What's happening
This bill requires standardized training for employees and volunteers serving people with developmental disabilities, including specific topics and approved training formats.
Why it matters
Mandates comprehensive, standardized training. for all staff and volunteers at licensed, certified, or state-operated providers serving people with developmental disabilities, aiming to ensure a consistent baseline of knowledge and skills across the workforce.
Specifies key training topics. such as abuse prevention, legal protections, emergency procedures (including first aid and CPR), fire safety, and cultural competence—targeting areas critical to the safety, rights, and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities.
Requires interactive and engaging training formats. (e.g., live classes, video conferences, online interactive courses) and explicitly prohibits self-study or correspondence-only programs, reflecting a focus on effective learning and accountability.
Ensures formal recognition of training completion. through certificates, which may help providers verify compliance, improve overall care standards, and potentially reduce incidents of harm or neglect.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Workers Serving Disabled
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- 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.
Train Disability Care Workers
In Senate Committee · Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1433
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RITCHIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to standardized training curriculum requirements for employees and volunteers providing services to persons with developmental disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 13.23 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (d) to read as follows:
(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations requiring all persons who are employed or volunteering at a provider licensed, certified or operated by the office to complete a training curriculum consistent with this subdivision. In developing such curriculum, the commissioner shall conduct a literature review of reports, studies and other training models regarding the training of direct care workers for persons with developmental disabilities. Such curriculum shall include, but not be limited to: (1) abuse, neglect and maltreatment indication and prevention, (2) laws, regulations and procedures governing the protection of persons with disabilities from abuse, neglect and maltreatment, (3) identification, safety and security procedures, (4) fire safety, (5) first aid, (6) cardiopulmonary resuscitation, (7) cultural competence, and (8) any other appropriate topic.
The format of such training or programs shall be in traditional live classroom or audience settings; teleconferences; video conferences; satellite transmissions; motion picture presentations; interactive video instructions; activities electronically transmitted from another location; on-line computer courses; or any other interactive format deemed appropriate by the commissioner, provided the training or program is not self-study or correspondence work. In no event shall such program and training solely consist of written materials. The training or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02506-01-7
S. 1433 2
program must be conducted in a physical setting that is comfortable and conducive to learning. Upon completion of the training or program, trainees shall receive a certificate of completion.
§ 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to standardized training curriculum requirements for employees and volunteers providing services to persons with developmental disabilities
Purpose
This bill will standardize safety trainings at developmental disability facilities.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 13.23 of the Mental Hygiene Law by adding a new subdivision (d) which requires the Commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to develop an educational curriculum for all providers operated or licensed by the agency. The educational curriculum shall include training in abuse, neglect and maltreatment indication and prevention; laws, regulations and procedures governing the protection of persons with disabilities from abuse, neglect and maltreatment; identification, safety and security procedures; fire safety; first aid; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; cultural competence, and any other appropriate topic.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Justification
As reported in the New York Times over the past several years, allegations of abuse, neglect, and maltreatment in programs run or certified by the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities are a problem. In response to these articles, a series of statewide public hearings were held that were aimed at carefully examining the quality of care and safety measures in homes for individuals with developmental disabilities. As a result of the hearings, it was learned that many staffers may not have adequate training in recognizing or reporting neglect or abuse. This bill will ensure that employees of developmental disability facilities will receive adequate training regarding patient safety.
Legislative history
2015-2016: S.2466-A/A.777-A 2013-2014: S.5813-A/ A.7910-B
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.