File #: Int 1332-2019    Version: Name: Office of constituent services.
Type: Introduction Status: Enacted
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 1/24/2019
Enactment date: 9/14/2019 Law number: 2019/160
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an office of constituent services
Sponsors: Corey D. Johnson, Helen K. Rosenthal, Adrienne E. Adams, Donovan J. Richards, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Antonio Reynoso, Diana I. Ayala, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Vanessa L. Gibson, Margaret S. Chin, Ben Kallos, Costa G. Constantinides, Alicka Ampry-Samuel , Deborah L. Rose, Carlina Rivera
Council Member Sponsors: 15
Summary: 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.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1332-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 1332, 3. Int. No. 1332, 4. January 24, 2019 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 5. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-24-19, 6. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - January 24, 2019, 7. Committee Report 2/4/19, 8. Hearing Testimony 2/4/19, 9. Hearing Transcript 2/4/19, 10. Proposed Int No. 1332-A - 8/15/19, 11. Committee Report 8/13/19, 12. Hearing Testimony 8/13/19, 13. Hearing Transcript 8/13/19, 14. August 14, 2019 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 15. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 8-14-19, 16. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - August 14, 2019, 17. Int. No. 1332-A (FINAL), 18. Fiscal Impact Statement, 19. Legislative Documents - Letter to the Mayor, 20. Local Law 160
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
9/16/2019ACorey D. Johnson City Council Returned Unsigned by Mayor  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/14/2019ACorey D. Johnson Administration City Charter Rule Adopted  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/14/2019ACorey D. Johnson City Council Sent to Mayor by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/14/2019ACorey D. Johnson City Council Approved by CouncilPass Action details Meeting details Not available
8/13/2019*Corey D. Johnson Committee on General Welfare Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/13/2019*Corey D. Johnson Committee on General Welfare Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/13/2019*Corey D. Johnson Committee on General Welfare Amended by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
8/13/2019ACorey D. Johnson Committee on General Welfare Approved by CommitteePass Action details Meeting details Not available
2/4/2019*Corey D. Johnson Committee on General Welfare Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
2/4/2019*Corey D. Johnson Committee on General Welfare Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/24/2019*Corey D. Johnson City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
1/24/2019*Corey D. Johnson City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 1332-A

 

By The Speaker (Council Member Johnson) and Council Members Rosenthal, Adams, Richards, the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams), Reynoso, Ayala, Salamanca, Gibson, Chin, Kallos, Constantinides, Ampry-Samuel, Rose and Rivera

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to an office of constituent services

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-142.2 to read as follows:

§ 21-142.2 Office of constituent services. a. There shall be an office of constituent services within the department. The duties of such office shall include, but not be limited to:

1. Establishing a system to receive and respond to comments, questions and complaints from clients;

2. Conducting a review of all inquiries from clients about cases where any public benefits administered by the department have been or will be terminated including, but not limited to, the reason for such termination, whether the recipient was notified that such public benefits have been or will be terminated and whether the department has complied with the applicable statutes, rules and regulations with respect to such cases;

3. Establishing and maintaining policies regarding communication with clients in a timely manner in response to inquiries;

4. Developing strategies and recommendations for the commissioner regarding client communication; and

5. Performing such other duties and functions as may be appropriate.

b. The department shall post on its website the phone number for the office of constituent services and a statement indicating that any person may contact such office if such person has a comment, question or complaint regarding any public benefit administered by the department.

§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner may take such actions as are necessary for its implementation, including the promulgation of rules, prior to such date.

ACK

LS #9653

8/6/2019 4:25pm