What's happening
This bill authorizes the creation of a support program for grandparents and older relatives caring for children in New York.
Why it matters
Addresses a growing caregiving trend. Many grandparents and older relatives are increasingly stepping in to raise children when parents cannot; this program recognizes and supports their unique needs, which often differ from those of traditional foster or adoptive parents.
Provides comprehensive support. The program could offer resource centers, technical assistance, support groups, counseling, and information/referrals—helping caregivers navigate complicated legal, educational, and social service systems.
Aims to improve child and caregiver outcomes. By connecting older caregivers with resources and guidance, the bill seeks to reduce isolation, financial hardship, and stress, promoting better stability and well-being for both caregivers and the children in their care.
Highlights policy focus on informal caregivers. The inclusion of both formal (custodian or guardian) and informal caregiving arrangements signals an effort to reach families who may not be served by existing child welfare or aging programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Support for Grandparent Caregivers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to aging
- 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 Assembly Committee · Aging · Sponsor Daniel Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5359
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 29, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- 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 225 to read as follows:
§ 225. 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.
LBD01029-01-9
S. 5359 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 author- izing the state office for the aging to implement a caregiver support program for grandparents 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, 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
2008:S8266- Referred to Aging/A10013- Passed Assembly 2009:S1557- Committed to Rules/A1840- Reported Referred to Ways and Means 2010:51557- Reported and Committed to Finance/A1840 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means 2011: S270 Reported and Committed to Finance/A266 - Referred to Aging 2012: S270 Referred to Aging/A9073 - Referred to Aging 2013: 5865 Reported and Committed to Finance/A1961 - Referred to Aging 2014: S865 Reported and Committed to Finance/A1961 - Referred to Aging 2015: S358 Passed Senate/A5344 - Referred to Aging 2016: S358 Passed Senate/A5344 - Referred to Aging 2017: S507 Passed Senate 2018: A10575 Referred to Aging
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.