BILL NUMBER: S5011
SPONSOR: HARCKHAM
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to including
certain programs and facilities in the definition of provider or provid-
er agency
 
PURPOSE:
Includes certain programs and facilities in the definition of provider
or provider agency to ensure access to the State Central Register (SCR).
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the social services law to include organizations and
programs that provide community based services to individuals under
twenty-one years of age who are under the care or oversight of any of
the aforementioned provider agencies when the services provided have
potential for regular and substantial contact with such individuals
under twenty-one.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
All individuals who work one-on-one with young people in the care of New
York State are required by the Office of Children and Family Services
(OCFS) to be fingerprinted through the State Central Register (SCR).
Current state law limits access to the SCR to only state-licensed child-
serving organizations. By omission, this provision denies peripheral
support organizations' use of the SCR to conduct the background checks
required to serve the vulnerable population in need of their services.
For the safety of young people, support organizations require finger-
printing of all adult volunteers. However, by denying access to the SCR,
organizations must use independent fingerprinting services. Independent
fingerprinting is offered at limited times which is often difficult for
potential volunteers who do not have flexibility in their work schedule
to accommodate an appointment (and the necessary travel time) during the
workweek. This puts an extra burden on support organizations serving
children in OCFS care, and directly impacts our youth by making it hard-
er to connect them with skilled, compassionate volunteers.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S5387/A2152 - Died in Children & Families/ Died in Children &
Families
2021-2022: S8894A/A10671 - Died in Children and Families/Died in Chil-
dren and Families
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately upon being signed into law.

Statutes affected:
S5011: 424-a social services law, 424-a(3) social services law