What's happening
This bill requires correctional facilities to obtain and share foster care history records for inmates who were previously in foster care.
Why it matters
Recognizes the unique needs of formerly foster-involved individuals. By requiring correctional facilities to obtain and share foster care histories, the bill acknowledges that people with foster care backgrounds may have distinct life experiences and vulnerabilities that could affect their time in custody and their needs for services.
Enables tailored support and rehabilitation. Access to foster care records could help correctional staff and program administrators identify inmates who might benefit from specialized mental health, educational, or reentry services, potentially addressing trauma or gaps in support experienced in foster care.
Improves coordination between agencies. By mandating information sharing between social services and correctional departments, the bill could foster better cross-agency collaboration, ensuring that relevant background information follows individuals and helps inform their care and management.
Includes juvenile detention facilities. The bill specifically extends these requirements to juvenile detention centers, potentially allowing for earlier intervention and support for youth with foster care histories, which could have long-term effects on recidivism and 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
Send Foster Records to Prisons
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
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.
Send Foster Records to Prisons
In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor Diana Richardson
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4474
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 12, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to persons received into the custody of the department of correctional services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 71 of the correction law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. When a person is committed to the custody of the department and such person has a previous history of being in the foster care system pursuant to the social services law the department shall obtain a record of said foster care including but not limited to what age said person entered foster care and for what period of time he or she was under said care. A copy of said records shall be made available and delivered to any correctional facility where said person is incarcerated. A correctional facility for purposes of this subdivision shall include a juvenile detention facility.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04501-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to persons received into the custody of the department of correctional services
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
This bill will require the department of correctional services to collect information on the prior involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems of persons admitted to certain department facilities
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS::
Section I amends subdivision of Section 29 of the correction law to require the department of correctional services to collect information on the prior involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems of persons admitted to certain department facilities
JUSTIFICATION::
Both research and anecdotal data suggest a strong correlation between a person's prior involvement in the child welfare and/or juvenile justice system and the risk of future involvement with these systems and with the adult correctional system. The Department of Correctional Services (DOGS) currently collects data on the criminal histories; social, educa- tional, and vocational circumstances; institutional, parole, and condi- tional release programs and behavior; and ethnic backgrounds of persons in Its custody. It does not; however, collect statistics on the prior child Welfare and juvenile justice histories of persons in its custody.
This bill will require DOTS to collect and annually publish statistical data on the prior involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems of persons admitted to department facilities. The collection and annual publication of these statistical data will) provide critical information that can be used to make more effective and efficient policy decisions regarding persons in DOGS' care.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE::
Thirty days after becoming a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.