Bill

A 7644

Relates to the list of duties of the OCFS office of the ombudsperson

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dave McDonough and 3 co-sponsors

Modifies the statutory duties of NY OCFS Ombudsperson, potentially broadening oversight, complaint handling, reporting, and interagency coordination for families served.

REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · A 7644

Summary: New York Assembly Bill A 7644

Bill at a glance

Bill number: A 7644
Title: Relates to the list of duties of the OCFS office of the ombudsperson
Status: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Children and Families
Introduced: April 4, 2025
Classification: Bill (proposed statute change)

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to address and modify the statutory list of duties assigned to the New York Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) — specifically the OCFS Office of the Ombudsperson. The title indicates a targeted change to what duties are enumerated for the ombudsperson within OCFS. The available information does not include the exact text of the amendments, so the precise duties to be added, removed, or altered are not specified here.

Key provisions (as inferred from the title)

The core change is a modification to the enumerated duties of the OCFS Office of the Ombudsperson.
Because the full bill text is not provided, the specific nature of the changes (e.g., new duties, updated reporting requirements, expanded oversight responsibilities, coordination with other agencies, or changes to complaint-process duties) cannot be confirmed from the summary alone.
The bill would be aligned with the broader statutory framework governing OCFS and the Ombudsperson’s role in addressing concerns related to children and families served by OCFS.

Who is affected

Primary: OCFS and its Office of the Ombudsperson.
Constituents and stakeholders likely impacted: families and children served by OCFS, child welfare professionals, and affiliated agencies that interact with the Ombudsperson’s office. Any changes to duties could affect how complaints are handled, how oversight is conducted, and how the Ombudsperson coordinates with other entities.

Legislative actions and timeline

Introduced: April 4, 2025.
Actions: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Children and Families (listed twice in the provided record, both as “REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES” on 2025-04-04). No further action details are provided in the current data.
Status context: As an early-stage bill, it may undergo committee review, potential amendments, and floor consideration in subsequent sessions or legislative days.

Related bills

A 10158 (prior-session): Related bill in a previous legislative session.
S 8069 (companion): Senate companion to the Assembly bill (listed twice in the record, indicating it exists in the Senate as an identical or parallel measure).

Potential impact and considerations

If enacted, the bill would formally revise the duties of the OCFS Ombudsperson, which could:
- Clarify or expand oversight and advocacy functions for children and families.
- Adjust requirements for complaint intake, investigation, reporting, and transparency.
- Affect interagency coordination and public-facing responsibilities.
- Impose new reporting timelines or accountability measures for OCFS.
The specific effects depend on the exact language of the duty changes, which requires reviewing the bill text.

Next steps for readers

Monitor for updates on committee hearings or floor votes in the Assembly (Children and Families) and any Senate companion actions (S 8069).
Review the full text of A 7644 when available to understand the precise amendments to the OCFS Ombudsperson duties.
Consider comparing A 7644 with A 10158 (prior session) and S 8069 to assess alignment and potential differences.

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