S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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6339
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 20, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. CLARK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the office
of children and family services to collect certain data and prepare a
report regarding youth discharged from foster care
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 501 of the executive law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 17 to read as follows:
17. TO PREPARE AN ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING YOUTH DISCHARGED FROM FOSTER
CARE. "YOUTH" SHALL MEAN ANYONE UNDER TWENTY-ONE YEARS OF AGE. THE
FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE DISCHARGE OUTCOMES OF YOUTH IN
FOSTER CARE SHALL BE COLLECTED AND INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL REPORT: (A)
NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO ARE PLACED WITH FAMILY, DISAGGREGATED BY AGE FROM
ZERO TO TWENTY YEARS OF AGE; (B) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO DID NOT CONSENT TO
REMAIN IN FOSTER CARE PAST AGE EIGHTEEN AND FOR WHOM THE COURT APPROVED
A DISCHARGE FROM FOSTER CARE, DISAGGREGATED BY AGE FROM EIGHTEEN TO
TWENTY YEARS OF AGE; (C) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO AGED OUT AT TWENTY-ONE
YEARS OF AGE; (D) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO HAVE A PERMANENT CONNECTION TO A
CARING ADULT; (E) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO APPLIED FOR HOUSING ASSISTANCE;
"HOUSING ASSISTANCE" MEANS ANY FORM OF HELP DESIGNED TO ASSIST YOUTH
WITH FINDING AND MAINTAINING A PLACE OF RESIDENCE INCLUDING BUT NOT
LIMITED TO AN ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES (ACS) HOUSING
SUBSIDY, RENTAL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED FROM ANY OTHER CITY AGENCY, SUPPORT-
IVE HOUSING, OR ANY OTHER ASSISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO OBTAIN ADEQUATE HOUS-
ING; (F) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO HAVE BEEN FOUND ELIGIBLE FOR HOUSING
ASSISTANCE, WHETHER PRIVATE, FEDERAL, STATE OR CITY-SUBSIDIZED OR OPER-
ATED, INCLUDING INFORMATION SPECIFYING THE SPECIFIC SUBSIDIES OR
RESOURCES UTILIZED; (G) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN
HIGH SCHOOL, DISAGGREGATED BY SPECIAL EDUCATION STATUS AND BY AGE AS
FOLLOWS: UNDER SIXTEEN; SIXTEEN THROUGH EIGHTEEN; OVER EIGHTEEN; (H)
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03363-01-5
A. 6339 2
NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
APPROVED HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM, DISAGGREGATED BY AGE AS
FOLLOWS: UNDER SIXTEEN; SIXTEEN THROUGH EIGHTEEN; OVER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF
AGE; (I) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO LEFT FOSTER CARE TO ALTERNATIVE SAFE AND
STABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AN APARTMENT OR OTHER PLACE
OF RESIDENCE SHARED WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS, OR REMAINED IN THE
HOME OF THEIR FOSTER FAMILIES; PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THIS INFORMATION
SHALL BE INCLUDED IN SUCH REPORT ONLY UPON REQUIRED NEW YORK STATE
APPROVAL OF NECESSARY CHANGES TO THE DISCHARGE CHECKLIST FORM COMPLETED
BY THE ACS CONTRACTED FOSTER CARE AGENCY, BEGINNING WITH THE REPORT FOR
THE SECOND CALENDAR YEAR FOLLOWING SUCH APPROVAL; (J) NUMBER OF YOUTH
WHO COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL, DISAGGREGATED BY THE TYPE OF DIPLOMA OR
CREDENTIAL CERTIFICATION RECEIVED; (K) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO PASSED THE
TEST ASSESSING SECONDARY COMPLETION (TASC) HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TEST;
(L) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO OBTAINED A FEDERAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCH-
ER (ETV); (M) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO ARE ENROLLED IN COLLEGE; (N) NUMBER OF
YOUTH WHO WERE ENROLLED IN A VOCATIONAL/TRADE PROGRAM AT THE TIME OF
DISCHARGE; AND (O) NUMBER OF YOUTH WHO OBTAINED A COLLEGE DIPLOMA,
DISAGGREGATED BY THE TYPE OF DIPLOMA RECEIVED. NO INFORMATION THAT IS
OTHERWISE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE
REPORTED IN A MANNER THAT WOULD VIOLATE ANY APPLICABLE PROVISION OF
FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAW RELATING TO THE PRIVACY OF INFORMATION
RESPECTING YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE OR THAT WOULD INTERFERE WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATIONS OR OTHERWISE CONFLICT WITH THE INTERESTS OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.