Section 9-128. Applications for government benefits

a. The department of
  correction shall make applications for government benefits available  to
  inmates by providing such applications in areas accessible to inmates in
  city correctional institutions.
    b.  The  department  of  correction  shall provide assistance with the
  preparation of applications for government benefits  and  identification
  to  sentenced  inmates  who will serve, after sentencing, thirty days or
  more in any city correctional  institution  and  who  receive  discharge
  planning  services  from  the  department  of  correction  or any social
  services organization under contract with the department of  correction,
  and,  in  its  discretion, to any other inmate who may benefit from such
  assistance.
    c. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person born in  the
  city of New York and sentenced to ninety days or more in a New York city
  correctional  facility  who will serve, after sentencing, thirty days or
  more in a New York city correctional facility, shall be provided by  the
  department  before  or  at  release,  or  within two weeks thereafter if
  extenuating circumstances exist, at no cost to such person, a  certified
  copy  of his or her birth certificate to be used for any lawful purpose;
  provided that such person has requested a  copy  of  his  or  her  birth
  certificate  from  the  department  at least two weeks prior to release.
  Upon such request, the department shall request  such  certificate  from
  the  department  of  health  and  mental  hygiene  in  a form and manner
  approved by the commissioner of the  department  of  health  and  mental
  hygiene.  The  department shall inform such person of his or her ability
  to  receive  such  certificate  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of   this
  subdivision  within  three  days of his or her admission to a sentencing
  facility. No person  shall  receive  more  than  one  birth  certificate
  without charge pursuant to this subdivision.
    * NB Repealed June 30, 2015