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REMARKS
Council Member Cabán discusses Intro 1148-A, the Receipts Act, for public benefits application transparency
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Council Member Tiffany Cabán provides remarks on Intro 1148-A, known as the Receipts Act, which aims to improve transparency and accountability in the public benefits application process. She explains the key provisions of the legislation and emphasizes its importance in helping New Yorkers access vital support services.
- The act requires application confirmation notices and detailed receipts for document submissions.
- Cabán highlights how the legislation addresses chronic issues of underfunding and understaffing in agencies like DSS.
- She acknowledges the contributions of her staff, advocates, and New Yorkers in shaping the legislation and expresses commitment to its effective implementation.
Tiffany Cabán
0:33:26
Thank you.
0:33:27
Never been called first, majority leader.
0:33:29
Caught me off guard.
0:33:32
I wanna talk about intro eleven forty eight, the receipts act.
0:33:38
This legislation marks an important step toward greater transparency, accountability, and trust in our city's public benefits system.
0:33:45
The receipts act ensures that applicants for key benefits like cash assistance, one shot deals, and food stamps receive an application confirmation notice when they apply.
0:33:54
This notice will indicate whether the application is complete, and if not, what steps remain.
0:33:58
It also requires that applicants receive a detailed receipt after submitting documents, including the date, type of documents, and the purpose of submission.
0:34:06
These may seem like minor procedural updates, but for those seeking vital support, they can mean the difference between clarity and confusion, between getting help and falling through the cracks.
0:34:15
For too long, navigating public benefits has been a frustrating and opaque process.
0:34:19
Applicants have often left without documentation of their status, and this bill tackles that issue with clear common sense solutions, and it was crafted to serve and uplift New Yorkers by my constituent services director, Melissa Correus, a shout out to her, and my legislative director, Jonah Birch.
0:34:34
And also thank you to all of the constituent service teams in all of my colleagues' offices.
0:34:38
Chronic underfunding and understaffing at agencies like DSS have left too many New Yorkers struggling to access life saving services during times of need.
0:34:47
The receipts act is about restoring dignity to a system that has left many feeling powerless.
0:34:52
It ensures people have the tools to advocate for themselves and ensures that the government serves New Yorkers better.
0:34:57
I thank the advocates, service providers, and New Yorkers who share their stories and made clear how urgently this change was needed.
0:35:04
And I look forward to working with DSS and HRA to implement this legislation effectively and thoughtfully.
0:35:09
Together, we can ensure the receipts act fulfills its promise, a benefit system that better serves the people.
0:35:14
So thank you again to my colleagues for supporting this vital measure.