Bill > S04257

This bill modifies existing social services law to provide more flexibility for public assistance recipients engaging in educational activities. Specifically, the bill allows homework to count towards work participation requirements for recipients in certain educational or training programs. The legislation increases the maximum percentage (from 25% to 50%) of time that can be devoted to high school equivalency or English proficiency preparation in proprietary vocational schools. It also provides more nuanced guidelines for assigning educational activities to participants based on their age and individual circumstances, such as allowing more discretion for 18-19 year old participants in determining whether educational activities are appropriate. The bill aims to support public assistance recipients in pursuing education and training that can lead to sustained employment by making work requirements more accommodating to educational pursuits. Importantly, the homework provision allows participants to count up to one hour of unsupervised homework per hour of class time, plus additional supervised homework hours, towards their work activity requirements, while ensuring that these provisions do not compromise the social services district's ability to meet federal and state participation rates. The changes are designed to provide more pathways to employment and skill development for public assistance recipients.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S4257