S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5893
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 24, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Children and Families
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  social  services  law,  in relation to allowing
   prospective and current agency  personnel  complete  training  through
   remote training methods

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 409-g of the social services law, as added by chap-
 ter 611 of the laws of 1979, is amended to read as follows:
   § 409-g.  Training of child welfare personnel. 1. Within  the  amounts
 appropriated  therefor,  including all federal reimbursement received or
 to be received on account thereof,  the  department  shall  develop  and
 implement a plan for  the training of social services district and other
 authorized  agency  personnel,  including  caseworkers  involved  in the
 provision or supervision of preventive services,  foster  care  services
 and  adoption  services.    Such  training shall include but need not be
 limited to:
   [1.   Permanence] (A) PERMANENCE  casework:    casework  methodologies
 focused on activities designed to prevent placement in foster care or to
 shorten  the  length  of  stay  in  care  for  those children who can be
 returned home or freed for adoption;
   [2.  Development] (B) DEVELOPMENT of skills  to  facilitate  rehabili-
 tation or restoration of the family unit;
   [3.    Development] (C) DEVELOPMENT of knowledge and skills in legally
 freeing children for adoption and providing adoption services;
   [4.  Development] (D) DEVELOPMENT of knowledge and skills  to  prepare
 for court processes necessary in foster care and adoption; and
   [5.   Development] (E) DEVELOPMENT of case management skills including
 planning for permanence for each child.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION  WITH  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  THE
 OFFICE  OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, SHALL ESTABLISH RULES AND REGU-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06807-01-5
              

 A. 5893                             2
 
 LATIONS  FOR  ALLOWING  PROSPECTIVE  AND  CURRENT  AGENCY  PERSONNEL  TO
 COMPLETE  ANY  REQUIRED  TRAINING  FOR CERTIFICATION AS AGENCY PERSONNEL
 THROUGH REMOTE TRAINING METHODS WHICH EVINCE THAT ALL  PARTICIPANTS  ARE
 IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE DURATION OF THE TRAINING AND ARE ABLE TO ASK QUES-
 TIONS  OF  THE  INSTRUCTOR,  AND  FOR  PROVIDING  CERTIFICATION UPON THE
 COMPLETION OF SUCH TRAINING THROUGH REMOTE TRAINING METHODS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
 repeal  of  any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of
 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made  and  completed
 on or before such date.