A 4413: Relates to requiring participation in education programs leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma for those seeking public assistance.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4413 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY February 4, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. MOLITOR -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Social Services AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring participation in educational programs leading to a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma for those seeking public assistance The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Purpose. The legislature hereby finds that obtaining a 2 high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma is often essen- 3 tial for successful private sector employment, and personal financial 4 independence, self-sufficiency and success. Indeed, many occupations 5 require a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma as a 6 precondition for employment. Individuals without a high school diploma 7 or high school equivalency diploma are often relegated to low paying 8 jobs, and suffer much higher unemployment rates than those with a high 9 school diploma or high school equivalency diploma. It is therefore in 10 the public interest to require individuals who are capable of obtaining 11 a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma to be engaged 12 in good faith efforts to obtain that objective. 13 § 2. Section 131 of the social services law is amended by adding a new 14 subdivision 21 to read as follows: 15 21. Notwithstanding any provisions of this chapter or other law to the 16 contrary, no public assistance shall be given to or for any person over 17 five years of age or under thirty-five years of age who does not have a 18 high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma or is not duly 19 enrolled and participating in good faith toward the attainment of a high 20 school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma, unless such person 21 has been determined by a medical, psychiatric or other appropriate 22 professional to lack the requisite capacity to complete successfully 23 such a course of study or the local social services district determines 24 that such a course of study is not practical or cost-effective based on EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD06773-01-5 
 A. 4413 2 1 the person's employment background or experience, job training, 2 possession of a career development occupational studies credential, work 3 skills, health, disability, the lack of available educational programs, 4 or other factors. 5 § 3. The commissioner of temporary and disability assistance shall 6 have the authority to promulgate or amend any regulations necessary for 7 the implementation of this act. 8 § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 9 it shall have become a law.