Requires OCFS to provide information relating to post adoption services on its website in certain languages for those with limited English proficiency; requires authorized agencies to advise foster parents of the availability of such information in such languages.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6665A
SPONSOR: Cruz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to post adoption
services information
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
The bill would require:
*the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) when placing informa-
tion on its website regarding post adoption services funded by the to
ensure such information is available in English, French, Polish, and the
ten most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited
English proficiency in the New York State based on United States census
data;
*social services districts, to extent such information is available, to
post information regarding post adoption services funded by the district
in English, French, Polish, and the ten most common non-English
languages spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency in the
New York State based on United States census data;
*authorized agencies to notify a foster parent who has expressed inter-
est in adopting a foster child of such websites; and
*require OCFS to publish on its website the annual report it's currently
required to submit pursuant to this section of law.
JUSTIFICATION:
Ensuring information relating to post adoption services is available in
multiple languages could potentially ensure stability and permanency for
vulnerable youth.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A570/S4004 - Starred on Calendar/passed senate
2017-18: S1772/A7616 - RULES/passed assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
90 Days after it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6665--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 24, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Children and Families -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to post adoption
services information
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 372-h of the social services law, as added by
2 section 1 of part T of chapter 56 of the laws of 2014, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 § 372-h. Reporting on post adoption services. 1. The office of chil-
5 dren and family services shall place information on its website in
6 English, French, Polish, and the ten most common non-English languages
7 spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency in the state of
8 New York, based on United States census data regarding post adoption
9 services funded by the office. The office shall work with social
10 services districts to place information, to the extent that it is avail-
11 able, on each social services district website in English, French,
12 Polish, and the ten most common non-English languages spoken by individ-
13 uals with limited English proficiency in the state of New York, based on
14 United States census data regarding post adoption services funded by the
15 social services district. Authorized agencies shall notify a foster
16 parent, who has expressed interest in adopting a foster child, of such
17 websites listing potentially eligible services for a foster child, upon
18 the adoption of such foster child.
19 2. The office of children and family services shall collect and
20 compile, by social services district:
21 (a) the following information on post adoption services funded by the
22 office:
23 (i) the number of children and families served; and
24 (ii) the type of services provided; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08757-02-1
A. 6665--A 2
1 (b) the number of families receiving preventive services where post
2 adoption services was identified as a necessary and appropriate service
3 as part of the family assessment service plan held pursuant to section
4 four hundred nine-e of this article and the status of such services.
5 3. The office of children and family services shall compile, to the
6 extent that such information is available electronically through the
7 state automated child welfare information system, the following non-
8 identifying information by social services district:
9 (a) the number of children entering foster care that had previously
10 been adopted;
11 (b) the number of families receiving preventive services where at
12 least one child in the household had previously been adopted; and
13 (c) for the children and families identified in paragraphs (a) and (b)
14 of this subdivision, the types of services, including post adoption
15 services, identified as necessary and appropriate for the child or the
16 members of the child's family as part of the family assessment service
17 plan held pursuant to section four hundred nine-e of this article and
18 the status of such services.
19 4. (a) The office of children and family services shall submit, and
20 publish on its website, an annual report to the speaker of the assembly,
21 the temporary president of the senate and the chairpersons of the senate
22 and assembly children and families committees starting no later than
23 September first, two thousand fifteen. Such report shall include data
24 and information required by subdivision two of this section for the
25 preceding year, to the extent that such information is available, and
26 any other information the office of children and family services deems
27 appropriate. The office of children and family services shall indicate
28 the extent to which the information collected reflects the total popu-
29 lation described in subdivision two of this section, and identify any
30 impediments to collecting such information.
31 (b) Beginning September first, two thousand seventeen, the annual
32 report required by paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be expanded
33 to include data and information required by subdivision three of this
34 section for the preceding year, to the extent that such information is
35 available, and any other information the office of children and family
36 services deems appropriate.
37 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
38 have become a law.
