BILL NUMBER:  S1772

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring
agencies to provide potential adoptive parents with information
concerning state-funded benefits or services received by a foster
child that expire upon adoption

 PURPOSE OF BILL :

To require state agencies to provide a foster parent with a list of
any publicly-funded benefits or services that such foster child is
currently eligible for, but shall expire upon the adoption of such
foster child

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

The bill amends section 372-f of the social services law by adding a
new subdivision 5 that requires the Office of Children and Family
Services to promulgate regulations for authorized agencies in the
state to provide a foster parent with a list of any publicly-funded
benefits or services that such foster child is currently eligible for,
but shall expire upon the adoption of such foster child. If a service
shall expire, information shall be provided if that service is
available in the community or how it can be obtained from other
              

private sources. The information would be available on such office's
website.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Challenges among adoptive families may not emerge until sometime after
the adoption is completed, when the family no longer interacts with
the state adoption service. It is therefore important that foster
parents receive information on available or expiring services prior to
the completion of the adoption proceeding. Such information would
prevent disruption in access to essential services for foster children
and their families. This legislation helps potential adoptive families
in achieving and maintaining permanency by providing them with
information about any benefits or services that their children are
eligible for, but will expire upon the adoption. Also, if a service is
about to expire upon the adoption of a foster child, information on
whether that service is available in community or private sources will
be provided to adoptive families to help them make seamless
transitions for their children.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-16: S4976/A10098 - Rules/passed assembly

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
90 Days after it shall have become a law.