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Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Print number 5778a
- Amend and recommit to children and families
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes the independent office of the child advocate; repealer
In Senate Committee · Children And Families · Sponsor Barbara Clark
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5778A
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of the independent office of the child advocate; and repealing certain provisions of such law relating to the office of the ombudsman
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would establish an independent Office of the Child Advocate, vested with the authority to examine issues in state funded programs in order to advocate for the rights, safety, and well-being of children in the State's care.
Read the full memo (658 words)
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 establishes the Independent Office of the Child Advocate within state government, headed by the Child Advocate appointed by the Governor. The Child Advocate shall examine, evaluate, and report to the Governor and the legislature on issues in publicly funded programs and multi-systemic issues that children in the State's care and their families experience; advocate for statutory, regulatory or policy changes aimed at improving outcomes and services for children and families in New York; monitor the implementation of policies and regulations that may be applicable to the legal rights of children in the State's care; recommend changes in State policies that may have an impact on certain publicly funded programs; recommend changes in State policies that service children and families; and take appropriate actions aimed at promoting the rights, safety, well-being and best interests of children in New York.
The Child Advocate shall also take actions, such as public education programs and proposals for reform, in order to secure and ensure children's legal and civil, rights; make the availability of the Child Advocate known; and create informational materials for Children regarding their rights while in the state's cure.
Effects of present law this bill would alter
Current law does not provide for any office that performs the functions that would be performed by the Independent Office of the Child Advocate.
Justification
This bill would establish an Independent Office of the Child Advocate, similar to offices that currently exist in numerous other states including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island, among others.
This bill is a response to recent reports from the Governor's Task Force on Transforming Juvenile Justice and the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division that found egregious, system-wide civil rights violations and serious problems in our state's juvenile justice system. This bill incorporates some of the suggestions outlined in the reports.
One of the most important duties of the state is to protect children in its care. The mission of the Independent Office of the Child Advocate is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. The Office is authorized to accomplish this by addressing concerns within state and local programs that serve children, making recommendations to improve systems that serve children, and working with agencies and entities to ensure the best possible outcomes for children.
Prior legislative history
6/17/04 reported from Assembly Children and Families Committee to Codes Committee 6/20/05 - A.6234/S.687, passed Assembly, delivered to Senate 1/4/06 Died in Senate, returned to Assembly 3/2/06 - referred to Senate Social Services, Children and Families Committee 6/21/06 - Passed Assembly, delivered to Senate, referred to Senate Rules Committee 1/17/07 A.304, reported from Assembly Children and Families Committee to Codes Committee 1/23/07 - A.304, reported to Assembly Ways and Means Committee 6/22/09 - A.304, Passed Assembly, delivered to Senate, referred to Senate Rules Committee 6/22/09 A.3233-A, Passed Assembly, delivered to Senate, referred to Senate Rules Committee 1/6/10 A.3233-A, died in Senate 2/9/10 - A.3233B/S.6877 (Parker), Passed Assembly, delivered to Senate, referred to Senate Children and Families Committee 6/24/10 - A.3233B/S.6877 {Parker), passed Senate, returned to Assembly 9/20/10 - A.3233B/S.6877 (Parker), delivered to Governor 10/1/10 A.3233B/S.6877 {Parker), vetoed, memo 6619 06/20/11 A.644D/S7678 (Grisanti) Passed Assembly, Delivered to Senate, Referred to Senate Rules committee 01/04/12 Died in Senate 06/04/12 A.644D/S7678 (Grisanti) Passed Assembly, Delivered to Senate, Referred to Senate Social Services Committee
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
April 1, 2015
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.