Relates to distribution of federal bonus awards relative to SNAP programs to local social services districts.

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S3143-2013 Actions

• Jan 30, 2013: REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES

S3143-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S3143

TITLE  OF BILL:   An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to distribution  of  federal  bonus  awards  relative  to  food  stamp
programs to local social services districts

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:  This bill would add a new subdivision
11  to  Section  95  of the Social Services Law to allow the Office of
Temporary and Disability Assistance to restrict the use or  retain  5%
of the total award of any federal Food Stamp bonuses when distributing
such bonuses to local social services district It would permit OTDA to
retain  or  place  restrictions  on  more  than 5% of the funds, if it
consults with local social services districts in determining  the  use
of  funds.  Further,  the  distribution formula used to distribute the
remaining funds to local social services districts would be  based  on
each  local district's contribution towards acquiring the bonus. These
funds could be spent by the local district for any food and  nutrition
purpose consistent with the districts legal authority.

JUSTIFICATION:    Currently, the state has the discretion to determine
how Federal Food Stamp bonus awards are allocated to local  districts.
Although  the  state  has  historically  passed on a majority of bonus
money to local districts to used  at  their  own  discretion,  it  has
recently  changed  its  practice.  In  order  for  a local district to
receive any of the most recent bonus money awarded to the state,  each
local  district  is  required  to file a plan for the use of the funds
with Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). OTDA offers
guidance on appropriate, recommended uses of the funds, and discretion
on how to file a "Plan for Use" application. The latest federal  bonus
equaled   $9.8   million   of  which  $7  Million  is  identified  for
distribution to the localities that submit a "Plan of Use." Basically,
OTDA is determining the use of the entire bonus amount  that  came  to
the  state  even  though  the  bonus was awarded due to the efforts of
local districts.

Strong performance in various  areas  of  program  implementation  and
development  by  local  social  services  districts  contribute to the
State's overall success  in  the  food  stamp  program.  Local  social
services  districts should therefore receive a proportionate amount of
and federal Food Stamp  bonuses  awarded  based  on  their  individual
contributions.

FISCAL  IMPLICATION:    None,  the  state was planning on awarding the
bonuses anyway.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect immediately

S3143-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    3143

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              January 30, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen. KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services

  AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to distribution  of
    federal  bonus  awards relative to food stamp programs to local social
    services districts

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1. Section 95 of the social services law is amended by adding
  a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:

    11. (A) ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISIONS OF  LAW  NOTWITHSTANDING,  IN  THE
  EVENT  THE  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS A BONUS BECAUSE OF SOCIAL SERVICES
  DISTRICTS' PERFORMANCE RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF  SNAP  BENEFITS,  THE
  OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE SHALL DISTRIBUTE THE BONUS
  AS FOLLOWS:

    (I)  THE  OFFICE  OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE MAY RETAIN OR
  PLACE LIMITATIONS ON THE USE OF FIVE PERCENT OF THE  ENTIRE  BONUS.  THE
  OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE MAY RETAIN, OR PLACE LIMI-
  TATIONS  ON  THE  USE  OF  AN  ADDITIONAL  PORTION  OF THE ENTIRE BONUS,
  PROVIDED THAT THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND  DISABILITY  ASSISTANCE  SHALL
  DETERMINE  THE  USE  OF  THIS  ADDITIONAL RETAINED OR LIMITED PORTION IN
  CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS.
    (II) ANY PORTION OF THE BONUS THAT IS NOT RETAINED OR LIMITED  IN  USE
  BY THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY ASSISTANCE PURSUANT TO SUBPAR-
  AGRAPH  (I)  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH  SHALL  BE  DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL SOCIAL
  SERVICES DISTRICTS IN PROPORTION TO THEIR CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS ACQUIRING
  THE BONUS AS DETERMINED  BY  THE  OFFICE  OF  TEMPORARY  AND  DISABILITY
  ASSISTANCE.
    (B)  FUNDS  DISTRIBUTED PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (A)
  OF THIS SUBDIVISION  MAY  BE  EXPENDED  BY  THE  LOCAL  SOCIAL  SERVICES
  DISTRICT FOR ANY FOOD AND NUTRITION PURPOSE CONSISTENT WITH ITS AUTHORI-
  TY UNDER LAW.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD01806-01-3