What's happening
This bill authorizes the New York State Office for the Aging to create a support program for grandparents and older relatives caring for children.
Why it matters
Expands support for a growing group. With more grandparents and older relatives acting as primary caregivers due to issues like parental incapacity or absence, this program addresses a pressing social need by providing structured support and resources to these families.
Improves access to critical services. By establishing local resource centers and assistance programs, the bill aims to help older caregivers navigate complex systems to access legal, financial, educational, and health resources for themselves and the children in their care.
Addresses isolation and mental health. Support groups, counseling, and information services are included, recognizing the emotional and logistical challenges faced by older caregivers, which can reduce caregiver stress and improve outcomes for both adults and children.
Promotes awareness and coordination. The program would centralize information and referral services, making it easier for caregivers to find help and for agencies to coordinate, potentially leading to more efficient use of public and private support networks.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help for Grandparent Caregivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to aging
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.
Support for Grandparent Caregivers
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor José Peralta
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10575
IN ASSEMBLY
May 7, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. D. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to authorizing the state office for the aging to implement a caregiver support program for grandparents and other older relatives who are caring for children
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The elder law is amended by adding a new section 224 to read as follows:
§ 224. Grandparent caregiver support program. 1. The director is hereby authorized and directed, to the extent appropriations are available therefor, to develop and establish a grandparent caregiver support program for the purpose of providing support services to grandparents or other older adult relative caregivers who are providing primary care for a child.
2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
(a) "grandparent or other older adult relative caregivers" shall mean a grandparent or stepgrandparent of a child or a relative of a child by blood or marriage who:
(i) is sixty years of age or older, and
(ii) lives with the child, and
(iii) provides primary care for the child because the biological or adoptive parents are unwilling or unable to serve as the primary caregiver of the child, and
(iv) is the custodian or guardian of the child, or is raising the child informally.
(b) "child" shall mean an individual who is eighteen years of age or younger.
3. The grandparent caregiver support program may include, but is not limited to:
(a) the creation of grandparent caregiver resource centers by local offices for the aging in New York state,
(b) technical assistance and training for grandparent and other older adult relative caregivers support groups,
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06635-01-7
A. 10575 2
(c) information and referral for grandparent and other older adult relative caregivers,
(d) assistance to grandparents and other older adult relative caregivers in gaining access to available services,
(e) counseling to grandparents and other older adult relative caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles, and
(f) the publication and dissemination of printed material related to services available to grandparents and other older adult relative caregivers.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.