What's happening
This bill requires private school administrators to report allegations of child abuse in educational settings, expanding current reporting laws.
Why it matters
Expands mandatory reporting requirements to private school administrators. , meaning that both public and private school leaders are now legally responsible for reporting suspected child abuse in educational settings.
Broadens the definition of “educational setting”. to include private schools, ensuring that incidents occurring in any location connected to private school activities, transportation, or events are covered by reporting laws.
Provides legal immunity to private school administrators. who report suspected abuse in good faith, protecting them from potential civil or criminal liability and encouraging prompt reporting.
Closes a significant oversight gap. in child protection laws by holding private schools to the same standard as public schools, potentially leading to improved safety and accountability for all students, regardless of where they attend school.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Report Private School Abuse
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
16 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to codes
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to education
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.
Make Private Schools Report Abuse
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor John E. Brooks
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5371
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 8, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, McDONOUGH, FINCH, BICHOTTE, JAFFEE, RAIA, MURRAY, MONTESANO, GIGLIO, BRABENEC, KEARNS, LUPINACCI, CASTORINA, RA, CROUCH, HUNTER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BUTLER, COOK, ENGLE- BRIGHT, McLAUGHLIN, PALMESANO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring school administrators in private schools to report allegations of child abuse in an educational setting
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2, 5 and 6 of section 1125 of the education law, subdivisions 2 and 6 as added by chapter 180 of the laws of 2000 and subdivision 5 as amended by section 1 of part E of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012, are amended to read as follows:
2. "Child" shall mean a person under the age of twenty-one years enrolled in a school district in this state, other than a school district within a city having a population of one million or more, or any person under the age of twenty-one enrolled in a private school in this state.
5. "Educational setting" shall mean the building and grounds of a public school district or private school, the vehicles provided by the school district or private school for the transportation of students to and from school buildings, field trips, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities both on and off school district grounds, all co-curricular and extra-curricular activity sites, and any other location where direct contact between an employee or volunteer and a child has allegedly occurred. Such term shall not include a special act school district as defined in section four thousand one of this chapter which shall be subject to article eleven of the social services law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09593-01-7
A. 5371 2
6. "Administrator" or "school administrator" shall mean a principal of a public or private school, charter school or board of cooperative educational services, or other chief school officer.
§ 2. The section heading and subdivision 1 of section 1128-a of the education law, as added by chapter 180 of the laws of 2000, are amended to read as follows:
Additional duties of superintendents and administrators. 1. Where a superintendent of schools, or in the case of a private school a school administrator, forwards to law enforcement a report as described in paragraph (a) of subdivision one of section eleven hundred twenty-six of this article, he or she shall refer such report to the commissioner where the employee or volunteer alleged to have committed an act of child abuse as defined in this article holds a certification or license issued by the department.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 1133 of the education law, as added by chapter 180 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
3. Any superintendent of schools or school administrator who reasonably and in good faith reports to law enforcement officials information regarding allegations of child abuse or a resignation as required by this article shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, which might otherwise result by reason of such actions.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.