BILL NUMBER: S4004

SPONSOR: CARLUCCI
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring agen-
cies 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 achiev-
ing 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:

201-18: S1772/A7616 - RULES/passed assembly

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

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