What's happening
This bill creates a statewide toll-free hotline for reporting abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of elderly people.
Why it matters
Statewide access. A single toll-free number would receive reports concerning elderly people throughout New York.
Government responsibility. The office responsible under the social services law would have to establish, maintain and operate the hotline.
Reporting focus. The hotline would receive allegations of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation; the bill does not specify new investigation requirements or penalties.
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Who cares
Elderly New Yorkers
The hotline would provide a toll-free channel for reporting abuse or maltreatment affecting them.
Relatives and caregivers
They could use a single statewide number to report suspected abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of elderly people.
State social services officials
The bill would require the responsible office to establish and operate the hotline.
Headline styles
Create Elder Abuse Hotline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to aging
- Referred to aging
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4204
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. DILAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a statewide toll-free elderly abuse hotline for purposes of reporting of endangered adults
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 473-b of the social services law, as added by chapter 523 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
1. The office shall establish, maintain and operate a single statewide toll-free telephone number for the purpose of receiving telephone calls alleging abuse or maltreatment of an elderly person, including but not limited to abuse, neglect or financial exploitation as defined in this article.
2. Any person who in good faith believes that a person eighteen years of age or older may be an endangered adult or in need of protective or other services, pursuant to this article, and who, based on such belief either:
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law, except that any rules and regulations necessary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date may be promulgated on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09221-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a statewide toll-free elderly abuse hotline for purposes of reporting of endangered adults
Purpose or general idea of bill
Establishes a single statewide toll-free telephone number which people may call to report any abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment of an elderly person.
Summary of specific provisions
A statewide toll-free telephone number will be in operation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, for the sole purpose of reporting the known or suspected abuse of an elderly person. This abuse shall include, but not be limited to: physical and/or mental mistreatment, neglect, exploitation or abandonment.
Effects of present law which this bill would alter
Subdivision 1 of section 473-b of the social services law is remunerated subdivision 2 and a new subdivision 1 is added.
Justification
An Elder Abuse Hotline is necessary for the protection of the welfare and security of our state's elderly who are often too vulnerable to protect themselves from a potentially life-threatening situation. By establishing a toll-free telephone number, a person may promptly report a case in which an elderly person is maltreated. In situations where a relative is responsible, abused seniors are less apt to report the criminal behavior. A statewide hotline will create an accessible reporting system, and serve as the first step in protecting the senior from abuse.
Legislative history
2013 S.6291: referred to aging 2015-2016 S.2289: referred to finance/aging
Fiscal implications
The estimated cost associated with the establishment of the hotline would be in the range of $13.5 million. This is based on a comparison of the cost associated with the establishment of the OCFS centralized hotline in 2013.
Effective date
One hundred and twenty days after it becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.