Allows for three forty-five day extensions of necessary and available emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence instead of the current two forty-five day extensions.
Summary
This bill amends New York’s Social Services Law to extend the maximum time a domestic violence victim may remain in emergency shelter at a residential program. Under current law, eligible residents may receive up to 90 days of shelter, plus two 45-day extensions; the bill would increase that to three 45-day extensions for residents who still need emergency services and temporary shelter. The bill keeps the existing rule that shelter must be offered to victims who were residing in the social services district at the time of the alleged domestic violence, regardless of public assistance eligibility.
The bill also preserves and restates protections for service animals and therapy dogs accompanying residents, requiring residential programs to allow them unless doing so would create an undue burden. If on-site accommodation is not feasible, the program must make reasonable efforts to place the animal at an off-site care facility or provide referrals to such facilities. The measure takes effect immediately and is intended to expand shelter stability for survivors who need more time to secure safe housing or other services.
Impact
The bill would amend section 459-b of the Social Services Law by increasing the allowable emergency shelter extensions for domestic violence victims from two to three 45-day periods, thereby lengthening the maximum stay in residential domestic violence programs. Social services districts and shelter providers would need to adjust their placement and case-management practices to accommodate the longer potential stay, while continuing to provide services to eligible victims regardless of public assistance status. The bill also reinforces existing accommodation obligations for service animals and therapy dogs, including off-site placement options when on-site accommodation would be an undue burden.
Sentiment
The bill appears generally supportive and protective of domestic violence survivors, with its purpose focused on giving residents additional time in emergency shelter when they remain in need of services. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or debate in the supplied materials. Based on the text alone, the measure reflects a favorable policy approach toward extending shelter access and related accommodations.
Contention
The main policy issue is the balance between extending shelter stays for survivors and the operational capacity of residential domestic violence programs and social services districts. Potential concerns could include shelter bed availability, funding, and administrative burden associated with longer stays and animal accommodation requirements, especially where off-site placement is needed. However, no specific objections, amendments, or recorded points of contention appear in the provided legislative history.
Allows for three forty-five day extensions of necessary and available emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence instead of the current two forty-five day extensions.
Establishes a waiver program allowing a domestic violence residential program to apply to the office of children and family services for a waiver enabling a victim of domestic violence to remain at the program's shelter for a period exceeding one hundred and eighty days.
Authorizes shelters for victims of domestic violence to be reimbursed for any payment differential for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy where a single occupancy room is not available.
Authorizes shelters for victims of domestic violence to be reimbursed for any payment differential for housing a single individual in a room intended for double occupancy where a single occupancy room is not available.