Requires the office of children and family services to provide luggage to youth in foster care; provides that such luggage shall be distributed to social services districts for distribution to foster care youth; requires the office of children and family services to submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature about the distribution of luggage to foster care youth.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5434
SPONSOR: Hevesi TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring the
office of children and family services to provide luggage to youth in
foster care
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring the
office of children and family services to provide luggage to youth in
foster care
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill adds new section 398-f to the social services law,
requiring the provision of luggage to youth in foster care.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation would require that the Office of Children and Family
Services (OCFS) provide luggage to youth in foster care.
Every day in New York State, a child enters the foster system carrying
everything they own in a black plastic trash bag - a stark symbol of the
dehumanizing and traumatic experience they are about to endure. For
many foster children, their possessions are more than just objects; they
are symbols of their identity, history, and worth. Relegating chil-
dren's belongings to trash bags, leaves them feeling degraded, dehuman-
ized, and traumatized. New York State foster youth deserve better; yet,
they currently have no legal guarantee of a dignified transition with
the proper luggage that every American uses for everyday travel or tran-
sitions.
In recent years, the OCFS launched the "My Bag" initiative to provide
luggage to youth in foster care. However, this program has been limited
in its reach. In 2023, there were an estimated 13,450 children in foster
care in New York State, with roughly 23,105 transitions per year. Chil-
dren in the New York State foster care system face frequent transitions,
experiencing three different placements on average during their time in
care. However, under the My Bag initiative, only 3,000 bags have been
distributed annually.
This legislation would build on the existing "My Bag" initiative, and
mandate the provision of luggage at state expense for all youth in
foster care.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
For the initial "My Bag" initiative, the average cost per bag has been
$11.95, and the annual cost has ranged from $30,908 to $64,869. For an
expansion of the program, we can conservatively estimate a cost of
approximately $15 per bag. The total annual cost will depend upon the
number of transfers requiring new luggage in a given year; assuming
conservatively that each and every one of the 13,450 children in foster
care across New York State requires new luggage in one year, this would
result in a total cost of approximately $201,750. It should be noted,
however, that not all youth in foster care will require luggage, and
that costs can be offset by donations. The overall fiscal implications
remain to be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 120th day after it shall have become a
law.
