File #: Int 0373-2022    Version: * Name: Outreach and education about free public services.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection
On agenda: 5/19/2022
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to outreach and education about free public services
Sponsors: Alexa Avilés, Shahana K. Hanif, Sandra Ung, Linda Lee, Sandy Nurse, Shekar Krishnan, Lincoln Restler
Council Member Sponsors: 7
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to engage in an outreach and education campaign. The purpose of the campaign would be to raise public awareness of services that are often provided for a fee by businesses but can also be obtained for free from the city government. In particular, the campaign would focus on outreach and education about services that provide assistance in applying for government benefits. It would also require reporting on the outreach and education campaign, including the neighborhoods where it was implemented, and the languages and methods used.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 373, 2. Int. No. 373, 3. May 19, 2022 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 5-19-22, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - May 19, 2022

Int. No. 373

 

By Council Members Avilés, Hanif, Ung, Lee, Nurse, Krishnan and Restler

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to outreach and education about free public services

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 20 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 20-706.6 to read as follows:

    § 20-706.6 Outreach and education about free public services. a. The commissioner, in consultation with the director of the office of immigrant affairs and other agencies as appropriate, shall establish and implement an outreach and education campaign to raise public awareness about services that are offered by the city for free. Such campaign shall focus on raising awareness of services that are also frequently offered for a charge by businesses, including but not limited to assistance in applying for benefits, including SNAP, section 8 vouchers, social security and disability benefits. Such campaign shall include posting signs in public places that include information about where and how to find such services offered without charge. In any neighborhood with a significant limited English proficiency population, such signs shall be posted in the three languages most commonly spoken in each such neighborhood in addition to English.

b. No later than one year after the effective date of the local law that added this section and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit a report to the mayor and the speaker of the council detailing the outreach and education efforts made pursuant to subdivision a, including, but not limited to:

1. The neighborhoods in which such outreach and education campaign was implemented;

2. The languages in which such outreach and education campaign was implemented in each such neighborhood;

3. The methods and frequency of outreach used in each such neighborhood.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAB

LS #8293

4/29/22 2:30PM