N.Y. Family Court Act § 234: Compensation and liability for support and care in counties outside the city of New York

§ 234. Compensation and liability for support and care in counties

outside the city of New York. (a) Whenever a child is detained, placed

or committed under the provisions of this act to an authorized agency,

or to any person other than his parent and is retained in accordance

with the rules of the state board of social welfare, compensation for

his care and maintenance shall be a charge on the county. The

compensation paid by the county for care and maintenance of the child

may be charged back to a city or town in the county in accordance with

and to the extent permitted by the provisions of the social services

law. All bills for such care and maintenance to be paid from public

funds shall be paid by the county treasurer from moneys appropriated for

public assistance and care in the county social services district by

warrant of the commissioner of social services.

(b) The court may, after issuance and service of an order to show

cause upon the parent or other person having the duty under the law to

support such child, adjudge that such parent or other person shall pay

to the court such sum as will cover in whole or in part the support of

such child, and willful failure to pay such sum may, in the discretion

of the court, be punished as for a criminal contempt of court. When a

person liable to such payment on order, as herein provided, is before

the court in the proceeding relating to the commitment or placement, a

formal order to show cause may be dispensed with in the discretion of

the court.

(c) (i) The social services district from which the detention,

placement or commitment is made shall be entitled to be reimbursed by

another social services district for its expenditures for care and

maintenance of the child, if, and to the extent that, it would have been

entitled to be reimbursed therefor by such other district had the care

been provided under and pursuant to the provisions of the social

services law. The commissioner of social services of the social services

district from which the commitment was made may enforce repayment from

the other social services district in accordance with the provisions of

the social services law.

(ii) In accordance with the provisions of the social services law and

the rules and regulations of the state department of social services

relating to state charges, and from funds available to the state

department of social services therefor, the state shall reimburse the

social services district for the full cost of care and maintenance of

the child, in the event the child is a state charge as defined by the

social services law.