Senate Bill S7406A

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7406A

SPONSOR: GOLDEN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act creating a temporary state taskforce on the use of portable
information technology for child protective services caseworkers; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To create a temporary taskforce to build on the 2008 report regarding
the portable information technology for child protective services case-
workers pilot program and report its findings to the Governor, the
Temporary President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the Assembly.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill establishes the taskforce on the use of portable
information technology for child protective services workers (the "Task-
force").
              

Section two of the bill provides that the Taskforce, which will be
chaired by the Commissioner of the Office of Children and Family
Services, shall consist of members who have expertise in the fields of
social work and child protection, with adequate geographic represen-
tation, to be appointed as follows: five members to be appointed by the
Governor, four members appointed by the Temporary President of the
Senate and four members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
Section two further provides that the members of the Taskforce shall
receive no compensation for their services, but shall be remitted for
their actual and necessary expenses.

Section 3 of the bill provides that the Taskforce shall meet and may
hold public hearings, and may undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys,
or analyses it deems relevant in cooperation with or by agreement with
any other public or private agency.

Section 4 of the bill provides that the Taskforce shall focus on issues
related to improving child protective services caseworkers' caseload
management through the use of portable information technology, including
but not limited to an examination of the following:

a. The local departments of social services that participated in the
Pilot Program authorized in 2006 and expanded in 2007 to determine
whether those districts are employing portable information technology
and how such technology is being used. For those departments that are
not using portable information technology, the reasons why such technol-
ogy is not being used.

b. The local departments of social services that did not participate in
the Pilot Program that are employing portable information technology in
the provision of child protective services, how such technology is being
used.

c. The local departments of social services that did not participate in
the Pilot Program that are not employing portable information technology
in the provision of child protective services, the reasons why such
technology is not being used.
d. Available portable information technology, including software, that
can be used to assist child protective services caseworkers manage their
caseloads and the viability of such technology and software for such
purpose.

e. Best practices for the integration of portable information technology
and software in the provision of child protective services to improve
the caseloads of child protective services caseworkers and to develop
best practice guidelines.

Section 5 of the bill provides that the Taskforce shall make a report of
its findings to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and
the speaker of the assembly, no later than two years after the effective
date of this act. Such report shall include any recommendations for any
regulatory or statutory changes or changes in funding for the purpose of
managing the caseloads of child protective services caseworkers through
the use of portable information technology.

Section 6 provides that this act shall take effect immediately and shall
expire and be deemed repealed three years after such effective date.

 
EXISTING LAW:

New law

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2006, the Legislature enacted a pilot program for child protective
services caseworkers to "include the use of technology, such as laptop
computers, blackberries, and cellular phones that allow such caseworkers
to complete effectively tasks necessary for their investigations of
allegations of child abuse and maltreatment from field locations." Part
G, Chapter 58 of the Laws of 2006.  Participation in the program was
limited to New York City, Monroe County, and Westchester County. At the
end of the program, the Commissioner of the Office of Children and Fami-
ly Services (OCFS) was required to issue a report discussing the impact
of the pilot program on caseworkers' efficiency. The report was also
"required to include the commissioner's recommendation as to whether the
pilot program should be continued as it exists, expanded, or discontin-
ued". Id.

In 2007, the Legislature expanded the program to allow the Commissioner
of OCFS to include additional local social services districts. In March
2008, the Commissioner issued the Report on the program.

As the report details, OCFS "deployed a total of 464 laptop PCs and 53
tablet PCs to CPS caseworkers and supervisors in 23 local districts."
Portable Information technology Pilot Program Report to the Governor and
Legislature, March 2008, p.6. Regarding the ability of portable informa-
tion technology to assist caseworkers with their caseloads, the Commis-
sioner reported that case closings increased by 32%, the volume of
progress notes that were completed increased by 14%, and 81% of the
child protective services caseworkers who participated in the program
were satisfied with the portable information technology devices. Addi-
tionally, worker productivity and satisfaction increased. Id., at
pp.7-8.


The report also included specific steps that OCFS would "seek to
pursue." Id., at p.8. It is now ten years later. Over the past ten
years, portable information technology has changed. For many people, the
use of cellular phones are a part of every day life.  Additionally,
tablets that are connected to the Internet are commonplace. With the
rise of the use of cellular phones and tablets by the public, the cost
of acquiring and using these devices has decreased.

It is time to examine the use of portable information technology by
child protective services caseworkers again to ensure that when technol-
ogy is being used, it is helping caseworkers manage their caseloads.
When portable information technology is not being used, we need to
determine the reasons why such technology is not being employed. Final-
ly, we need to create a best practice for the use of portable informa-
tion by child protective services caseworkers.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to the state.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed three years after such effective date.