Directs the commissioner of the office of children and family services, in consultation with the commissioner of education, to develop educational materials regarding resources and programs available to foster care youth who are preparing to attend or are attending institutions of higher education including information on funding opportunities that are available for such youth.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7545A
SPONSOR: Zinerman TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to resources and
programs available to foster care youth
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to distribute information regarding
resources and programs available to foster care youth who are attending
or preparing to attend college.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Social Services Law by adding a new Section 383-D
to require the Commissioner of the Office of Children and Family
Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of the Education, to
develop educational materials regarding resources and programs available
to foster care youth who are preparing to attend or are attending insti-
tutions of higher education. Such materials would include information on
funding opportunities available to foster care youth. Under the bill,
materials would be made available to institutions of higher education,
and at a minimum, be posted on the Office of Children and Family
Services website.
Section 2 of the bill relates to the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Children who have spent time in the child welfare system face unique
challenges in educational settings. They tend to lack proper financial
and emotional support, which negatively affects their school enrollment,
academic performance, and graduation rates. These challenges often
restrain their ability to thrive in our higher education system. Sixty-
three percent of young people in care want to go to college but think
there are no resources. Of those that do enroll, only three to eleven
percent actually obtain a degree.
Former, current, and prospective students, as well as admissions and
financial aid staff within higher education institutions may be unaware
of potential funding opportunities that are available to foster youth.
Considering that higher education is becoming increasingly less afforda-
ble, access to financial aid is critical for foster youth in New York
State.
This bill would put in place requirements so that resources and
programs, including funding opportunities that foster youth are eligible
for, are distributed to bring greater awareness to these opportunities.
Access to this information will help encourage foster youth who may be
hesitant to apply by communicating that there are financial resources
available to them. This legislation would increase foster youth enroll-
ment and graduation rates in institutions of higher education across the
state of New York.
Equipping students and staff with information about opportunities for
foster youth would ensure that students, staff, families, and the gener-
al public are aware of their options and can empower youth to explore
new possibilities.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: 59477 referred to rules.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This bill shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7545--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 25, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN, DICKENS, BUTTENSCHON, STIRPE, LUNSFORD,
CONRAD, CHANDLER-WATERMAN, BURGOS, WALLACE, CUNNINGHAM -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Higher Education -- recommitted to
the Committee on Higher Education in accordance with Assembly Rule 3,
sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to resources and
programs available to foster care youth
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section
2 383-d to read as follows:
3 § 383-d. Resources and programs available to foster care youth. The
4 commissioner of the office of children and family services, in consulta-
5 tion with the commissioner of education, shall develop educational mate-
6 rials regarding resources and programs available to foster care youth
7 who are preparing to attend or are attending institutions of higher
8 education including information on funding opportunities that are avail-
9 able for such youth. Such materials shall include posters and pamphlets
10 and shall be made available to institutions of higher education, and at
11 a minimum, be posted on the office's website.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
13 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04577-02-4
