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Bill

S 9935

Relates to assisting persons with medically diagnosed HIV infection; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by April Baskin and 1 co-sponsor

Provides housing-focused support for people with HIV by capping rent at 30% of income (up to 200% FPL) and expanding emergency shelter, transportation, and nutrition aid to help ma

REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES
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Bill Summary · S 9935

Bill Summary: S.9935 (2025-2026) – New York

What the bill does (purpose and intent)

  • Relates to assisting persons with medically diagnosed HIV infection and repealing certain related provisions of the Social Services Law.
  • The core aim is to enhance access to housing, shelter, and related supports for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), particularly when homelessness or housing instability is an issue.
  • Creates a framework for targeted assistance (emergency shelter, transportation, nutrition) to support independent living and reduce barriers to stable housing.

Key provisions and changes

1) Rent and income protections for PLWHA under public assistance

  • Amends Subdivision 14 of §131-a to cap the tenant portion of rent for eligible PLWHA.
  • Eligibility: persons living with medically diagnosed HIV infection who apply for or receive public assistance and have earned and/or unearned income up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
  • Financial burden: such individuals shall not be required to pay more than 30% of their monthly earned and/or unearned income toward rent they directly owe.
  • Limitations: does not apply to room and board charges related to goods/services beyond living space.

2) New emergency assistance for housing-related needs

  • Repeals and adds a new Subdivision 15 to §131-a.
  • Access to emergency shelter, transportation, or nutrition payments is available upon application when needed to establish or maintain independent living arrangements for homeless or at-risk PLWHA.
  • The assistance can exceed standard limits if necessary but cannot exceed amounts reasonably close to 110% of HUD-determined fair market rent.
  • Purpose: to address emergency needs that enable independent living for PLWHA.

3) Expanded local district responsibilities and information sharing

  • Adds Subdivisions 21 and 22 to §131:
    • 21: Local social services districts must assist PLWHA by
    • helping secure required documentation for eligibility,
    • arranging for required face-to-face interviews at convenient locations (e.g., home visits),
    • providing referrals for services and other resources.
    • 22: The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), in consultation with the Department of Health, must create and maintain a state-wide, publicly accessible informational resource.
    • The resource (and updates) will include locations and details of community-based supports, employment opportunities, and medical professionals specializing in HIV care.
    • Information must be made available on OTDA’s website.

4) Revisions to administrative and funding provisions

  • §153 amendments (paras. f, g; new h):
    • Clarifies and adjusts how certain public assistance program costs are calculated and reimbursed.
    • Maintains existing allocations for services to Native/Indian populations on reservations, with the related accounting, including offsets for federal funds.
    • Adjusts protections and reimbursements related to HIV emergency shelter, transportation, and nutrition payments as described above, ensuring proper deductions for federal funds.

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Persons living with medically diagnosed HIV infection who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and eligible for public assistance.
  • Local social services districts (LSSDs) and the OTDA: responsible for implementing the new housing-focused supports, documentation assistance, and information dissemination.
  • Department of Health: collaborates with OTDA for information resources and service coordination.
  • Service providers: community-based supports, medical professionals specializing in HIV, and employment resources that will be listed on the state resource website.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date: 90 days after enactment.
  • Administrative changes are designed to be implemented through existing public assistance program workflows, with added emphasis on housing-related supports and information delivery.
  • The bill proposes a repealer for certain older provisions, replaced by the new framework, though specific repeals are not enumerated beyond the new and amended sections.

Practical impact and considerations

  • Increased financial relief for eligible PLWHA, specifically reducing rent burdens to 30% of income (within 200% FPL) and expanding access to emergency housing-related supports up to 110% of HUD’s fair market rent.
  • Enhanced coordination and access: more proactive assistance with eligibility, interviews, and referrals; improved state-wide information sharing on HIV resources.
  • Potential cost implications for OTDA and LSSDs, offset by federal funds where applicable, as well as the need to administer expanded emergency shelter and transportation/nutrition payments.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language brief for non-expert readers or a comparison with current law to highlight the exact changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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