Amd §398-f, Soc Serv L (as proposed in S.3781 & A.5434)
Requires the local social services districts to provide luggage to children in foster care; provides that eligible expenditures for such luggage shall be subject to state reimbursement under the foster care block grant.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9482
SPONSOR: Hevesi TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring local
social services districts to provide luggage to children in foster care
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to make clarifying and technical amendments
to current law relating to the provision of luggage to children in
foster care.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill would amend the social services law by and Chapter 684 of the
Laws of 2025 by:
*clarifying that local social services districts, rather than the Office
of Children and Family Services, are responsible for supplying luggage
to children in foster care who do not have appropriate luggage of their
own;
*permitting local social services districts to provide replacement
luggage when a child's luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged;
*eliminating reporting requirements previously assigned to the Office of
Children and Family Services; and
*authorizing state reimbursement for eligible district expenditures for
foster care luggage through the foster care block grant.
JUSTIFICATION:
Every day in New York State, a child enters the foster system carrying
everything they own in a black plastic trash bag - a stark symbol of the
dehumanizing and traumatic experience they are about to endure. For
many foster children, their possessions are more than just objects; they
are symbols of their identity, history, and worth. Relegating chil-
dren's belongings to trash bags, leaves them feeling degraded, dehuman-
ized, and traumatized. New York State foster youth deserve better; yet,
they currently have no legal guarantee of a dignified transition with
the proper luggage that every American uses for everyday travel or tran-
sitions.
In recent years, the OCFS launched the "My Bag" initiative to provide
luggage to youth in foster care. However, this program has been limited
in its reach. In 2023, there were an estimated 13,450 children in foster
care in New York State, with roughly 23,105 transitions per year. Chil-
dren in the New York State foster care system face frequent transitions,
experiencing three different placements on average during their time in
care. However, under the My Bag initiative, only 3,000 bags have been
distributed annually.
This legislation would build on the existing "My Bag" initiative, and
mandate the provision of luggage at state expense for all youth in
foster care.
Chapter 684 of the Laws of 2025 established a statutory requirement to
ensure that children in foster care are provided with appropriate
luggage to transport their personal belongings with dignity.
However, amendments were necessary to clarify roles and responsibilities
for implementation, remove unnecessary reporting and administrative
requirements, and align the statute with existing foster care funding
and reimbursement structures. These amendments shift responsibility for
providing luggage to local social services districts and authorize
reimbursement of eligible costs through the foster care block grant.
These changes are necessary to ensure the law is implemented efficient-
ly, consistently, and in a manner that prioritizes the needs and dignity
of children in foster care.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is new legislation.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a
chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the social services law relating to
requiring the office of children and family services to provide luggage
to youth in foster care, as proposed in legislative bills numbers 5.3781
and A.5434, takes effect.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9482
IN ASSEMBLY
January 7, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring local
social services districts to provide luggage to children in foster
care
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 398-f of the social services law, as added by a
2 chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the social services law relating to
3 requiring the office of children and family services to provide luggage
4 to youth in foster care, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.
5 3781 and A. 5434, is amended to read as follows:
6 § 398-f. Duty to provide luggage to children in foster [children]
7 care. 1. [Definitions.] For the purposes of this section, [the following
8 terms shall have the following meanings:
9 (a) "Demographic information" means race or ethnicity, gender, commu-
10 nity district, primary language, and any other category the office of
11 children and family services deems relevant.
12 (b) "Foster care agency" means the voluntary agency contracted by
13 social services districts to provide foster care.
14 (c) "Luggage"] "luggage" means a durable suitcase, duffel bag, back-
15 pack, or similar reusable container that is new or is in new-like condi-
16 tion, and is designed to hold an individual's personal belongings and is
17 not a disposable bag, trash bag, or cardboard box.
18 2. [Foster youth luggage. The office of children and family services]
19 Each local social services district shall [procure, distribute, and]
20 supply luggage to children in foster care [youth] who do not have appro-
21 priate luggage of their own [and who are: (a) entering foster care; (b)
22 moving from one foster care placement to another; (c) exiting foster
23 care; (d) moving to college; or (e) in any other situation where luggage
24 is needed]. If any child in foster care [youth] reports that their
25 luggage has been lost, stolen, or damaged, the [office of children and
26 family services shall] local social services district may provide
27 replacement luggage at [their] its discretion. Any luggage provided by
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07383-03-6
A. 9482 2
1 the [office of children and family services] local social services
2 district may not be reclaimed or retained by the office of children and
3 family services, the local social services districts, [foster care]
4 voluntary authorized agencies, or the child's foster parent.
5 3. [Partnership with social services districts. The office of children
6 and family services shall distribute new luggage to social services
7 districts based on the number of foster children in each locality. Each
8 social services district shall distribute new luggage to children within
9 the office of children and family services' care and custody or care and
10 guardianship, as well as to any voluntary agencies within their juris-
11 dictions with whom they contract for the provision of foster care
12 services.
13 4. Foster youth luggage reporting. No later than December first of
14 each year, the office of children and family services shall submit a
15 report to the governor and the legislature detailing the provision of
16 luggage to foster care youth. Such report shall include, but need not be
17 limited to, the following information:
18 (a) The total number of foster care youth given luggage, in total and
19 disaggregated by demographic information;
20 (b) To the extent there are foster care youth utilizing disposable
21 bags, trash bags, or cardboard boxes in place of luggage to transport
22 their belongings, the number of such foster care youth utilizing such
23 disposable bags, trash bags, or cardboard boxes, in total and disaggre-
24 gated by demographic information, and the reason such youth are utiliz-
25 ing such disposable bag, trash bag, or cardboard box; and
26 (c) The supply, cost, and inventory management procedures for the
27 office of children and family services' luggage supply.] Eligible
28 expenditures made by a local social services district for luggage for
29 children in foster care under this section shall be subject to state
30 reimbursement under the foster care block grant in accordance with
31 section one hundred fifty-three-k of this chapter.
32 § 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
33 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the social services law
34 relating to requiring the office of children and family services to
35 provide luggage to youth in foster care, as proposed in legislative
36 bills numbers S. 3781 and A. 5434, takes effect.
