Establishes a statewide toll-free elderly abuse hotline

BILL NUMBER:S2289

Title of bill

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a statewide toll-free elderly abuse hotline for purposes of reporting of endangered adults

Purpose or general idea of bill

Establishes a single statewide toll-free telephone number which people may call to report any abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment of an elderly person.

Summary of specific provisions

A statewide toll-free telephone number will be in operation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for the sole purpose of reporting the known or suspected abuse of an elderly person. This abuse shall include, but not be limited to: physical and/or mental mistreatment, neglect, exploitation or abandonment.

Effects of present law which this bill would alter

Subdivision 1 of section 473-b of the social services law is remunerated subdivision 2 and a new subdivision 1 is added.

Justification

An Elder Abuse Hotline is necessary for the protection of the welfare and security of our state's elderly who are often too vulnerable to protect themselves from a potentially life-threatening situation. By establishing a toll-free telephone number, a person may promptly report a case in which an elderly person is maltreated. In situations where a relative is responsible, abused seniors are less apt to report the criminal behavior. A statewide hotline will create an accessible reporting system, and serve as the first step in protecting the senior from abuse.

Legislative history

2014 S.6291: referred to aging

Fiscal implications

The estimated cost associated with the establishment of the hotline would be in the range of $13.5 million. This is based on a comparison of the cost associated with the establishment of the OCFS centralized hotline in 2013.

Effective date

One hundred and twenty days after it becomes law.