Int. No. 150-A

By Council Members Levin, Brannan, Powers, Rosenthal, Salamanca, Chin, Lander, Barron, Rivera, Gennaro, Kallos and Rose

A Local Law in relation to a task force regarding the transportation of students in temporary housing

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

                     Family assistant. The term “family assistant” means department of education staff assigned to work with shelters and schools to assist families in temporary housing with obtaining transportation assistance and other services for which they are eligible.

Shelter. The term “shelter” means temporary emergency housing provided to homeless individuals and families by the department of homeless services, the department of social services, the department of housing preservation and development, or a provider under contract or similar agreement with such agencies.

Students in temporary housing. The term “students in temporary housing” has the same meaning as that of the term “homeless children and youths” as defined in subsection 2 of section 11434a of title 42 of the United States code and also includes unaccompanied youth who do not have a fixed, adequate, and regular nighttime residence, provided that such individuals are enrolled in a school.

Unaccompanied youth. The term “unaccompanied youth” means students not in the physical custody of their parent or legal guardian, including young people who have run away from home, have been kicked out of their homes, or have been abandoned by their parent or legal guardian.

b. Transportation of students in temporary housing task force. There shall be a task force regarding the transportation of students in temporary housing consisting of at least nineteen members. Members of the task force shall be appointed by the mayor. Such task force shall include the following members:

1. the deputy chancellor of the city school district of the city of New York tasked with overseeing issues of school climate and wellness, or their designee, who shall serve as chair;

2. the commissioner of the department of social services, or their designee;

3. the highest-level staff person of the city school district of the city of New York, tasked with overseeing pupil transportation, or their designee;

4. the highest-level staff person of the human resources administration tasked with overseeing domestic violence and HIV/AIDS services administration, or their designees;

5. the commissioner of the department of housing preservation and development, or their designee;

6. the deputy chancellor for operations of the city school district, or their designee;

7. at least two family assistants and at least one high level staff person tasked with overseeing issues related to students in temporary housing in the city school district;

8. at least two representatives of organizations that provide shelter for families with children;

9. at least two representatives of advocacy organizations with relevant expertise in transportation for students in temporary housing;

10. at least two representatives of entities that have contracted with the city school district to provide transportation services for students in such district;

11. at least two parents of students who are currently or were formerly students in temporary housing; and

12. the chairperson of the council committee on general welfare, or their designee.

c. All members of the task force shall serve without compensation and at the pleasure of the mayor. Any vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. All members shall be appointed within 60 days of the enactment of this local law.

d. The task force shall meet a number of times sufficient to achieve its purpose and shall submit a report of its recommendations to the mayor and the speaker of the council no later than 12 months after the final member of the task force is appointed. Such report shall include an assessment of the barriers to arranging transportation including bus service, subway service, and other forms of transportation for students in temporary housing and recommendations for addressing such barriers. The report shall include, but not be limited to, recommendations for interagency protocols designed to:

1. ensure the prompt provision of transportation during conditional shelter placements;

2. ensure the prompt provision of transportation for students found eligible for shelter;

3. ensure the prompt provision of transportation for students transitioning from shelter to permanent housing for the remainder of the school year;

4. ensure the prompt provision of transportation, including the prompt provision of public transit passes for systems outside of New York city, for students who are temporarily residing outside of New York city or for students in temporary housing who have secured permanent housing outside of New York city and continue enrollment in New York city for the remainder of the school year;

5. ensure reimbursement for transportation expenses when transportation has not been promptly arranged for students in temporary housing;

6. ensure the prompt provision of transportation for students living in domestic violence shelters that ensures the safety of such students and that does not improperly disclose confidential information;

7. ensure the prompt provision of transportation for students living in HIV/AIDS services administration shelters that ensures the safety of such students and that does not improperly disclose confidential information;

8. ensure the prompt provision of transportation for eligible students in temporary housing who are enrolled in 3-K, Pre-K, Head Start, preschool special education classes, or preschool special classes in integrated settings, and for preschool students with disabilities living in temporary housing receiving related services when related services are provided at a related services agency outside the home or preschool setting; and

9. ensure the prompt provision of transportation for students in temporary housing so that they may participate in extracurricular activities, including COMPASS and other after-school and summer programs.

e. The task force shall report on any such recommendations that are implemented to the mayor and the council no later than 12 and 24 months following the submission of the initial report, after which the task force will cease to exist.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

AV/ACK

LS #10606/Int. 1641-2017

LS 764

11/15/2021 6:11pm