S 7291: Establishes the universal basic income for transition-age youth pilot program to provide regular monthly payments to state residents who age out of foster care.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7291 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE April 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. BRISPORT, COONEY, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing the universal basic income for transition-age youth pilot program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 2 398-f to read as follows: 3 § 398-f. Universal basic income for transition-age youth pilot 4 program. 1. Subject to an appropriation by the legislature for this 5 purpose, the department shall administer the universal basic income for 6 transition-age youth pilot program with the goal of improving outcomes 7 for foster youth. The pilot program shall commence on January first, 8 two thousand twenty-six, and end on December thirty-first, two thousand 9 twenty-nine. Under the pilot program, a New York state resident who 10 ages out of foster care during the year two thousand twenty-six, regard- 11 less of what age such child entered foster care, shall be eligible for 12 the program and shall receive a universal basic income of one thousand 13 dollars per month for three years. 14 2. For purposes of this section, "universal basic income" means uncon- 15 ditional cash payments of equal amounts issued monthly to eligible indi- 16 viduals with the intention of ensuring the economic security of recipi- 17 ents. To the extent authorized under federal law, the universal basic 18 income provided by this program shall not be considered income or 19 resources for purposes of determining eligibility to receive benefits or 20 the amount of those benefits under the following public social services, 21 programs, and financial aid: 22 (a) New York earned income tax credit; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05930-01-5 
 S. 7291 2 1 (b) Medicaid, medicare or other health insurance programs which 2 receive federal or state support and factor in income for eligibility 3 purposes; 4 (c) State and federal financial aid and college support programs, 5 including, but not limited to, all of the following: 6 (i) Grants from the state university of New York or city university of 7 New York; 8 (ii) Benefits provided to veterans of the armed forces of the United 9 States pursuant to Title 38 of the United States Code; and 10 (iii) Pell Grants (Subpart 1 (commencing with Section 1070a) of Title 11 20 of the United States Code). 12 3. (a) The department shall work with at least one independent, 13 research-based institution to identify existing, and establish addi- 14 tional, outcome measurements. The department shall prepare and submit an 15 annual report to the governor and the legislature on the universal basic 16 income for transition-age youth pilot program. Such report shall include 17 information on outcomes for the foster youth served under the program, 18 models utilized, and measures specific to the objectives of the program. 19 (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the department may accept and 20 expend funds from nongovernment sources for the report, for a longitudi- 21 nal study of the universal basic income for transition-age youth pilot 22 program that is in addition to the report, or for both. The report shall 23 include, but not be limited to, the following information, with respect 24 to the period of evaluation: 25 (i) Starting income of the participant before receiving monthly 26 universal basic income payments under the universal basic income for 27 transition-age youth pilot program; 28 (ii) Geographic indicators, including county of residence, city, and 29 ZIP Code; 30 (iii) Employment status of the participant before receiving monthly 31 universal basic income payments; 32 (iv) Housing status of the participant before receiving monthly 33 universal basic income payments; and 34 (v) Additional descriptive and outcome indicators, as appropriate. 35 § 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026 and shall expire and 36 be deemed repealed January 1, 2031. Effective immediately, the addition, 37 amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the 38 implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be 39 made and completed on or before such effective date.