What's happening
This bill authorizes the creation of a support program to assist grandparents and older relatives caring for children in New York.
Why it matters
Addresses the unique challenges faced by older adults. By specifically targeting grandparents and older relatives who are primary caregivers, the program recognizes the extra burdens—emotional, financial, and legal—that older adults face when raising children, often unexpectedly.
Expands access to critical support services. The bill allows for resource centers, support groups, and information/referral services, making it easier for caregiver families to get help with housing, education, healthcare, and legal matters—areas where older caregivers may need extra assistance.
Promotes better outcomes for children in non-parental care. Providing training, counseling, and service navigation for these caregivers helps ensure that children living with grandparents or relatives are more likely to receive stable, nurturing care and have their basic needs met.
Strengthens community support and reduces isolation. By organizing local support groups and resource centers, the program aims to reduce the social isolation and stress that grandparent caregivers often experience, fostering a stronger sense of community and resilience.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Support for Grandparent Caregivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to aging
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1682
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to aging
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
507
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DIAZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed 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:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06635-01-7
S. 507 2
(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,
(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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to provide assistance for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Elder Law by adding a new section 224. Authorizes the State Office for the Aging (SOFA) to establish a Grandparent Caregiver Support program to provide support services for grandparents and other older relatives who are providing primary care for a child. Allows for the creation of grandparent caregiver resource centers by local Area Agencies on Aging, provides information and referral for grandparent caregivers, provides technical assistance and training for grandparent caregiver support groups, provides counseling for grandparent caregivers, and provides publications related to the services available to grandparent caregivers.
Section 2. Effective Date.
Existing law
None.
Justification
There are over 240,000 children being raised in grandparent-headed households in New York State. Many grandparents assume responsibility for their grandchildren under critical circumstances, such as drug addiction or incarceration of the parents, death of the parents, and mental health or disability issues faced by the parents. However, grandparent caregivers are often unaware of services available to them for assistance. The Grandparent Caregiver Support Program proposed by this legislation would provide grandparent caregivers with the resources and assistance they need to care for their grandchildren.
Prior legislative history
2014: S.865 - Referred to Aging/A.1961 - Referred to Aging 2013:S.865-Reported and Committed to Finance/A.1961- Referred to Aging 2012:S.270 -Referred to Aging/A.266 - Referred to Aging 2011:S.270 -Reported and Committed to Finance/A.266 -Referred to Aging 2010:S.1557- Reported and Committed to Finance/A.1840- Reported, Referred to Ways and Means 2009: S.1557 - Advanced to Third Reading/A.1840 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means 2008: S.8266 - Referred to Aging/A.10013 - Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.