What's happening
This bill requires all facilities for people with developmental disabilities in New York to install video cameras at entrances and exits.
Why it matters
Increases accountability and safety. By mandating video cameras at all entrances and exits, facilities must provide a record of who enters and leaves, potentially deterring abuse, neglect, or unauthorized access, and helping investigations if incidents occur.
Affects privacy and oversight. The presence of cameras at entry and exit points may raise concerns about privacy for residents, staff, and visitors, requiring careful balancing of safety and individual rights.
Requires new systems and protocols. Facilities will need to invest in camera installation and ongoing maintenance, and the law directs the commissioner and state police to create standardized procedures for storing and managing the video footage, impacting operational budgets and administrative practices.
Sets a statewide standard. The law covers a wide range of facility types—including group homes and inpatient settings—ensuring consistent safety measures for people with developmental disabilities across New York, regardless of facility size or location.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cameras at Disability Facilities
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
16 Co-sponsors
3 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Reported referred to codes
- Referred to mental health
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.
Require Cameras at Facility Entrances
In Senate Committee · Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities · Sponsor Jesse Hamilton
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
745
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, DINOWITZ, BENEDETTO, JAFFEE, WEPRIN, SIMANOWITZ, ENGLEBRIGHT, THIELE, KEARNS, BARRETT, FAHY, JEAN-PIERRE, ABINANTI, MONTESANO, RAIA, McDONOUGH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, BRAUNSTEIN, GALEF -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring video cameras in facilities operated by the office for people with developmental disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 13.25 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (c) to read as follows:
(c) Facilities operated by the office, including group homes, residential homes, inpatient facilities and all other facilities under this title shall install video cameras at all entrances and exits. The commissioner, in consultation with the state police, shall develop a system for maintaining such recorded images.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02949-01-7
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.