Bill > S07558

This bill amends the social services law in relation to conciliation and non-compliance with public assistance employment requirements. The key provisions include: 1. Repealing Sections 341 and 342 of the social services law and replacing them with new Sections 341 and 342. 2. Establishing a re-engagement process, including a conciliation conference, to allow participants to avoid a pro-rata reduction in public assistance benefits for failing to comply with work requirements, as long as the failure was not willful and without good cause. 3. Defining "good cause" for non-compliance, including lack of available childcare, net loss of cash income, and other circumstances beyond the participant's control. 4. Allowing for a pro-rata reduction in public assistance benefits for non-exempt participants who fail to comply with work requirements without good cause, with certain exceptions for parents or caretakers of young children. 5. Prohibiting the sanctioning of individuals whose failure to comply is related to their health status. The bill aims to provide a more nuanced approach to addressing non-compliance with public assistance employment requirements, focusing on re-engagement and addressing the underlying reasons for non-compliance.