Assembly Bill A10269

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10269
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 20, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  SEAWRIGHT  --  read once and referred to the
   Committee on Children and Families
 
 AN ACT in relation to establishing the interagency  council  on  kinship
   care
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the  office  of
 the  aging is directed and authorized to establish the interagency coun-
 cil on kinship care to investigate, evaluate  and  make  recommendations
 concerning the unique issues of kinship caregivers.
   §  2. (a) Such council shall include, but not be limited to, represen-
 tatives from the office of children and family services, the  department
 of  health,  the office of temporary and disability services, the office
 of court administration, the office of mental health, the department  of
 education,  the  office of addiction services and supports, the New York
 state homes and community renewal and any not-for-profit  groups  deemed
 necessary,  including  but  not limited to, the New York state caregiver
 and respite coalition.
   (b) The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their
 services, but shall be  allowed  their  actual  and  necessary  expenses
 incurred  in the performance of their duties under this act. The council
 may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may  deem  neces-
 sary  for  the  performance  of its functions and fix their compensation
 within the amounts made available by appropriation therefor.
   § 3. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the council may meet  and
 hold  public  and/or  private  hearings within or without the state, and
 shall have all the powers of a legislative  committee  pursuant  to  the
 legislative  law.  The  council is authorized and empowered to undertake
 any studies, inquiries, surveys or analyses it may deem relevant through
 its own personnel or in cooperation with or by agreement with any  other
 public or private agency.
   §  4. The council shall make recommendations and a report of its find-
 ings. The council shall submit such recommendations and report,  includ-
 ing  any recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14540-01-6
 A. 10269                            2
 
 and appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the  senate
 and  the  speaker  of the assembly, and made public online on the gover-
 nor's website no later than December first, two thousand twenty-eight.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.