Directs the office of children and family services to promulgate regulations establishing workload standards for child protective service employees

BILL NUMBER:S7523

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to directing the office of children and family services to establish workload standards for child protective services workers

Purpose

To establish a standard of no more than fifteen cases per month per full-time child protective services worker.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends section 20-a of the social services law to provide that it will not apply to regulations establishing workload standards promulgated pursuant to section 421 (c) of the social service law.

Section 2 amends section 421 of the social services law by adding a new paragraph (c) to create workload standards for child protective services which shall be no more than fifteen active cases per month per full-time child protective services worker.

Section 3 amends paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 423 of the social services law to provide that child protective services will be subject to section (c) of section 2 of this bill.

Section 4 is the enacting clause

Justification

It has been shown that smaller case loads are important to the success of child protective services. New York City's Administration for Children's Services has taken this approach and has substantially lowered their case load ratios to the benefit of the children. This proposal builds upon a 2006 Office of Children and Family Services study (required pursuant to chapter 53 of the laws of 2006) on Child Protective Services caseloads.

Legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications

Undetermined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the seven hundred thirtieth day after it shall have become law.