Bill > A01504

This bill amends the social services law to remove the requirement that rent arrears assistance be repaid for social services districts located in municipalities with a population of five million or more, which effectively means New York City. Currently, social services districts in municipalities with fewer than five million people must require recipients of rent arrears assistance to sign a repayment agreement and repay the assistance within 12 months. The new law will exempt social services districts in large municipalities (like New York City) from this repayment requirement, meaning recipients of rent arrears assistance in these areas will not need to repay the financial aid they receive. The bill is retroactive, applying to rent arrears assistance provided on and after March 13, 2020, which suggests it may be related to economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. The change aims to provide additional financial support to residents in large urban areas by eliminating the repayment obligation for emergency rent assistance.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1504