Bill > S09113

This bill establishes a system to help voluntary foster care agencies, which are organizations that provide care for children outside of their homes, manage their liability insurance costs. Part A requires that these agencies be allowed to participate in assigned risk plans, which are designed to ensure that all applicants can obtain insurance, and that these plans offer coverage for professional liability and sexual abuse and molestation. Part B mandates that the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) create standards for how the state will pay for liability insurance costs for these agencies, ensuring that state aid rates reflect yearly increases in these costs, starting with the 2027-2028 rate year, and that OCFS will establish a process for agencies to apply for rate adjustments if their insurance costs increase significantly. Part C creates a "voluntary foster care agency insurance bridge fund" to help offset these increased insurance costs, with OCFS responsible for distributing money from this fund to eligible agencies that can demonstrate documented increases in their liability insurance expenses, and also outlines the eligibility criteria and documentation needed for agencies to receive these funds.

Budget and Finance

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S9113