TO:	Commissioners; STROP Contacts; TA Directors; Legal Staff

FROM:	Russell Sykes, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Employment & Transitional Supports

SUBJECT:	State Tax Refund Offset Program (STROP) – Settlement 

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Immediately

CONTACT PERSON:	Dottie Mullooly at 1-800-343-8859, extension 4-5396
	or dottie.mullooly@OTDA.state.ny.us

The court order approving the dates on the STROP Settlement Poster has been signed.  The posters have been mailed to all local social services districts.  (References GIS messages 05 TA/DC034 and 05 TA/DC037

The settlement notice poster has been mailed to the Temporary Assistance (TA) Directors in each LDSS and which must be posted immediately in each LDSS TA office.

The lawsuit involving the State Tax Refund Offset Program (STROP) is Watts v. Wing and is expected to be settled pending a hearing for class members.  The settlement requires that a notice poster be displayed in each LDSS public assistance office.  The settlement notice poster outlines the terms of the tentative settlement and advises class members that they may contact plaintiffs’ attorneys or the court, should they have concerns.

At least one English language and one Spanish language version must be on display in the client waiting area of each TA office of each LDSS.  The posters must be on display no later than October 11, 2005 and must remain on display until close of business on December 5, 2005.

Posters are not required to be displayed in offices or centers that are Food Stamps and or Medicaid only offices.   The poster must be displayed only if the location serves a TA population.

Districts which have the capability of printing 11” by 17” documents may request a PDF format copy of the settlement notice poster if that will assist in the distribution of the notice to multiple sites, or just to take immediate action on the display of the poster.  However, we stress that the poster size is mandated at 11” by 17” under the terms of the settlement.

Requests for a PDF format copy of the poster may be directed to Bob Gullie at 1-800-343-8859, extension 6-1095, or Bob.Gullie@OTDA.state.ny.us.

LDSS staff are not required to answer client questions regarding the settlement notice.  Rather any individual who thinks he or she may be a class member based on the information in the poster may contact plaintiffs’ attorneys or the court.

Information about the settlement terms will be forthcoming once finalized.