Increases the state reimbursement rate for preventative child protective services from 65 to 75 percent.
Summary
This bill amends the Social Services Law to increase the state reimbursement rate for certain preventive child protective services from 65 percent to 75 percent. The higher reimbursement would apply to expenditures by social services districts for preventive services provided to eligible children and families, including children in and out of foster care placement, independent living services, aftercare services, and adoption administration and services other than adoption subsidies, subject to approval by the Office of Children and Family Services and the Division of the Budget.
The measure is intended to shift more of the cost of these child welfare-related services from local social services districts to the state. By raising the reimbursement rate, the bill would reduce the local share of spending for preventive child protective services and related supports, potentially making it easier for districts to maintain or expand services aimed at preventing foster care placement and supporting family stability. The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend section 153-k of the Social Services Law to change the state reimbursement formula for specified preventive child protective and related services from 65 percent to 75 percent. This would increase state financial participation in eligible expenditures by social services districts and correspondingly reduce the local fiscal burden. The affected parties are county and local social services districts, the Office of Children and Family Services, and children and families receiving preventive, foster care-related, independent living, aftercare, and adoption administration services.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill, with the Assembly Children and Families Committee voting 16-0 to refer it favorably to Ways and Means. No committee transcript was provided, but the unanimous committee vote indicates broad agreement with the policy goal of increasing state support for preventive child welfare services. The bill’s caption also frames it as a funding increase for preventative child protective services, which is generally associated with positive sentiment among child welfare advocates and local service providers.
Contention
The main policy issue is fiscal: the bill increases the state share of reimbursement, which would require additional state spending and may draw scrutiny from budget officials or lawmakers focused on state costs. Because the reimbursement is subject to approval by the Office of Children and Family Services and the director of the budget, implementation would still depend on administrative and fiscal oversight. No explicit opposition is shown in the provided materials, but any contention would likely center on the cost to the state versus the benefit of relieving local districts and supporting preventive services.
Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health services provided to individuals under the age of twenty-one; directs that funds in the healthcare stability fund can be used for the funding of children's behavioral health outpatient rate increases.
Increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health services provided to individuals under the age of twenty-one; directs that funds in the healthcare stability fund can be used for the funding of children's behavioral health outpatient rate increases.
Provides that admission agreements at adult homes include language providing that daily room and board rates at adult homes shall be increased when the minimum wage in New York City increases in an amount equal to the percentage of such minimum wage increase; states that such adjustment applies solely to room, board and non-medical supportive services and shall not affect Medicaid reimbursement rates.
An act to amend Section 10227.6 of of, and to add Section 10227.7 to, the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to childcare, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.