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Sponsors
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History
- Print number 4927a
- Amend and recommit to children and families
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to the creation of community services response teams; and to amend the education law, in relation to the reporting of educational absences
Purpose
The purpose of the bill is to provide for early intervention in cases where a child is missing school on a somewhat regular basis, and to intervene by providing support for the family by identifying and addressing issues that may exist within the family.
Section 1 adds a new section 413-a to the social services law, by establishing a Community Services Response Team (CSRT) within the local child advocacy centers. Provides for the establishment of the team members and the types of services, such as medical and mental health, that shall be provided. Also explains that upon receiving a report from the school district, the CSRT will dispatch two members of the team to make a home visit and perform an evaluation. The CSRT will then report back to the team, provide necessary services, and follow up with the child advocacy center as to the outcome of the intervention, which is then shared with the school. If there are further concerns raised by the CSRT, contact will be made to the proper authorities.
Read the full memo (633 words)
Section 2 adds a new section 3211-b to the education law, by requiring that schools review attendance records on a quarterly basis, and make contact with the local child advocacy center if absences from school meet the definition of educational concern. Defines educational concern as when a child has three or more unexcused absences in a month, or ten or more absences in a school year, absent any extenuating circumstances.
Section 3 provides for the establishment of five pilot programs throughout the state (with at least one being in Kings County), and that the programs be evaluated two years after implementation, and that such report be shared with the legislature.
Section 4 provides an effective date of 180 days after becoming law.
Existing law
Currently, Social Services Law requires that school officials report instances of suspected abuse or neglect to the State Central Registry.
Although the definition of child neglect does include failing to provide for a proper education for a child, the definition is extremely vague and only points to the education law and the requirements of compulsory education. There is no uniform trigger that exists for the school administration for reporting concerns with a child's attendance. Typically, the school will contact the family and discuss the absences; however, this is left up to the individual school districts.
Justification
In some cases, the reason for a child's excessive school absences is due to parental abuse or neglect. In the case of Nixzmary Brown, who was murdered in January of 2006, she missed more than 40 days of school before authorities were contacted to address the situation.. School districts cannot be expected to take on the role of providing assessments and interventions for children on top of the rest of their work; similarly, it would not be appropriate to make a report to Child Protective Services in cases where a child has only missed a few days of school. The establishment of a Community Services Response Team, and a requirement for a regular review of school attendance, provides an opportunity, not only to make that initial contact when suspicious absences are first noticed, but allows for contact to be made by community service providers who may already be familiar with the families, and who the families may feel much less threatened by.
Legislative history
2007-2008 - S.3330-A; Died in Committee
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Local fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180 days after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.