Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
[Additional statutory authority: Social Services Law,
§31 ]
(a) Policy. The department
shall provide reimbursement for specified expenses incurred in connection with
approved educational and training activities completed by employees of the
department and of local social services departments when special allocation to
the district for these purposes has not been made.
(b) Persons covered. Any employee of the
State Department of Social Services or of a local social services department
who holds a permanent or provisional appointment and who has had a minimum of
six months' work experience in the department, or district shall be eligible to
apply for participation in the tuition reimbursement program. Selections shall
be made within the limitations of available funds and shall be based upon
department objectives, goals and needs.
(c) Classifications.
(1) The tuition reimbursement program shall
include courses, institutes, seminars, workshops and other ancillary training
and educational activities on a part-time educational leave basis. These
courses and training activities shall be classified as follows:
(i) First priority shall be given to courses
and training activities which are deemed necessary by the department for the
employee to properly fulfill the requirements of his present job. All necessary
expenses shall be reimbursable.
(ii) Second priority shall be given to
job-related courses and training activities which are deemed beneficial or
desirable by the department and will enhance the effectiveness of an employee
in fulfilling his present work assignment. Reimbursement upon successful
completion shall be limited to registration, tuition and related
fees.
(iii) Third priority shall be
given to courses and training activities which are deemed desirable by the
department for an employee's career development. Reimbursement upon successful
completion shall be limited to registration, tuition and related
fees.
(2) Assignment of
first priority classification shall be made by the State Commissioner of Social
Services and his cabinet. Assignment of second or third priority classification
shall be made by the department requesting officer and the division deputy
commissioner subject to review and approval by the director of the department's
bureau of manpower planning and development.
(d) Application and processing.
(1) In the case of local social services
personnel, the application shall be submitted to the employee's supervisor and
the agency authorizing officer for action on Form DSS-147, "Application for
Educational Leave," completed in accordance with the instructions thereon.
Approved applications shall be forwarded to the department for action within 30
work days prior to the registration date of each course or training activity
for recommendation of priority classification and action. The requesting
officer shall prepare form DSS-128, "Request for Training Funds," from the
applications received by him for each course or training activity. He shall
submit form DSS-128 listing all applicants and total charges, to the director
of the department's bureau of manpower planning and development for his action
within 20 workdays prior to the registration date, who will then transmit them
to the director of the bureau of manpower planning and development for final
action.
(2) In the case of
department personnel, the applicant shall submit form DSS- 147, "Application
for Educational Leave," to his supervisor for action and transmittal to the
bureau director or requesting officer for action within 30 workdays prior to
the registration date of the course or training activity. The bureau director
or requesting officer shall prepare form DSS-128, " Request for Training
Funds," from approved applications received from each course or training
activity. He shall then submit form DSS-128 to the director of the department's
office of manpower management and development for his action within 20 workdays
prior to the registration date, who will then transmit them to the director of
the bureau of manpower planning and development for final action.
(e) Authorization. The director of
the bureau of manpower planning and development shall prepare form DSS-129,
"Authorization to Expend Training Funds," for each approved participant. He
shall transmit this form, together with instructions and necessary forms for
claiming reimbursement, to the requesting officer for forwarding to the local
department or employee.
(f)
Reimbursement. In order to claim reimbursement for expenditures in connection
with educational and training activities, local personnel shall complete form
AC-92, "New York State Purchase Voucher," and submit it to the department
within 15 days after the conclusion of the course or training activity,
together with original receipts substantiating payments made and written
evidence of satisfactory completion of the course or training activity. State
personnel shall submit same through normal administrative channels.
