N.Y.
Social Services Law Section 398-F
Duty to provide luggage to foster children
1.
Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:(a)
“Demographic information” means race or ethnicity, gender, community district, primary language, and any other category the office of children and family services deems relevant.(b)
“Foster care agency” means the voluntary agency contracted by social services districts to provide foster care.(c)
“Luggage” means a durable suitcase, duffel bag, backpack, or similar reusable container that is new or is in new-like condition, and is designed to hold an individual’s personal belongings and is not a disposable bag, trash bag, or cardboard box.2.
Foster youth luggage. The office of children and family services shall procure, distribute, and supply luggage to foster care youth who do not have appropriate luggage of their own and who are:(a)
entering foster care;(b)
moving from one foster care placement to another;(c)
exiting foster care;(d)
moving to college; or(e)
in any other situation where luggage is needed. If any foster care youth reports that their luggage has been lost, stolen, or damaged, the office of children and family services shall provide replacement luggage at their discretion. Any luggage provided by the office of children and family services may not be reclaimed or retained by the office of children and family services, social services districts, foster care agencies, or the child’s foster parent.3.
Partnership with social services districts. The office of children and family services shall distribute new luggage to social services districts based on the number of foster children in each locality. Each social services district shall distribute new luggage to children within the office of children and family services’ care and custody or care and guardianship, as well as to any voluntary agencies within their jurisdictions with whom they contract for the provision of foster care services.4.
Foster youth luggage reporting. No later than December first of each year, the office of children and family services shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature detailing the provision of luggage to foster care youth. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information:(a)
The total number of foster care youth given luggage, in total and disaggregated by demographic information;(b)
To the extent there are foster care youth utilizing disposable bags, trash bags, or cardboard boxes in place of luggage to transport their belongings, the number of such foster care youth utilizing such disposable bags, trash bags, or cardboard boxes, in total and disaggregated by demographic information, and the reason such youth are utilizing such disposable bag, trash bag, or cardboard box; and(c)
The supply, cost, and inventory management procedures for the office of children and family services’ luggage supply. * NB Effective April 18, 2026
Source:
Section 398-F — Duty to provide luggage to foster children, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/SOS/398-F (updated Dec. 26, 2025; accessed Jan. 3, 2026).
