File #: Res 0155-2004    Version: Name: Use of the fair hearing process to challenge the HRA's use of sanctions on persons who seek and receive public assistance.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 2/26/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the appropriate committee of the Council of the City of New York to hold an oversight hearing on use of the fair hearing process to challenge the Human Resources Administration’s use of sanctions on persons who seek and receive public assistance.
Sponsors: Miguel Martinez, Yvette D. Clarke, Erik Martin Dilan, Helen D. Foster, Letitia James, Robert Jackson, Bill Perkins, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Melinda R. Katz, Kendall Stewart, Margarita Lopez, Diana Reyna, Eric N. Gioia, Charles Barron, James Sanders, Jr., Philip Reed, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., John C. Liu, Gale A. Brewer, Alan J. Gerson, Annabel Palma, Maria Baez, Joel Rivera, Larry B. Seabrook, Jose M. Serrano, Sara M. Gonzalez, Christine C. Quinn, Gifford Miller
Council Member Sponsors: 28
Attachments: 1. Committee Report, 2. Hearing Transcript
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
6/21/2004AMiguel Martinez City Council Filed by CouncilPass 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 Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/15/2004*Miguel Martinez Committee on General Welfare Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
6/15/2004AMiguel Martinez Committee on General Welfare Filed by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
2/26/2004*Miguel Martinez City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/26/2004*Miguel Martinez City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
Res. No. 155-A
 
 
Resolution calling on the appropriate committee of the Council of the City of New York to hold an oversight hearing on use of the fair hearing process to challenge the Human Resources Administration's use of sanctions on persons who seek and receive public assistance.
 
 
By Council Members Martinez, Clarke, Dilan, Foster, James, Jackson, Perkins, Comrie, Katz, Stewart, Lopez, Reyna, Gioia, Barron, Sanders, Reed, Addabbo, Liu, Brewer, Gerson, Palma, Baez, Rivera, Seabrook, Serrano, Gonzalez, Quinn and the Speaker (Council Member Miller)
 
 
Whereas, As of January 18, 2004, over 430,000 New Yorkers were receiving public assistance; and
Whereas, HRA often sanctions persons who miss appointments related to public assistance, including reducing or denying benefits or terminating applications; and
Whereas, According to information published by the Human Resources Administration in January 2004, 27.5%, or 34,582 of the engageable public assistance caseload was involved in the sanction process; 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, 1,901 public assistance clients (1.5% of the caseload) were involved in the fair hearing process as of January 18, 2004; 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, Fair hearings are time-consuming and costly for HRA; and
Whereas, Public assistance clients need additional opportunities to reschedule meetings or submit forms before they are subject to the sanctions process at HRA; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the appropriate Committee to hold an oversight hearing on use of the fair hearing process to challenge the Human Resources Administration's use of sanctions on persons who seek and receive public assistance.
 
 
 
LS#325