fraud
    24  victims compensation fund, hereinafter referred to as the "fund".
    25    2. Money allocated to the fund shall be kept separate and shall not be
    26  commingled with any other funds in the custody of the state comptroller.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD16321-02-2
        S. 9589                             2

     1    3. The fund shall consist of all moneys appropriated for  the  purpose
     2  of  such  account,  moneys  transferred to such account pursuant to law,
     3  monies received from civil penalties regarding the  supplemental  nutri-
     4  tion  assistance program, contributions consisting of promises or grants
     5  of  any  money  or  property of any kind or value, or any other thing of
     6  value, including grants or other financial assistance from any agency of
     7  government and moneys required by the provisions of this section or  any
     8  other law to be paid into or credited to this account.
     9    4.  Money  expended  from  such fund shall be used consistent with the
    10  SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims compensation  program  as  estab-
    11  lished under section ninety-five-b of the social services law.
    12    § 3. The sum of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000)
    13  is  hereby  appropriated  to  the SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims
    14  compensation fund as established pursuant to section 99-qq of the  state
    15  finance  law  from  the  general  fund  to the credit of the account not
    16  otherwise appropriated for services and expenses of the account for  the
    17  purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act.
    18    § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.