ny-CFS-26-26-00001-P: Virtual Casework Contacts

I.D. No. CFS-26-26-00001-P. Final rule as compared with last published rule: No changes. Text of rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from: Nicholas Martin, Office of Children and Family Services, 52 Washington Street, Rensselaer, New York 12144, (518) 474-8310, email: regcomments@ocfs.ny.gov Assessment of Public Comment Assessment of Public Comment related to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to amend Title 18, Parts 414, 415, 416, 417, and Subparts G 418-1 and 418-2 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations as published on July 1, 2026. This rule makes conforming changes to statu- tory amendments made to PHL § 3000-c, in accordance with Chapter 502 of the Laws of 2025, to achieve compliance and consistency with the changes in PHL § 3000-c regarding non-patient-specific epinephrine. The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) received three public comments in response to the proposed amendments. One comment by a child care provider asked if existing epinephrine de- vices may continue to be used, one praised the change to more general and comprehensive terms, and the other comment stated that the rulemaking process should be transparent. OCFS has reviewed the comments and determined all three comments were non-substantive and did not object to theproposedrule.OCFSwilladoptallproposedamendmentsaspublished. PROPOSED RULE MAKING NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED Virtual Casework Contacts I.D. No. CFS-42-26-00002-P PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Pro- cedureAct, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule: Proposed Action: Amendment of sections 430.12 and 441.21 of Title 18 NYCRR. Statutory authority: Social Services Law, sections 20(3)(d) and 34(3)(f) Subject: Virtual Casework Contacts. Purpose: To permit agencies to offer virtual casework visits to certain youth in foster care. Text of proposed rule: Clause (b) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (f) of section 430.12 of Title 18 NYCRR is amended to read as follows: (b) [Face-to-face contacts with the youth on trial discharge must occur at least monthly, with such contact taking place where the youth resides at least once every 90 days.]Monthly contact with the youth on trial discharge is required. Monthly contact must be conducted face-to- face unless the youth provides informed consent for virtual contact and virtual contact is determined appropriate for their needs in accordance with Part 441.21(c)(3)(iv) of this Title. There must be one face-to-face contact taking place at least once every 90 days regardless of whether the youth is participating in virtual contacts. Clauses (a), (b), (c), and (d) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (f) of section 430.12 of Title 18 NYCRR are amended to read as follows: (a) Supervision includes at least monthly contact with the youth which may be conducted either face-to-face or [electronically]virtually, with the youth’s informed consent and in accordance wi