What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- 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
BILL NUMBER:S3977
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to expanding the persons responsible for reporting cases of suspected child abuse to include employees, volunteers, or agents of any corporate entity having an agreement with a municipality as a homeless shelter provider and the development of procedures related thereto
Purpose
To include among persons and officials required to report or cause to be reported, employees, volunteers, and agents of any corporate entity having a contractual agreement with a municipality as a homeless shelter provider to be deemed a trained mandatory reporter.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill expands the listing of persons and officials required to report or cause to be reported reasonable suspicion that any child within their purview is being abused or maltreated.
Section two requires that the individuals delineated in Section one be required to report or cause to be reported when there is reasonable suspicion that a child under their purview in a professional or official capacity is being subjected to abuse or maltreatment.
Section three amends subdivision 5-a of section 488 of the social services law, as added by section 1 part B of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012 to include employees, volunteers, and agents of any corporate entity having an contractual agreement with a municipality as a homeless shelter provider to be deemed a "human services professional."
Section four amends subdivision 5-a of section 488 of the social services law, as amended by chapter 205 of the laws of 2014 to include employees, volunteers, and agents of any corporate entity having an contractual agreement with a municipality as a homeless shelter providers to be deemed a trained mandatory reporter.
Section five amends section 413 of the social services law that any institution having an agreement with a municipality as a homeless shelter provider will be required develop and maintain policies and procedures regarding mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect or death; establish penalties for failure to report; assume responsibility for the provision of services and procedures to safeguard the life of a child; and establish a training program for current and new employees with regard to these policies and procedures.
Justification
Recently the incidents of abuse and/or maltreatment of children appear to have increased dramatically and are ancillary to incidents of domestic violence. One in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and the children who witness these events
will attempt to intervene and eventually become the victims of child abuse or detrimental neglect at a rate of 30%- 60%.
It is estimated that the majority of these incidents take place in the privacy of a family's home, but when these incidents take place under the aegis of municipal public programs, it is the responsibility of the municipality to require efficient and caring oversight, and trained providers to ensure a safe haven for defenseless children.
Legislative history
2014: S.7951 - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, on the same date and in the same manner as section 2 of chapter 205 of the laws of 2014.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.