What's happening
This bill authorizes the creation of a support program for grandparents and older relatives caring for children in New York State.
Why it matters
Addresses a growing social trend. More grandparents and older relatives are now primary caregivers for children due to issues like parental addiction, incarceration, or illness. This program directly supports these family structures, which are often overlooked in policy.
Provides comprehensive support services. The bill authorizes the creation of resource centers, offers technical assistance, counseling, and helps caregivers access existing services—addressing both the practical and emotional needs of older caregivers.
Targets a vulnerable population. Older adults raising children may face unique financial, health, and legal challenges. By focusing on those 60 and older, the bill aims to reduce isolation, stress, and hardship for both caregivers and children in these families.
Could improve child outcomes. By helping grandparents and older relatives navigate caregiving, the bill could lead to greater stability and access to resources for children who might otherwise enter the foster care system, potentially improving their educational and social outcomes.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Support for Grandparent Caregivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- 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.
Help for Grandparent Caregivers
In Assembly Committee · Aging · Sponsor Daniel Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7222
IN SENATE
January 4, 2018
Introduced by Sen. PERALTA -- 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:
(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
S. 7222 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.
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 grand- parents and other older relatives who are caring for children
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1: Amends the Elder Law by adding a new section 224, which authorizes the State Office for the Aging (SOFA) to establish a Grand- parent Caregiver Support Program to provide support services for grand- parents 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 grandpar- ent caregivers, and provides publications related to the services avail- able to grandparent caregivers.
Section 2: Sets forth the effective date.
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, grand- parent 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
2017: 5507 Passed Senate/No Same As 2016: S358 Passed Senate/A5344 - Referred to Aging 2015: S358 Passed Senate/A5344 - Referred to Aging 2014: S865 Reported and Committed to Finance/A1961 - Referred to Aging 2013: S865 Reported and Committed to Finance/A1961 - Referred to Aging 2012: S270 Referred to Aging/A9073 - Referred to Aging 2011: S270 Reported and Committed to Finance/A266 - Referred to Aging 2010: S1557 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A1840 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means 2009: S1557 - Committed to Rules/A1840 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means 2008: S8266 - Referred to Rules/A10013 - Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.