Summary: New York Assembly Bill A 9412 (2025-2026 Session) – Relates to Creating the Family Essential Program
Overview
- Jurisdiction: New York
- Bill Number: A 9412
- Session: 2025-2026
- Purpose: Establish a program titled the “Family Essential Program” intended to support families by addressing essential needs and related services.
- Sponsor/Support:
- Co-sponsors: Andrew Hevesi, Rebecca Seawright, Steven Raga
- Status: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Aging (initial action in both December 2025 and January 2026)
What the bill aims to do (Main Intent)
- Create a structured program designed to assist families with essential needs, likely focusing on resources, services, and supports that enable families to meet basic living requirements.
- Embed the program within state policy to ensure ongoing administration, funding, and oversight through a designated department or agency (inferred via typical program framework, given the committee reference to Aging, though the exact agency is not specified in the available text).
Key Provisions (as typically included in “family essential” type legislation)
While the text of A 9412 is not provided here, bills of this nature generally include:
- Program Establishment: Legal creation of the Family Essential Program with an official name, scope, and governance structure.
- Eligibility Criteria: Who qualifies for benefits or services (e.g., income thresholds, family size, residency requirements).
- Covered Services/Supports: Specific supports such as essential household items, child care subsidies, food security assistance, utilities support, housing stabilization, transportation assistance, or access to community-based services.
- Funding and Administration: Outline of funding sources (general fund, federal funds, or dedicated appropriations) and the agency responsible for administration and delivery.
- Application and Enrollment: Process for families to enroll, renew, and verify eligibility; timelines for determinations.
- Oversight and Reporting: Requirements for annual reporting, performance metrics, audit provisions, and accountability mechanisms.
- Waivers or Exceptions: Provisions for emergency needs or exceptions to standard rules in certain circumstances.
Note: The precise provisions would be detailed in the bill text. The above reflect common elements found in similar “family essential” programs.
Who Would be Affected
- Beneficiaries: New York families that meet eligibility criteria and require assistance with essential needs.
- Households with Children: Likely a primary focus, given the family-oriented nature of the program.
- State Agencies: Aline administration, funding, and oversight responsibilities, possibly within aging-related services or a related social services department (as evidenced by the Aging committee reference in the action history).
- Service Providers: Community organizations, nonprofits, and vendors delivering eligible supports and services.
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Referral History:
- December 19, 2025: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Aging
- January 7, 2026: Referred again to the Assembly Committee on Aging
- Next Steps (typical):
- Committee hearings and markups to debate, amend, and vote on the bill.
- If approved, advancement to the full Assembly floor for consideration and potential passage.
- Subsequent processing in the Senate (not shown in current data) and potential gubernatorial action for enactment.
- Effective Date: Not specified in the available information; typically, enacted bills include an effective date (often July 1 of the enactment year or a later date), with certain provisions applicable upon passage or funding appropriations.
Potential Impacts and Considerations
- Positive Impacts: Enhanced support for families facing financial hardship; potential improvements in stability, child well-being, and access to essential services.
- Budgetary Considerations: Requires funding; fiscal notes would detail anticipated costs, funding sources, and potential savings or long-term fiscal impact.
- Implementation Challenges: Administrative capacity to enroll eligible families, accurate eligibility determinations, and coordination across state agencies.
If you can provide the full bill text or specific sections, I can refine this summary with exact provisions, eligibility criteria, funding amounts, and implementation timelines.
