Details Meeting Name: Committee on General Welfare Agenda status: Final Meeting date/time: 2/4/2019 1:00 PM Minutes status: Final   Meeting location: Council Chambers - City Hall Published agenda: Agenda Published minutes: Minutes   Meeting video: Video   Attachments: CLICK ANY FILE # BELOW (in blue) TO ACCESS LEGISLATION AND ATTACHMENTS Meeting Items (29) 29 records Group Clear sorting Clear grouping Group by Type Group by Result Export Export to Excel Export to PDF Export to Word Show: All agenda items Legislation only All agenda items File # Ver. Prime Sponsor Agenda # Agenda Note Name Type Summary Action Result Action Details Multimedia                     Roll call Not available T2019-3697 *       Oversight - Client Experience at HRA Centers. Oversight   Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available T2019-3697 *       Oversight - Client Experience at HRA Centers. Oversight   Filed, by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1332-2019 * Corey D. Johnson     Office of constituent services. Introduction This bill would create an Office of Constituent Services at the Department of Social Services (“DSS”). The Office would establish a system for DSS to receive comments, questions and complaints from clients, conduct a review of all cases where public benefits have been or will be terminated, maintain policies to communicate with clients in a timely manner in response to inquiries, and develop strategies and recommendations regarding such client communication. DSS would be required to post the phone number and information about the Office of Constituent Services on its website. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1332-2019 * Corey D. Johnson     Office of constituent services. Introduction This bill would create an Office of Constituent Services at the Department of Social Services (“DSS”). The Office would establish a system for DSS to receive comments, questions and complaints from clients, conduct a review of all cases where public benefits have been or will be terminated, maintain policies to communicate with clients in a timely manner in response to inquiries, and develop strategies and recommendations regarding such client communication. DSS would be required to post the phone number and information about the Office of Constituent Services on its website. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1333-2019 * Adrienne E. Adams     Reporting on arrests, summonses, removals, escorts and use of force incidents occurring in department of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the department of social services/human resources administration (“DSS/HRA”) to issue a quarterly report on arrests, summonses, removals, escorts, and use of force incidents that occur in a job center or SNAP center. This report would be submitted to the Council and published on the DSS/HRA website. The first report would be due on January 31, 2020. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1333-2019 * Adrienne E. Adams     Reporting on arrests, summonses, removals, escorts and use of force incidents occurring in department of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the department of social services/human resources administration (“DSS/HRA”) to issue a quarterly report on arrests, summonses, removals, escorts, and use of force incidents that occur in a job center or SNAP center. This report would be submitted to the Council and published on the DSS/HRA website. The first report would be due on January 31, 2020. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1335-2019 * Alicka Ampry-Samuel     Establishing a pilot program for the provision of social work services at department of social services/human resources administration job centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to create a pilot program for the design, development, implementation and provision of social work services at one job center in each borough. The DSS Commissioner would be required to submit a report to the mayor and speaker of the Council with findings from the pilot program by July 15, 2020. DSS would be required to expand social work services to all job centers by January 1, 2021. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1335-2019 * Alicka Ampry-Samuel     Establishing a pilot program for the provision of social work services at department of social services/human resources administration job centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to create a pilot program for the design, development, implementation and provision of social work services at one job center in each borough. The DSS Commissioner would be required to submit a report to the mayor and speaker of the Council with findings from the pilot program by July 15, 2020. DSS would be required to expand social work services to all job centers by January 1, 2021. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1336-2019 * Alicka Ampry-Samuel     De-escalation and trauma-informed training. Introduction In an effort to improve the client experience at job centers and SNAP centers, this bill requires the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to conduct trainings on de-escalating conflict and trauma-informed care for all DSS employees and contractors providing security services in such centers. DSS would be required to report on the number of individuals who have received such training. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1336-2019 * Alicka Ampry-Samuel     De-escalation and trauma-informed training. Introduction In an effort to improve the client experience at job centers and SNAP centers, this bill requires the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to conduct trainings on de-escalating conflict and trauma-informed care for all DSS employees and contractors providing security services in such centers. DSS would be required to report on the number of individuals who have received such training. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1337-2019 * Alicka Ampry-Samuel     Requiring space for children at dept of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to designate a sanitary space with comfortable seating and age-appropriate and educational materials for children in job centers and SNAP centers. The bill would require DSS to create a poster containing information on the availability of such space and report to the Council and post on DSS’s website a list of locations where such spaces are available. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1337-2019 * Alicka Ampry-Samuel     Requiring space for children at dept of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to designate a sanitary space with comfortable seating and age-appropriate and educational materials for children in job centers and SNAP centers. The bill would require DSS to create a poster containing information on the availability of such space and report to the Council and post on DSS’s website a list of locations where such spaces are available. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1347-2019 * Laurie A. Cumbo     Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to maintain systems in which clients may reschedule appointments over the phone. Introduction This bill would require the department of social services/human resources administration (“DSS/HRA”) to maintain systems in which clients can reschedule in-person appointments over the phone. This bill would also require DSS/HRA to notify clients of the option to reschedule such appointments in the written notice clients receive in the mail. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1347-2019 * Laurie A. Cumbo     Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to maintain systems in which clients may reschedule appointments over the phone. Introduction This bill would require the department of social services/human resources administration (“DSS/HRA”) to maintain systems in which clients can reschedule in-person appointments over the phone. This bill would also require DSS/HRA to notify clients of the option to reschedule such appointments in the written notice clients receive in the mail. