What's happening
Clara's Law requires hospitals to promptly report all allegations of sexual offenses by healthcare practitioners involving patients to both the Department of Health and the Education Department.
Why it matters
Mandates faster and more comprehensive reporting. Hospitals must report every allegation of sexual offenses by healthcare practitioners involving patients within 30 days, ensuring prompt regulatory awareness that could help prevent further harm.
Removes reporting loopholes. The law requires that allegations of sexual offenses be reported not only to the appropriate licensing authority (either the Department of Health or the Education Department, depending on the profession), but now to both agencies for all practitioners, closing gaps where some cases might previously have only gone to one agency.
Covers a broad range of healthcare workers. By defining “health care practitioner” as anyone licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under Title Eight of the education law, the bill ensures that all types of practitioners (beyond just doctors and physician assistants) are included in mandatory reporting.
Increases transparency and accountability. The requirement for detailed written reports—including the actions taken by the hospital and any known criminal convictions—aims to create a clearer record, making it harder for accused practitioners to quietly leave or move between facilities without scrutiny.
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Report Sexual Offenses in Hospitals
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History
- Held for consideration in health
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Companion bill
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Report Sexual Offenses in Hospitals
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Pamela Helming
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5474
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. KOLB -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to reporting incidents of possible professional misconduct
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Clara's Law".
§ 2. Subdivision 1 of section 2803-e of the public health law, as added by chapter 866 of the laws of 1980, is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(c) Hospitals and other facilities approved pursuant to this article shall make a report or cause a report to be made within thirty days of every separate allegation of a sexual offense, as defined in article one hundred thirty of the penal law, by a health care practitioner which involves a patient.
§ 3. Subdivision 2 of section 2803-e of the public health law, as amended by chapter 542 of the laws of 2000, is amended and a new subdivision 4 is added to read as follows:
2. Reports of possible professional misconduct made pursuant to this section shall be made in writing to the education department with respect to all individuals licensed pursuant to title eight of the education law except that such reports shall be made to the department of health in the case of physicians, physician's assistants and specialist's assistants. Reports for all allegations of a sexual offense pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section shall be made to the department of health in addition to the education department with respect to all individuals licensed pursuant to title eight of the education law. Written reports shall include the following information:
(a) name, address, profession and license number of the individual;
(b) a description of the action taken by the hospital including the reason for the action and the date thereof, or the nature of the action
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06797-01-7
A. 5474 2
or conduct which led to the resignation or withdrawal, and the date thereof, stated with sufficient specificity to allow a reasonable person to understand which of the reasons enumerated in subdivision one of this section led to the action of the hospital or the resignation or withdrawal of the individual, and, if the reason was an act or omission of the individual, the particular act or omission;
(c) any criminal conviction of which the hospital has knowledge; and
(d) such other information as the education department or the department of health shall require.
4. For purposes of this section the term "health care practitioner" shall mean a person licensed, certified or otherwise authorized to practice under title eight of the education law.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth 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.