BILL NUMBER: S5437
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to allowing
prospective and current agency personnel complete training through
remote training methods
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to allow agency personnel to complete neces-
sary training requirements through remote training methods.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends section 409-g of the social services law to
outline professions and agency personnel, including caseworkers involved
in the provision or supervision of preventive services, foster care
services and adoption services, to obtain required trainings through
distance learning methods.
Section 2 of the bill establishes the effect date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Voluntary agency staff, similar to county CPS workers are required to
receive training related to the safety, permanency and well-being, the
three pillars of child welfare practice. Last year, legislation was
enacted (Chapter 470 of the Laws of 2024) to allow county CPS workers to
complete certain required training through distance learning methods.
This same flexibility should apply across the child welfare sector.
Allowing virtual training would remove the geographic and financial
barrier that prevents many potential workers from joining these
professions. This bill would increase accessibility, creating the poten-
tial for more case workers to join in this work. It will help provide
some relief to already overburdened work force.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL:
To Be Determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such date.

Statutes affected:
S5437: 409-g social services law