The bill has two dozen cosponsors in the senate, including nearly all of the Democratic leadership, and it’s backed by a long list of leaders in the state’s child welfare community, both within government and without. Gladys Carrion, Commissioner of the New York Office of Children and Family Services, spoke out for the bill at a press conference on Feb. 23. The Advisory Board of the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet has issued a statement of support, as have the Children’s Defense Fund, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of NYC and the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, which wrote in a statement, “Family bonds are too important to impose this harsh an action on children and families who could, if given the opportunity, stabilize and flourish.”
Some key players don’t see it that way: Mayor Bloomberg’s office, the New York Public Welfare Association and the city's Administration for Children's Services have come out against the Expanded Discretion bill, citing the same concern that inspired ASFA laws in the first place: Kids deserve permanent homes. If their biological parents can’t give them one, then they should be freed for other options.
“We believe this legislation is unnecessary because it creates a special category for children of incarcerated parents and parents in a residential drug treatment program,” ACS Commissioner John Mattingly said via e-mail. “We would rather focus on ensuring that all young people in care have the same options for permanency.”
The bill could go to vote in the Senate as March begins. Should it pass, signing by Gov. Paterson is anticipated by supporters.
