New York next year will require local social service agencies screen potential foster parents to determine whether they've had previous licenses revoked or children removed from their care.
The measure signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo takes effect in June.
Sponsors say the state is responsible for a safe environment, but there continue to be instances where children are abused or even killed by foster parents.
Where abuse is suspected but not confirmed, children may be removed but the foster parents can apply to another agency to get paid for taking in other foster children.
Cuomo says lawmakers have agreed to amendments that would limit screenings to the statewide automated child welfare information system.
He says otherwise it could delay or prevent placements to homes where children were removed for valid reasons, including being returned to a biological parent.
