What's happening
This bill establishes a voluntary electronic monitoring program to help locate missing children with autism or developmental disabilities in New York.
Why it matters
Enhances safety for vulnerable children. By providing electronic monitoring devices to families of children with autism or developmental disabilities, the program aims to quickly locate children who go missing, addressing a major risk for families and caregivers.
Respects privacy and family control. Participation is entirely voluntary, and personal information about the child is kept confidential unless a family member consents to its release during a missing child emergency, helping to mitigate concerns about surveillance or misuse.
Supports law enforcement with specialized guidance. The bill requires the development of recommendations for police on interacting with missing children who have developmental disabilities and using tracking technology, which could lead to more effective and sensitive responses during emergencies.
Leverages existing community resources. The program encourages collaboration with municipalities and organizations already using similar technology, potentially reducing costs and ensuring smoother implementation by building on established networks.
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Who cares
Parents, guardians and custodians of children with developmental disabilities
They could voluntarily apply for a wearable tracking device and receiver to help locate a missing child under 18 diagnosed with autism or another developmental disability.
- Watching
New York State Department of Health
The department would establish the monitoring program, protect applicant information and, where possible, use municipalities and organizations already providing tracking devices.
Law enforcement agencies
They could coordinate with authorized family members to locate missing children and would receive recommendations from the Division of Criminal Justice Services on disability-related risks, response techniques and tracking devices.
- Likely support
Municipalities and organizations providing child-tracking devices
The health commissioner would use their existing services where possible to support the statewide program.
Headline styles
Track Devices for Disabled Kids
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health
- Referred to mental health
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.
Track Devices for Disabled Kids
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Pete Harckham
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2833
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 25, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the executive law, in relation to establishing an electronic monitoring program for children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder as well as other developmental disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2509 to read as follows:
§ 2509. Electronic monitoring for children with developmental disabilities. 1. For the purposes of this section the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of health;
(b) "child" shall mean a person under the age of eighteen years;
(c) "eligible applicant" shall mean the parent, legal guardian or custodian of a child who has been diagnosed by a physician as having an autism spectrum disorder as determined by section twenty-five hundred-j of this title or other developmental disability;
(d) "authorized family member" shall mean a designated parent, grandparent, sibling older than the age of eighteen, legal guardian or custodian who is authorized to use a receiving device that is able to track the geographic location of an electronic monitoring device. Such individuals shall be listed on the application submitted to the department; and
(e) "electronic monitoring device" shall mean any radio, global positioning system, cellular device or any other satellite-based monitoring device that can provide continuous tracking of the geographic location of children and an automated monitoring system that can be used by an appropriate law enforcement agency at the request of an authorized family member.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05112-01-9
A. 2833 2
2. The commissioner shall establish a program to provide electronic monitoring devices to an eligible applicant for the purpose of being able to geographically locate a child upon circumstances where the child is unable to be accounted for. The program shall facilitate the safe recovery of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or another developmental disability who are missing or abducted.
3. The program shall be voluntary and the following procedure shall be used for the administration of the program:
(a) an eligible applicant may file an application with the department to be granted access to the program;
(b) upon filing the application, an eligible applicant shall be issued an electronic monitoring device that may be worn by the child, and a receiver that may be used to track the physical location of the child;
(c) if a child is missing an authorized family member may coordinate with the appropriate law enforcement agency and inform the agency of the location of the child using the electronic monitoring device and receiver; and
(d) all applicant information provided by the parent to the department shall remain confidential and not be divulged by the department except in cases where the authorized family member signs a separate consent form providing that any personally identifiable information on the child may only be released in the event that an authorized family member seeks law enforcement action to find the location of a missing child.
4. To the extent possible, the commissioner shall utilize municipalities and other organizations which currently provide electronic monitoring devices for the purposes of being able to geographically track children who have an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disability.
§ 2. Section 837 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 22 to read as follows:
22. The division, in cooperation with the department of health, shall provide recommendations to law enforcement agencies regarding the risks associated with autism or other developmental disabilities and appropriate response techniques concerning such disabilities. Recommendations shall include information pertaining to the utilization of electronic monitoring devices to determine the location of children diagnosed with autism or other developmental disabilities.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.