Senate Social Services Committee reports bills on child-protection records, rent arrears and shelter reimbursement

The New York State Senate Standing Committee on Social Services on Tuesday, May 20, reported eight bills to the Finance Committee, including measures to change how child protective services logs repeat reports and to remove a rent-arrears repayment requirement for recipients in New York City.

The committee, chaired by Senator Roxanne Prasad, spent its final meeting of the legislative session advancing a slate of bills intended to change recordkeeping, program access and shelter reimbursement within state social services programs. "Our aim is to . . . enhance the lives of New Yorkers," Prasad said during opening remarks. Senator Murray said the committee generally shares the goal of helping residents, adding, "It's not a handout, it's a hand up."

Among the bills the committee reported to Finance: one sponsored by Senator Martinez would require child protective services to treat multiple reports about the same child as separate incidents so repeat reports are visible in records; one by Senator Kavanaugh would remove the requirement that rent arrears be repaid for social services districts located in a municipality with a population of 5,000,000 or more (clarified in committee as applying only to New York City); a bill by Senator Persaud would require the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to publish information online about waivers and shelter-rental supplement plans; a bill by Senator Cleary would establish a co-navigation services program for people who are deaf–blind; a bill by…