Senate Bill S1277

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1277

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 28, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  MONTGOMERY, ADAMS, DIAZ, DUANE, HASSELL-THOMPSON,
  KRUEGER, SAMPSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and  when  printed
  to be committed to the Committee on Finance

AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing the
  post-adoption services program, and making an appropriation therefor

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Article 6 of the social services law is amended by adding a
new title 10 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE 10
                         POST-ADOPTION SERVICES
SECTION 458-A. STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
        458-B. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
  S 458-A. STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE INTENDS,  BY
THE ENACTMENT OF THIS TITLE, TO HELP EASE THE TRANSITION OF THE ADOPTION
OF  A  CHILD  BY TARGETING THE DEVELOPMENT AND DELIVERY OF COMPREHENSIVE
SERVICES TO ADOPTIVE FAMILIES FOR THE PERIOD AFTER THE ADOPTION HAS BEEN
COMPLETED.
  S 458-B. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.  1.  THERE  IS  HEREBY  ESTABLISHED
WITHIN  THE  OFFICE  OF  CHILDREN  AND FAMILY SERVICES THE POST-ADOPTION
SERVICES PROGRAM, FOR FAMILIES WITH ADOPTED CHILDREN.
  2. THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS  TO
OPTIONAL  SERVICES,  EITHER  DIRECTLY  OR  BY  CONTRACT,  BY PURCHASE OF
SERVICE, OR BY INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT. SUCH SERVICES SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT
NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  (A)  THERAPEUTIC  COUNSELING  SERVICES WHICH SHALL INCLUDE INDIVIDUAL,
FAMILY, AND GROUP COUNSELING OR THERAPY;
  (B) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL SUPPORT GROUPS  FOR  ADOPTIVE  PARENTS,
BIRTHPARENTS AND ADOPTED CHILDREN;
  (C) PARENTING PROGRAMS;
  (D) HELP LINE SERVICES;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD05563-01-9
              

S. 1277                             2

  (E) CRISIS RESPONSE TEAMS;
  (F) RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT SERVICES; AND
  (G) REFERRALS AND LINKAGES WITH OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES.
  3. THE POST-ADOPTION SERVICES PROGRAM SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO ANY PERSON
WHO  IS  A RESIDENT OF NEW YORK STATE THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED AND IS UNDER
EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR IS THE ADOPTIVE PARENT OF A  PERSON  UNDER  THE
AGE OF EIGHTEEN.
  S  2.  The sum of six million dollars ($6,000,000), or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the  office  of  children
and family services from any moneys in the state treasury in the general
fund to the credit of the state purposes account not otherwise appropri-
ated, for its expenses in carrying out the provisions of this act.  Such
sum  shall  be payable on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller
on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of the  office  of
children and family services, or his or her designated representative in
the manner provided by law.
  S  3.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law and shall apply to children who have been adopted  and
parents who have adopted children before, on or after such date.