What's happening
This bill requires video cameras at all entrances and exits of facilities for people with developmental disabilities in New York.
Why it matters
Increases accountability and oversight. By mandating video cameras at all entrances and exits, the bill aims to deter abuse, neglect, or unauthorized access, enhancing the safety of residents with developmental disabilities.
Affects privacy and civil liberties. The presence of cameras may raise concerns about privacy for residents, staff, and visitors, prompting a balance between security and individual rights.
Requires ongoing management and resources. The legislation tasks the commissioner and state police with developing a system for storing and maintaining recorded images, which could require new protocols, funding, and technical infrastructure.
Impacts all facility types. The requirement applies broadly to group homes, residential homes, inpatient facilities, and any other facilities under the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, signaling widespread operational changes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Cameras at Facility Entrances
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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.
Cameras at Disability Facilities
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2941
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2017
Introduced by Sens. HAMILTON, ORTT -- 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 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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose or general idea of bill
To allow the Office for people with Developmental Disabilities to place video cameras on the entrance and exit of all facilities.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 - Amends the mental hygiene law to provide that, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, including group homes, residential homes, inpatient facilities, and all other facilities to install video cameras at all entrances and exits; to ensure safety the commissioner, in consultation with the State police, shall develop a system for maintaining such recorded images.
Section 2 - This act shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become law.
Justification
This act shall informally be known as "Paula's Law" for Paula Liblick a 61 year old OPWDD resident in a group home in the Hudson Valley. Ms. Liblick was assaulted and raped by a intruder to the home but since no mechanism existed to catalogue visitors to the home, no suspects were identified except for the two longterm staff at the home. Also, recently the New York Times ran a series of stories entitled "At State Run Homes, Abuse and Impunity" which highlighted many of the problems in the state run homes, facilities and programs.
We have cameras recording information on visitors to many public buildings and institutions in an effort to protect the residents and property at these sites. So, certainly, the residents and participants of the state run OPWDD programs, who are society's most vulnerable, deserve to be protected in the same manner
Prior legislative history
S. 3623 of the 2015/16 Session S. 2000a of the 2013/14 Session S. 4816 of the 2011/12 Session
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This bill will come into effect the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.