Council also passed legislation to enhance the New York City Identification Card (IDNYC) application process
City Hall – Today, the New York City Council voted to expand oversight and accountability within the City’s foster care system for young people, including LGBTQ+ youth who are disproportionally represented and often face the significant challenges of discrimination, inadequate support, and increased risk of homelessness. A recent survey focusing on LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home care in New York City found that roughly three out of four were removed or ran away from their foster care placement due to hostility toward their sexual orientation or gender identity. 100% of respondents reported verbal harassment in group homes.
The Council also passed legislation to improve the New York City Identification Card (IDNYC) application process. Over the past few years, the demand for IDNYC, the largest and most successful municipal ID program in the nation, has significantly increased. To address the surge in demand and limit the number of people waiting to apply caused by reduced service, the Council passed legislation to increase training for IDNYC workers and update the online appointment scheduling system.
“Youth in the foster care system often face significant challenges, and it’s up to government to help our most vulnerable access safety and stability,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “More oversight and accountability of the city’s foster care system will help our youth, especially our LGBTQ+ youth feel and be safe, and improve the programs designed to support them. The Council is also proud to pass legislation to strengthen the IDNYC application process so that New Yorkers have better access to the program’s benefits. I thank my Council colleagues for their work to advance such important legislation.”
Expanding Oversight and Accountability within the City’s Foster Care System
Introduction 81-A, sponsored by Council Member Kevin Riley, would require an audit and report on foster care placement notices. State law and regulations issued by the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) require that attorneys for foster youth receive notice of changes in foster placement 10 days in advance or within one business day of the change if it was unanticipated. This bill would require ACS to periodically audit caseworkers to ensure that those caseworkers provide notifications within an appropriate timeframe.
“For too long, gaps in data collection and transparency have weakened our foster care system, leaving vulnerable children without the stability they deserve,” said Council Member Kevin C. Riley. “Intro 81-2024, the CARE Act, is a critical step toward ensuring accountability within ACS, preventing unnecessary disruptions, and protecting the rights of foster youth. By requiring regular audits of foster care placements, we can track patterns, strengthen policies, and provide the stability these children need to thrive. This legislation is about more than oversight; it’s about making sure every child in foster care feels safe, supported, and set up for success.”
Introduction 1052-A, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, would require an expansion of the foster youth experience survey that ACS is required to distribute annually to foster youth. The law currently requires ACS to ask questions about a youth’s foster placement related to access to food and clothing; religious practices; and relationships with foster families, biological families, and friends. This bill would expand that survey to include questions about experiences relating to gender expression, gender identity, sex characteristics, and sexual orientation, and would allow foster youth to express any additional feedback about their experiences. Finally, this bill would require the survey to include questions relating to a foster youth’s relationship with ACS workers, instead of asking solely about their foster parents and placement.
“LGBTQIA+ youth have long been overrepresented in both our homeless youth populations and foster care system. The heartbreaking truth is that homophobia and transphobia are often the very reasons LGBTQIA+ youth end up homeless and in foster care,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “Intro. 1052 aims to enhance protections for some of our city’s most vulnerable populations by expanding the foster youth experience survey administered by the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). It includes questions regarding the treatment foster youth receive from ACS and care providers, as well as questions on their experiences with gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. This bill will ensure that our government has the necessary information to help ensure LGBTQIA+ youth feel safe and supported in our city.”
Introduction 56-A, sponsored by Council Member Chi Ossé, would require ACS to survey and report annually on the number and placements of LGBTQ+ foster youth, including their racial and specific LGBTQ+ identities.
“The government has a responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of foster youth and to understand the population of the foster care,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “This bill facilitates that responsibility and better equips us to address the needs of LGBTQ New Yorkers.”
Strengthening the IDNYC Application Process
Over the past few years, the demand for the New York City identification card (IDNYC), the largest and most successful municipal ID program in the nation, significantly increased. In 2017, there were as many as 29 enrollment centers. After multiple locations were closed by mayoral administrations, only 11 centers exist today. To address the surge in demand and to limit the number of people waiting to apply, the current mayoral administration began releasing more appointments on a weekly basis and opened an additional center in The Bronx. The number of applications processed rose from nearly 168,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 to over 200,000 in Fiscal Year 2024. In FY24, the City issued 183,682 IDNYC cards.
Introduction 216-A, sponsored by Council Member Shahana Hanif, would require the Department of Social Services (DSS), to implement various changes to improve the IDNYC application process. These changes include:
- Showing appointments for each location for the earliest date and time on any online appointment scheduling system
- Developing an annual training program for IDNYC workers on the application process
- Providing for adequate in-person application appointments to match demand for IDNYC
- Establishing a pilot program to permit same-day and walk-in appointments at certain IDNYC service enrollment centers
- Providing a process in which a supervisor is available to review documentation that has been declined during an application appointment for an IDNYC.
