Relates to conciliation and non-compliance with public assistance employment; repealer

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Rachel May says this is needed

Currently, individuals receiving public assistance from local social services districts may have their public assistance payments reduced or stopped due to noncompliance with various rules promulgated by the social services districts. These social services districts currently implement these sanctions for certain specific durations. These sanctions are punitive to the most at-risk and vulnerable members of our society. When implemented; they remove the client's ability to afford food, housing and various other public assistance guaranteed by the State constitution. When these payments are revoked, it leads to hunger in families an- often leads to the commencement of eviction proceedings, which then increases the client's reliance on the social services safety net due to their need for emergency food and shelter. Under the current process, even where the client misses just one appointment, the local social services district is required to expend time and resources focused on sanctioning the client rather than re-en- gaging the client in work activities as soon as possible. Not only would this bill enable the local social services districts to focus time and resources on the key goal of engagement, it would assist clients in keeping on track with their work activities. This bill allows for a more streamlined conciliation process by focusing on re-engaging the client.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.