New York A 531: Authorizes certain persons confined in institutions operated by the department of corrections and community supervision to apply for a sentence reduction

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A00531 Summary:

BILL NOA00531 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORHevesi

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd Art 6 Title 10 Title Head, add §458-g, Soc Serv L

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Establishes the statewide kinship navigator program for kinship caregivers.

Go to top A00531 Actions:

BILL NOA00531 

&nbsp

01/08/2025referred to children and families

01/07/2026referred to children and families

Go to topA00531 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA00531 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA00531 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 531

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 (Prefiled)

 January 8, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Children and Families

 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a
 statewide kinship navigator program

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The title heading of title 10 of article 6 of the social
 2 services law, as added by section 4 of part F of chapter 58 of the laws
 3 of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
 4 KINSHIP GUARDIANSHIP ASSISTANCE AND STATEWIDE
 5 KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAM
 6 § 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 458-g
 7 to read as follows:
 8 § 458-g. Statewide kinship navigator program. 1. The statewide kinship
 9 navigator program (hereinafter the "program"), is hereby established
 10 within the office of children and family services.
 11 2. Such program shall assist kinship caregivers who are seeking infor-
 12 mation or assistance related to services and benefits that may be avail-
 13 able to the caregiver or child. Within appropriations available, such
 14 information and assistance shall include but not be limited to:
 15 (a) referral services;
 16 (b) access to a free legal consultation for kinship caregivers in need
 17 of legal assistance or assistance understanding their legal rights;
 18 (c) assistance applying for publicly funded benefits including but
 19 not limited to public assistance, Medicaid, child health plus, child
 20 care subsidies, and the supplemental nutrition assistance program
 21 (SNAP); and
 22 (d) information related to services available pursuant to section
 23 three hundred ninety-two of this chapter.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01536-01-5

 A. 531 2

 1 3. For purposes of this section, "kinship caregiver" shall have the
 2 same meaning as defined by subdivision twenty-two of section three
 3 hundred seventy-one of this chapter, who is currently caring for a child
 4 or is a prospective kinship caregiver. It shall also include relative
 5 guardians and prospective relative guardians, as defined in section four
 6 hundred fifty-eight-a of this title.
 7 4. (a) The commissioner shall administer the statewide kinship naviga-
 8 tor program, either directly or through contract. In addition to provid-
 9 ing information and assistance, as required by subdivision two of this
 10 section, the program shall also have the following responsibilities,
 11 within appropriations available, which shall include but not be limited
 12 to:
 13 (i) statewide coordination of services, including coordination of
 14 efforts among the office of children and family services, the department
 15 of health, the office for the aging, the education department, the
 16 office of temporary and disability assistance, the office of addiction
 17 services and supports, the office of mental health, the office for
 18 people with developmental disabilities, local social services districts
 19 and relevant community-based organizations;
 20 (ii) the provision of information as to the availability of, eligibil-
 21 ity criteria for, and application procedure for available benefits and
 22 services;
 23 (iii) compilation of statistical data from state and local agencies
 24 and dissemination to the public;
 25 (iv) operation of a toll-free telephone number that may be called
 26 to obtain basic information about the rights of, and services available
 27 to kinship caregivers;
 28 (v) operation of local respite services;
 29 (