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1350-2019 * Vanessa L. Gibson     Implementation of a plan based on findings of the audit of department of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the commissioner of social services to implement the plan to improve the client experience, as required under a local law in relation to auditing department of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers, as proposed in introduction 1382-A for the year 2019. The commissioner would be required to implement such plan by January 1, 2021. The Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration (“DSS/HRA”) would be required to submit to the Council and post on its website an initial progress report detailing the efforts to improve the client experience. This report would be due March 1, 2021. DSS/HRA would be required to issue three subsequent progress reports over the next six years. These reports would be due on March 1, 2023, March 1, 2025, and March 1, 2027. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1350-2019 * Vanessa L. Gibson     Implementation of a plan based on findings of the audit of department of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the commissioner of social services to implement the plan to improve the client experience, as required under a local law in relation to auditing department of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers, as proposed in introduction 1382-A for the year 2019. The commissioner would be required to implement such plan by January 1, 2021. The Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration (“DSS/HRA”) would be required to submit to the Council and post on its website an initial progress report detailing the efforts to improve the client experience. This report would be due March 1, 2021. DSS/HRA would be required to issue three subsequent progress reports over the next six years. These reports would be due on March 1, 2023, March 1, 2025, and March 1, 2027. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1359-2019 * Stephen T. Levin     Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to report on termination of public assistance and reopening. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services/Human Resource Administration (“DSS/HRA”) to issue a report on instances in which public assistance cases were terminated and subsequently reopened. The first report would be due on November 15, 2019. The report would submitted to the Council and Public Advocate and published on the DSS/HRA website. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1359-2019 * Stephen T. Levin     Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to report on termination of public assistance and reopening. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services/Human Resource Administration (“DSS/HRA”) to issue a report on instances in which public assistance cases were terminated and subsequently reopened. The first report would be due on November 15, 2019. The report would submitted to the Council and Public Advocate and published on the DSS/HRA website. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1377-2019 * Helen K. Rosenthal     Client satisfaction surveys at department of social services/human resources administration job and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to provide every individual who visits a job center or a SNAP center with a client satisfaction survey when each individual checks-in at a center. Surveys would not be mandatory and will be anonymous. DSS would be required to report annually on the results of these surveys. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1377-2019 * Helen K. Rosenthal     Client satisfaction surveys at department of social services/human resources administration job and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services (“DSS”) to provide every individual who visits a job center or a SNAP center with a client satisfaction survey when each individual checks-in at a center. Surveys would not be mandatory and will be anonymous. DSS would be required to report annually on the results of these surveys. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1382-2019 * Helen K. Rosenthal     Auditing dept of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration (“DSS/HRA”) to conduct an audit analyzing operations, policies and procedures at job centers and SNAP centers, with the goal of increasing operational efficiency. DSS/HRA would be required to perform the audit in consultation with at least five organizations that work with job center and SNAP center visitors. The report would include recommendations made by such organizations and whether DSS/HRA will implement such recommendations. The bill would require the report of findings and recommendations from the audit to be submitted to the Council and posted on DSS/HRA’s website by March 1, 2020. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1382-2019 * Helen K. Rosenthal     Auditing dept of social services/human resources administration job centers and SNAP centers. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration (“DSS/HRA”) to conduct an audit analyzing operations, policies and procedures at job centers and SNAP centers, with the goal of increasing operational efficiency. DSS/HRA would be required to perform the audit in consultation with at least five organizations that work with job center and SNAP center visitors. The report would include recommendations made by such organizations and whether DSS/HRA will implement such recommendations. The bill would require the report of findings and recommendations from the audit to be submitted to the Council and posted on DSS/HRA’s website by March 1, 2020. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1389-2019 * Public Advocate Jumaane Williams     Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to report on termination of public assistance. Introduction This bill would require the department of social services/human resources administration (“DSS/HRA”) to issue a quarterly report on instances in which public assistance cases were terminated and instances in which applications for public assistance were denied. The first report would be due on November 15, 2019. The report would submitted to the Council and the Public Advocate and published on the DSS/HRA website. Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1389-2019 * Public Advocate Jumaane Williams     Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to report on termination of public assistance. Introduction This bill would require the department of social services/human resources administration (“DSS/HRA”) to issue a quarterly report on instances in which public assistance cases were terminated and instances in which applications for public assistance were denied. The first report would be due on November 15, 2019. The report would submitted to the Council and the Public Advocate and published on the DSS/HRA website. Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Res 0721-2019 * Laurie A. Cumbo     Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Resolution   Hearing Held by Committee   Action details Not available Res 0721-2019 * Laurie A. Cumbo     Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Resolution   Laid Over by Committee   Action details Not available Int 1403-2019 * Chaim M. Deutsch   Preconsidered Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to report annually on comments, questions and complaints by clients. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration’s (“DSS/HRA”) Office of Constituent Services to submit monthly reports to the DSS/HRA Commissioner on the number of comments, questions and complaints received from clients. The number of comments, questions and complaints would be disaggregated by the 20 most frequent categories of inquiries. DSS/HRA would also be required to submit to the Council and post on the DSS/HRA website an annual report on comments, questions and complaints received. Hearing on P-C Item by Comm   Action details Not available Int 1403-2019 * Chaim M. Deutsch     Requiring the dept of social services/human resources administration to report annually on comments, questions and complaints by clients. Introduction This bill would require the Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration’s (“DSS/HRA”) Office of Constituent Services to submit monthly reports to the DSS/HRA Commissioner on the number of comments, questions and complaints received from clients. The number of comments, questions and complaints would be disaggregated by the 20 most frequent categories of inquiries. DSS/HRA would also be required to submit to the Council and post on the DSS/HRA website an annual report on comments, questions and complaints received. P-C Item Laid Over by Comm   Action details Not available