Senate Bill S116

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S116

SPONSOR: KAPLAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the office
of children and family services to maintain a database of available beds
for runaway and/or homeless youth

 
PURPOSE:

This bill requires the office of children and family services to main-
tain a database of available beds for runaway and/or homeless youth.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one amends Subdivision 8 of section 532-e of the executive law,
as amended by chapter 361 of the laws of 2019.

Section two sets forth the effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The needs of the homeless youth population in New York State are incred-
ibly acute. The risks of sexual exploitation faced by the runway and
homeless youth (RHY) population are immense, as many runaway youth often
turn to survival sex and fall under the influence of traffickers and
pimps. Further, approximately 40 percent of RHY population identifies as
LGBT, often facing outright rejection from their families and their
homes. And, many homeless youth have a history of engagement with the
criminal justice system, and are often forced to turn to crime as a
means of last resort.  Though New York City has expanded its network of
beds at residential facilities specifically available for runaway and
homeless youth, more beds are needed in the City and statewide to accom-
modate the growing population of runaway and homeless youth. These beds
help provide immediate stability to RHY populations, and also serve as a
vital bridge to needed longer term supportive services. With a high
concentration of beds in urban areas and an overall shortage of beds
statewide, RHY populations must have access to accurate information
about the location and availability of beds in their communities and
beyond. No such database exists.

This legislation requires the Office of Children and Family Services to
work with service providers statewide to create a publicly searchable
database of available RHY beds, to be maintained on the department's
website. The database must be updated in real time and include the
following information: name and address of facility, number of beds
available, age range allowed, number of beds available, length of allow-
able stay and the full range of services available at that facility.
This information is vital to ensure that the support services available
for the RHY community in New York State are maximized.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S. 7737/A. 6549A; Referred to Children & Families

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.