File #: Res 0364-2004    Version: * Name: Allot persons who seek or receive public assistance fifteen days to complete any missed requisite appointments before imposing sanctions.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 5/19/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution supporting the passage of New York State Assembly Bill A. 11078, which would allot persons who seek or receive public assistance fifteen days to complete any missed requisite appointments before imposing sanctions.
Sponsors: Miguel Martinez, Charles Barron, Gale A. Brewer, Yvette D. Clarke, Alan J. Gerson, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Annabel Palma, Christine C. Quinn
Council Member Sponsors: 9
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2005*Miguel Martinez City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/15/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on General Welfare Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/15/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on General Welfare Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/19/2004*Miguel Martinez City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
5/19/2004*Miguel Martinez City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
Res. No. 364
 
 
Resolution supporting the passage of New York State Assembly Bill A. 11078, which would allot persons who seek or receive public assistance fifteen days to complete any missed requisite appointments before imposing sanctions.  
 
 
By Council Members Martinez, Barron, Brewer, Clarke, Gerson, Gonzalez, James, Palma and Quinn
 
 
Whereas, As of March, 2004, over 430,000 persons were receiving public assistance in New York City; and
Whereas, Currently, applicants for or recipients of public assistance in New York City may be required to appear at several scheduled appointments relating to their application or benefits; and
Whereas, New York City's Human Resources Administration ("HRA") often sanctions persons who miss appointments related to public assistance by reducing or denying benefits or terminating applications; and
Whereas, When HRA notifies applicants for or recipients of public assistance of its intent to impose sanctions or close a file for missing one or more appointments, often their only recourse is to request a fair hearing to challenge the decision; and
Whereas, According to information published by HRA, as of April 18, 2004, 25.9%, or 33,280 of the public assistance caseload was involved in the sanction process; and
Whereas, 2,265 public assistance clients (1.8% of the total caseload) were involved in the fair hearing process as of April 18, 2004; and
Whereas, In 2003, 5.6% of HRA clients requested a fair hearing and 80.5% of clients won their fair hearings, entitling them to restoration of benefits within 30 days; and
Whereas, The fair hearing process is time consuming and can cost more than $1200 per case in taxpayer dollars; and
Whereas, The fair hearing process is burdensome and can cause significant disruption in the lives of public assistance clients, many of whom already face considerable hardships; and
Whereas, The New York State Assembly is currently considering A. 11078, which would amend the social services law in relation to certain applications for public assistance and care; and
Whereas, The bill gives applicants for or recipients of public assistance in New York City 15 days after a missed appointment to complete the requisite appointment; and
Whereas, The bill recognizes that public assistance clients need additional opportunities to reschedule meetings or submit forms before they are subject to the sanctions process at HRA; and
Whereas, This bill would alleviate the burden on HRA and would allow resources that are currently directed to the fair hearing process to be redirected or utilized more effectively; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the New York City Council supports the passage of New York State Assembly bill A. 11078, which would allot persons who seek or receive public assistance fifteen days to complete any missed requisite appointments before imposing sanctions.