Calling for State Passage of the New York for All Act
Resolution 714-A, sponsored by Council Member Hanif, calls on the New York State Legislature to reintroduce and pass, and the Governor to sign A.3506/S.2235, also known as the New York for All Act, which would regulate the discovery and disclosure of immigration status by New York state and local government entities.
“Launched in 2015, the IDNYC program is one of our City’s greatest achievements, addressing long-standing gaps within our communities. A decade later, with my bill, the Access to IDNYC Act (Intro 216A), we are ensuring that those who need this resource can obtain it without delay,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “The Access to IDNYC Act guarantees dignity and rights for every New Yorker, especially as federal policies target our transgender, non-binary, and immigrant communities. I’m also pleased that the Council voted to pass my Resolution 714A to reject collusion between state agencies and federal immigration authorities. This type of cooperation undermines public safety goals and fuels fear-mongering in our communities. It’s time for the Governor and Albany to pass the New York for All Act to make New York a true sanctuary state.”
Improving and Modernizing the Visitation System for City Jails
Introduction 1023-A, sponsored by Council Member Jennifer Gutierrez, would require the Department of Correction (DOC) to create and operate an online scheduling system to facilitate visits to incarcerated individuals. At minimum, the system would give the public the ability to select, reserve, and modify dates for jail visits and provide real-time updates when DOC must cancel a scheduled visit.
“For far too long, visiting a loved one in jail has been an arduous, dehumanizing process that strains the very relationships proven to reduce recidivism,” said Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez. “With the Family Connect Act, we are ensuring that visitation is accessible, transparent, and dignified—what it always should have been. When we make it easier for families to stay connected, we foster rehabilitation, reduce misconduct, and help break the cycle of incarceration. This is about more than just efficiency—it’s about justice, humanity, and a system that prioritizes rehabilitation over punishment.”
Introduction 420-A, sponsored by Council Member Carlina Rivera, would require DOC to establish a child visitor program to improve the experience of children visiting Department facilities and report annually on the status of the program. All new city jails would also be required to have a specially designed visiting area for child visitors.
“Visiting a loved one in jail should not be a traumatic or dehumanizing experience, especially for children,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “Maintaining family bonds is critical to the wellbeing of incarcerated individuals and their families, yet for too long the visiting process in our city jails has been rife with issues. This legislation will create a more humane and supportive environment for children visiting their parents, ensuring they are met with compassion, not fear. These reforms are a critical step in breaking cycles of harm and prioritizing dignity and care within our correctional system.”
Introduction 1026-A, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, would require DOC to report separately on in-person and tele-visits and provide more detailed reporting on the reasons jail visits are not completed. The bill would also require DOC to record interactions in which a person in custody is informed about a visitor and refuses to attend the visit and, upon request, provide those video recordings to defense attorneys.
“By requiring more detailed record-keeping for jail visits and thorough explanations for cancellations, Intro. 1026 would establish transparency in the visiting process and address concerns that correction officers are canceling visits by falsely claiming those in custody are rejecting them,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “For people in jail, visits can be a source of hope, providing unrestricted access to their loved ones through an often long and isolating process awaiting trial. This critical legislation will help make visits more human-centered and ensure those in custody have access to social support.”
Assessing Mental Health Evaluations in City Jails for Competency to Stand Trial
Introduction 1036-A, sponsored by Council Member Sandy Nurse, would require DOC to issue quarterly public reports on people in custody who have been ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine if they are competent to stand trial. Reports would include information on the type of housing area where these individuals are being detained, and the average length of time spent in custody.
“People who are not fit to stand trial and have not been convicted should not languish in our city jails without proper care and in a state of uncertainty,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse. “Introduction 1036 will shed light on how the Department of Correction and Correctional Health Services are managing people with serious mental illnesses. Currently, we do not know if people are being evaluated in a timely manner and if all people with serious mental illnesses are being housed in mental health observation units. Given the ongoing crisis at Rikers, this bill will help us better address the mental health needs amongst people in city custody.”
Tracking the Department of Probation’s Efforts
Introduction 977-A, sponsored by Council Member Althea Stevens, would increase the frequency of Department of Probation (DOP) reports on programs offered to probationers, compliance with departmental mandates, and recidivism rates. In addition, the reports would require information on the nature of technical probation violations and clarify that DOP is to provide information on all programs it administers.
“Int. 977-A is about identifying gaps in services, addressing racial and economic disparities in probation enforcement, and ensuring that probation serves its true purpose—rehabilitation, not punishment,” said Council Member Althea Stevens. “Our young people, Black and Brown communities, and those from historically underserved neighborhoods are disproportionately impacted by probation policies. Public safety is more than just policing—it’s about creating pathways to success, not roadblocks to opportunity. This is a critical step toward making our justice system work for the people, not against them. We need policies that prioritize support, not surveillance—rehabilitation, not reincarceration.”
