Establishes a fiscal cliff task force to conduct a study on fiscal cliffs in the state's public assistance programs and to make recommendations related thereto, the official text

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2497
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 17, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  DAVILA,  MAHER,  TAYLOR,  SIMPSON,  LUPARDO,
   PEOPLES-STOKES, DILAN, WALSH -- read once and referred to the  Commit-
   tee on Social Services
 
 AN  ACT  establishing  a  fiscal  cliff task force to conduct a study on
   fiscal cliffs in the state's public assistance programs  and  to  make
   recommendations  related thereto; and providing for the repeal of such
   provision upon expiration thereof
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  (a) There is hereby established a fiscal cliff task force
 to study fiscal cliffs in the state's  public  assistance  programs  and
 make  recommendations on how to reduce and eliminate such fiscal cliffs.
 For the purposes of this section, the term "fiscal cliff" shall  mean  a
 sudden  decrease in public benefits that can occur with a small increase
 in earnings.
   (b) (i) The task force shall consist  of  nineteen  members,  each  to
 serve  for  a  term  ending  December  31,  2027.  Such members shall be
 appointed as follows:  two members shall be appointed by  the  temporary
 president  of  the senate; one member shall be appointed by the minority
 leader of the senate; two members shall be appointed by the  speaker  of
 the  assembly;  one  member shall be appointed by the minority leader of
 the assembly; five members shall be appointed  by  the  governor;  three
 local  social  services district commissioners or their designees having
 relevant experience in administering public benefits shall be  appointed
 by  the  governor, of which one district shall have five million or more
 inhabitants; the commissioner of the office of temporary and  disability
 assistance  or his or her designee; the commissioner of health or his or
 her designee; the commissioner of taxation and finance  or  his  or  her
 designee;  the  commissioner  of  the  department of labor or his or her
 designee; the commissioner of the office of children and family services
 or his or her designee.  Appointments shall be made within sixty days of
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00920-01-5
 A. 2497                             2
 
 the effective date of this section. Vacancies in the task force shall be
 filled in the manner provided for original appointments.
   (ii) All appointments shall be coordinated to ensure geographic repre-
 sentation from the entire state.
   (iii) The task force shall elect a chair, vice-chair, and other neces-
 sary officers from among all appointed members.
   (iv)  A majority of the members of the task force then in office shall
 constitute a quorum for the transaction of business or the  exercise  of
 any  power or function of the task force. An act, determination or deci-
 sion of the majority of the members present during  the  presence  of  a
 quorum  shall  be  held to be the act, determination, or decision of the
 task force.
   (v) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the  call  of  the
 chair.  Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may be
 called by the chair at the request of a majority of the members  of  the
 task force.
   (vi) Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
 services  but  shall be reimbursed for their actual expenses incurred in
 the performance of their duties in the work of the task force.
   (c) The task force shall:
   (i) conduct a study on the fiscal cliffs  in  the  state.  Such  study
 shall  include,  but  not be limited to: public assistance programs; the
 supplemental  nutrition  assistance  program  (SNAP);  the  home  energy
 assistance program (HEAP); housing assistance; the child care tax credit
 and  other  tax  credits; the school tax relief program (STAR) and other
 real property tax credits and reductions; Medicaid; NY state of  health,
 the  official  health  plan  marketplace;  child  care subsidies tied to
 income; cash benefits; effective tax rates; and  any  other  program  or
 service provided by the state or any political subdivision thereof which
 is tied to income;
   (ii)  study the causes and reasons why fiscal cliffs occur to individ-
 uals on public benefits, including but not limited  to,  the  impact  of
 current  public  assistance  programs  monetary allotments, asset tests,
 asset limits, and income disregards, as well as  how  minimum  wage  and
 other earnings may impact those receiving public benefits; and
   (iii)  recommend ways to reduce and/or eliminate fiscal cliffs includ-
 ing, but not limited to, recommending program and policy  modifications,
 amendments  to the law, including but not limited to possible changes in
 calculating and paying the earned income tax credit or other  tax  cred-
 its, changes to the New York codes, rules and regulations, and any other
 recommendation the task force deems appropriate.
   (d) The task force may, as it deems appropriate, request that studies,
 surveys,  or  analyses relating to the task force's powers and duties be
 performed by any state department, commission, agency or public authori-
 ty. All state departments, commissions, agencies or  public  authorities
 shall  provide  information  and advice in a timely manner and otherwise
 assist the task force with its work.
   (e) The office of temporary and disability  assistance  shall  provide
 staff  services  to the task force and such other administrative assist-
 ance as may be necessary for the task force to  carry  out  its  duties,
 functions and powers.
   (f) The task force shall make a preliminary report to the governor and
 the legislature of its findings, conclusions, recommendations and activ-
 ities  already  undertaken  by the task force, not later than January 1,
 2027, and a final report of its findings,  conclusions,  recommendations
 and  activities  already  undertaken  by  the task force, not later than
 A. 2497                             3
 
 September  1,  2027  and  shall  submit  with  its  reports  legislative
 proposals as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.
   §  2.  This  act  shall take effect immediately and shall expire three
 years after it  shall  have  become  a  law  when  upon  such  date  the
 provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.