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History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
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.
Requires notice be posted in programs subject to regulation by the office for people with developmental disabilities, informing employees to call 911 during an emergency
In Senate Committee · Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to duties of providers of service to people with developmental disabilities
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to require all programs for the developmentally disabled to post a visible notice informing employees to call 911 in the event of an emergency and that as mandated reporters they must report suspected abuse, neglect or maltreatment of an individual in the program to the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends Section 31.11 of the Mental Hygiene Law by adding a new subdivision 6 to require programs licensed, certified, operated, authorized or funded by the office for people with developmental disabilities to post a visible notice in a public area visible to employees that such employee is to call 911 in the event of an emergency. In addition, the notice shall, inform employees that as mandated reporters pursuant to article eleven of the social services law, they shall report to the justice center for the protection of people with special needs suspected abuse or neglect of an individual at such a program and that they may contact law enforcement if it is believed that such abuse or neglect constitutes a crime. Such notice shall contain the phone number of the justice center hotline and local law enforcement entity.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
Many times employees of group homes for the developmentally disabled notice that a client has visible signs of abuse. However, they report it to their supervisor and often this information never gets to law enforcement agencies or properly investigated.
Current law requires mandatory reporters to report such conduct to the Justice Center. This legislation helps to ensure that employees are aware of their responsibility, in an emergency, to contact 911 and that as mandated reporters they must contact the Justice Center if they believe abuse or neglect has occurred.
This legislation supports the protection of our most vulnerable population.
Legislative history
2013/2014: A7907 (Weisenberg) passed Assembly; S6929 (Golden) referred to Mental Health
Fiscal implications
Undetermined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.