Bill > A00917

This bill makes several changes to the social services law regarding adoption subsidies for children with disabilities or who are hard to place. The bill replaces the term "assistance" with "subsidy" throughout the existing law and modifies the conditions under which these subsidies can be terminated. Specifically, it clarifies the process for reviewing and potentially terminating subsidies if adoptive parents are no longer legally responsible for supporting the child or if the child is not receiving support. The bill introduces provisions that allow for the subsidy to be transferred to a guardian or custodian if the adoptive parents' rights are terminated, and it establishes procedures for direct payments to the child after their 18th birthday if no other guardian is present. Additionally, the bill changes the effective date of the law from immediate implementation to 90 days after becoming law, with the caveat that full implementation depends on approval from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children, Youth and Families. The changes aim to provide more clarity and flexibility in managing adoption subsidies for children with special needs, ensuring continued support while maintaining accountability for the child's care.

Education

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A917