Immigration (Refugees & Asylum)

Requires residents of the state, who are foreign refugees, to register with the office of temporary and disability assistance; directs such office to provide registration information to the office of children and family services, the department of health, the office for new Americans, the department of law, the division of state police, the NYC police department, county sheriff's offices, municipal police departments, and the division of homeland security and emergency services; directs the office for new Americans to conduct background screenings of all refugees who register; requires refugee resettlement agencies to submit quarterly reports to the bureau of refugee and immigrant assistance on the refugees to whom it provides assistance, and to monitor the activities of such refugees for a certain period of time; directs the division of homeland security and emergency services to develop and implement a plan to ensure compliance by refugee resettlement agencies.

Enacts the "New York state Palestinian refugee relocation prevention act"; provides that no state or local agency, authority, or official shall cooperate with, or provide any assistance to, the federal government in the relocation or resettlement of Palestinian refugees within the state of New York; requires that federal funds allocated for the resettlement of Palestinian refugees in New York shall be rejected and returned to the federal government; imposes a temporary moratorium on the admission to any institution of higher education in this state of Palestinian students and scholars; makes related provisions.

This bill, known as the "Frank Tammaro Island Shores law," aims to prevent assisted living residences, retirement homes, and nursing homes from closing and subsequently operating as shelters for asylum seekers. It prohibits state agencies from granting approval or entering into contracts for facilities housing asylum seekers with operators who have announced their intent to close their existing long-term care residence. The bill defines an "asylum seeker" as an individual seeking temporary or permanent residence who has applied for asylum or is eligible, or is a refugee. This measure directly affects operators of these long-term care facilities and the process for establishing housing for asylum seekers.

Requires municipal corporations to approve any facility intending to house asylum seekers prior to their establishment; establishes a review process that incorporates notice to the public and the opportunity for the public to comment; renders a decision within 8 weeks.