§ 374-e. Authority to place out or board out children with therapeutic
foster parents. A social services official or agency who is authorized
to place out or board out children pursuant to section three hundred
ninety-eight or three hundred seventy-four of this article, is
authorized by the department to place out or board out children having
special needs with therapeutic foster parents pursuant to subdivision
fifteen of section three hundred ninety-eight of this article and in
compliance with regulations of the department. Such placement shall only
be made, however, when the official or agency demonstrates to the
satisfaction of the department that state expenditures incurred in
placing a child with a therapeutic foster parent are less than those
that would be incurred if the children were placed in an institution.