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History
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires facilitating the use of alternatives to detention programs
In Assembly Committee · Children And Families · Sponsor William Scarborough
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S1602
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the office of children and family services and facilitating use of alternatives to detention programs
General idea of bill
To maximize existing resources with the goal of diverting youth from placement in the juvenile justice system.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill would require the Office of Children and Family Services to encourage and provide technical assistance to counties in order to maximize existing alternative to detention and placement programs. The office would also be required to promote inter county utilization of alternative to detention and placement programs wherever feasible, so that one county may use the programs and services of another county.
Section 2 would set an immediate effective date.
Justification
Alternative to detention and alternative to placement programs have proven effective in reducing the number of youth entering the juvenile justice system. Such programs may be administered by entities including the local social services district, the local probation department or a non-for-profit agency. Family Court judges may order the youth attend a program in lieu of placement in residential facilities, where public safety would not be at risk.
The supply of alternative programs varies throughout the State. Particularly in rural regions, few programs exist to prevent a youth from entering placement in a detention facility or State operated residential facility. While a county may lack the resources to prevent placement, a neighboring county may have an appropriate program with an existing slot. This bill would require OCFS to foster discussion among local districts so that such programs may be identified and shared between counties. OCFS would provide technical assistance where necessary to implement inter-county utilization. The goal of this bill is to achieve the maximum utilization of existing alternative programs, so that fewer youth enter placement unnecessarily.
Prior legislative history
First introduced in 2009.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
This bill would serve the State and Local Governments money by promoting efficiencies.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.