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A 595

Establishes alternative living arrangements for children who are at a substantial risk of abuse

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Hevesi

A 595 - Establishes Alternative Living Arrangements for At-Risk Children OverviewBill Number: A 595 Title: Establishes alternative living arrangements for children who are at a su

REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
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Bill Summary · A 595

A 595 - Establishes Alternative Living Arrangements for At-Risk Children

Overview

Bill Number: A 595
Title: Establishes alternative living arrangements for children who are at a substantial risk of abuse
Status: REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
Introduced: January 09, 2024

Purpose and Intent

The primary goal of this bill is to provide safer and more stable living arrangements for children who are at a substantial risk of abuse in their current homes. The legislation aims to address gaps in the child welfare system by establishing new procedures and resources to identify high-risk situations and promptly intervene to protect vulnerable children.

Key Provisions

  • Requires the state child welfare agency to conduct comprehensive risk assessments for all children referred for suspected abuse or neglect
  • Authorizes the agency to immediately remove a child from their home if they are determined to be at substantial risk of abuse, even without a court order
  • Establishes a new category of "alternative living arrangements" that can include foster homes, group homes, or other supervised settings
  • Mandates the creation of a statewide database to track high-risk cases and monitor children placed in alternative arrangements
  • Provides additional funding for the recruitment and training of foster parents and group home staff to care for children removed from abusive situations

Affected Parties and Impacts

This bill would primarily impact children who are currently living in homes where there is a substantial risk of abuse or neglect. By enabling more proactive intervention, the legislation aims to prevent further harm and trauma to these vulnerable youth.

The state child welfare agency would also be significantly affected, as they would be responsible for conducting risk assessments, arranging alternative placements, and maintaining the new tracking database. Additional resources and staffing may be required to fulfill these new duties.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

A 595 has been referred to the Children and Families Committee for initial consideration. If approved by the committee, the bill would then proceed to a full floor vote in the state legislature. If passed, the new policies and programs would need to be implemented by the child welfare agency within 6 months of the bill's enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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