Two new laws approved Friday by Gov. Kathy Hochul are meant to strengthen access to people who receive public benefits and social services in New York. 

At the same time, Hochul's office said the measures are meant to boost transparency for people who receive public assistance and make it easier to access assistance to food. 

"As New Yorkers continue to recover from the economic pains of the pandemic, it is critical that we ensure that public assistance programs are properly serving our most vulnerable communities," Hochul said. "These bills will educate people across the state on their rights when receiving social services and ensure that families don't struggle to put food on the table. I am proud to take important steps to protect and empower New Yorkers who receive public assistance because nobody deserves to experience food or childcare insecurity, homelessness, or any other life-threatening stresses."

One of the new laws, sponsored by Sen. James Sanders and Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter, will require social services offices to post the rights of people who are receiving assistance. The law will require the notification of basic rights for people, including the right to a fair hearing and the right to inquire about emergency assistance. 

The other new law, sponsored by Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, will require supplemental nutrition assistance programs to provide two electronic benefit transfer credit or debit cards to each household that has more than one parent or guardian in the household. The intention of the measure is to make it easier for people who are receiving benefits to be able to utilize them.