NY A02542

Amends Social Services Law section 131-a to add home internet service to the list of items covered by public assistance for needy persons and family households

Requires social services officials to include amounts for home internet service payments when calculating the standard of need for eligible recipients

Places home internet service alongside existing covered items such as shelter, fuel for heating, home energy payments, and meal costs for those unable to prepare food at home

Takes effect 90 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for regulatory changes needed for implementation