Preserving Access to Government Social Media Activity
Introduction 564-A, sponsored by Council Member Gale Brewer, would amend the New York City Charter and Administrative Code to require that the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) maintain a publicly accessible and searchable online database with every post that any official government account has shared on a social media platform. All agencies and offices of elected officials would be required to provide DORIS with information about any official social media accounts that are associated with the agency or elected official in a form designated by DORIS.
“Having met with every archivist in the City of New York I have learned the importance of permanent government records,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “Intro. 564 requires DORIS to maintain a publicly accessible and searchable online database of the social media posts and websites of government officials, and requires city agencies and officials to provide DORIS with a list of each social media account in use. Some social media accounts, such as @NYPDChiefOfDept on Twitter, are carried over from one administration to the next. Others are unique to the individual, like @NYPDDaughtry on Threads. All need to be captured and put in the archive forever.”
Calling for State Passage of the Access to Representation Act
Resolution 717, sponsored by Council Member Crystal Hudson, calls on the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign A.270/S.141, also known as the Access to Representation Act, which would establish the right to legal counsel in immigration court proceedings and establish consistent funding streams for immigration legal services for New Yorkers.
“With a rise in xenophobia under the current presidential administration, the urgency for legislation like Resolution 717, which would grant legal representation to all New Yorkers regardless of citizenship status, has only grown,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “Passing this legislation will make clear that New York City does not turn its back on its most vulnerable neighbors—rather, it is a place where we do all we can do to protect and support the most vulnerable among us. Immigrant communities who call New York home are essential to this city and we need laws that shore them up now more than ever.”
Calling for the Creation of the New York State Working Families Tax Credit
Resolution 41-A, sponsored by Council Member Alexa Avilés, calls on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, legislation to create the New York State Working Families Tax Credit. S.277, introduced by New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes, would create the New York State Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) to a maximum of $1,500 per child, eliminate the cap on the number of children eligible to receive a credit, and provide a $500 credit per child regardless of income to be paid quarterly to families instead of once a year.
“I’m honored to have sponsored this newly passed resolution in support of Senator Gounardes’ Working Families Tax Credit bill,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés. “Now is a time, more than ever, when we must be ensuring no child is left to suffer in poverty. New Yorkers are suffering from an affordability crisis, and our children are feeling the impacts of that. The Working Families Tax Credit, if passed by the state legislature, will take action to significantly reduce child poverty. I’m proud my colleagues in the City Council have affirmed their support for this program.”
Calling for New York State to Create Program for Food Benefits
Resolution 57-A, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, calls on New York State to create a program to provide food benefits for those not eligible for existing benefits, including anyone over 55 meeting existing income eligibility requirements.
“All New Yorkers should have the support they need to put food on the table and not have to skip meals or go into debt to do so,” said Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala. “With the cost of groceries continuing to rise and threats to SNAP funding from the Trump Administration, states and localities will have to do more to ensure our residents have enough to feed themselves and their families, especially for those without access to existing benefits. As California demonstrated, it’s possible for New York to create its own food assistance program to meet the needs of its residents. The State Legislature and Governor must take action to address this food insecurity crisis that is impacting more and more working families.”
Calling for State Law to Protect Ballot Access for Charter Revisions
Resolution 740, sponsored by Council Member Lincoln Restler, would call on the State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.590/A. 3665, which would protect ballot access for charter revision proposals from being blocked by mayoral-enacted charter revision commissions and increase transparency requirements for commissions.
“I’m proud to sponsor this resolution encouraging our partners in Albany to pass legislation that would prevent New York City mayors from blocking City Charter Commissions,” said Council Member Lincoln Restler. “Thank you to Speaker Adams for championing this critical measure.”
Land Use:
H+H Operating Agreement – would amend the NYC Health and Hospitals Operating Agreement to clarify H+H ownership of nine properties located in the districts of Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala and Council Members Chris Marte, Shaun Abreu, Eric Dinowitz, Althea Stevens, Crystal Hudson, Chi Ossé, and Chris Banks.
Queens Future Map Change and Amendment – the first of several expected private applications for land use approvals needed for sites to be eligible to participate in the State process to award up to three gaming facility licenses downstate, including in the City. The applicant is seeking to redevelop the parking lots of Citi Field into a casino complex that would include a food hall, music hall, hotel, convention space, parking, and 20 acres of new public park space in Council Member Francisco Moya’s district.
1093-1095 Jerome Avenue UDAAP – an application by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) to facilitate the development of a new eleven-story residential building with approximately 59 affordable units, as well as one superintendent unit, in Council Member Althea Stevens’s district.
2201 Davidson Avenue – an application to facilitate the long-delayed rehabilitation of one building with 48 affordable residential units under HPD’s Third-Party Transfer Program in Council Member Pierina Sanchez’s district.
The Council will disapprove Le Dive’s application for a revocable consent to operate a sidewalk cafe in Council Member Chris Marte’s district.
Finance:
Resolution 791, sponsored by Council Member Justin Brannan, approving the new designation and changes in the designation of certain organizations to receive funding in the Expense Budget.
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