Bill > S02132

This bill establishes the Baby Bucks Allowance, a 21-month pilot program designed to support low-income families by providing direct cash assistance during the last three months of pregnancy and the first 18 months of a child's life. The program will select 15,000 eligible families, with 10,000 participants from cities with populations over 140,000 and 5,000 from rural areas, who have incomes below 200% of the federal poverty line. Participants will receive $1,000 per month for the first 12 months (last three months of pregnancy and first nine months of child's life) and $500 per month for the final nine months. To qualify, individuals must provide income documentation, participate in monthly surveys, and meet additional criteria set by the department. The bill specifically exempts the Baby Bucks Allowance from being counted as income for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility, and requires the department to conduct monthly surveys and prepare interim and final reports on the program's impact. The legislative findings emphasize that this program aims to combat child poverty, particularly in communities of color, by providing direct cash support during a critical developmental period, with the goal of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S2132