What's happening
The bill allows state comptroller officers access to reports on incidents involving vulnerable persons for performance audits, while protecting confidentiality.
Why it matters
Enables independent oversight. By granting the state comptroller’s office access to incident reports involving vulnerable persons, the bill allows for more thorough and independent performance audits of agencies and providers, potentially identifying systemic issues or inefficiencies that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Protects sensitive information. The bill specifically requires that state comptroller officers and employees maintain strict confidentiality regarding the identities of service recipients and others mentioned in the reports, balancing the need for oversight with individual privacy rights.
Could lead to improved care standards. With auditors able to review detailed incident reports, there’s a greater opportunity for uncovering patterns of concern, gaps in protocols, or areas needing improvement, ultimately supporting better safety and care for vulnerable populations.
Clarifies limits of information sharing. By explicitly stating when and how these sensitive reports can be accessed and by whom, the bill helps prevent misuse of confidential information, while still supporting transparency and accountability in state-funded services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Comptroller Audit Incident Reports
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health
- Referred to mental health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1513
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to authorizing certain reports relating to reportable incidents involving vulnerable persons to be released to officers and employees of the state comptroller for the purposes of a duly authorized performance audit
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (f) and (g) of subdivision 1 of section 496 of the social services law, as added by section 1 of part B of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012, are amended and a new paragraph (h) is added to read as follows:
(f) the independent agency designated pursuant to subdivision (b) of section five hundred fifty-eight of the executive law, provided that such information is relevant to a matter within the legal authority of such agency; [or]
(g) other persons named in the report, as defined in subdivision thirteen of section four hundred eighty-eight of this article which includes, but is not limited to, the service recipient's parent, guardian or other person legally responsible for such person; provided, however, that the names and other personally identifying information of custodians and other service recipients shall not be included unless such custodians and service recipients authorize disclosure. Notwithstanding the prohibitions on non-redisclosure set forth in the closing sentence of this subdivision, the service recipient, and such service recipient's parent, guardian or other person legally responsible for such service recipient may disclose information and reports made available pursuant to this paragraph to an attorney, who shall not further disclose except as is necessary for use by such attorney in rendering advice, assistance and representation[.]; or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02700-01-9
A. 1513 2
(h) officers and employees of the state comptroller, for purposes of a duly authorized performance audit; provided, however, that such officers and employees shall protect the confidentiality of the service recipient, the subject of the report, and any other person named in the report, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (t) of subdivision two of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.