What's happening
This bill allows family court orders of protection to require individuals to stay away from child protective services caseworkers' homes or workplaces.
Why it matters
Enhances protection for child protective services (CPS) caseworkers. , who often face threats or harassment as part of their duties, by allowing courts to keep potentially dangerous individuals away from their homes and workplaces.
Aims to improve caseworker safety and job retention. , as CPS caseworkers frequently report high stress and burnout due to fear for their personal safety when interacting with families in crisis.
May lead to more effective child protection investigations. , since caseworkers who feel protected are likely to perform their roles with greater confidence, potentially resulting in better outcomes for children and families involved.
Acknowledges the unique risks faced by CPS staff. , signaling a legislative recognition of the hazards inherent in child welfare work and a commitment to supporting those who serve vulnerable children.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect CPS Workers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.691
- Referred to children and families
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.190
- Referred to children and families
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.
Protect CPS Workers
In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2115
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AMEDORE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the family court act, in relation to expanding orders of protection to cover child protective services caseworkers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (i) of subdivision 1 of section 1056 of the family court act, is relettered paragraph (j) and a new paragraph (i) is added to read as follows:
(i) to stay away from the home or place of employment of any caseworker currently assigned to the child by the appropriate child protective agency, as defined by subdivision (i) of section one thousand twelve of this article;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02649-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the family court act, in relation to expanding orders of protection to cover child protective services caseworkers
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to expand orders of protection (ooP) given by family courts to cover child protective services (CPS) caseworkers.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends paragraph (i) of subdivision 1 of section 1056 of the family court act by relettering it paragraph (j) and adding a new paragraph (i).
Section 2 provides an immediate effective date.
Justification
CPS caseworkers operate in exceptionally difficult circumstances that frequently become dangerous. The job of the caseworker is to go into family settings and look for signs of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse as well as passive and active neglect. By law, caseworkers must take appropriate action to protect the victim, often inciting anger and aggressive behavior from another member of the family.
Under current law, CPS caseworkers cannot be granted an order of protection in family court, only in criminal court. The result is CPS caseworkers, who are being threatened, harassed or otherwise intimidated, remain vulnerable while they unnecessarily wait to go before a criminal court judge.
By allowing family court judges to issue orders of protection for CPS caseworkers, this bill will provide the protection caseworkers deserve as they work to protect New York State's vulnerable children.
Legislative history
S. 4844/A.3598 of 2015-2016.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.