What's happening
This bill creates a statewide, 24/7 toll-free hotline for reporting abuse and requires public education about it, especially for elder abuse.
Why it matters
Centralizes and simplifies reporting. By creating a single, toll-free, 24/7 hotline, the bill makes it much easier for anyone—including concerned family, neighbors, or professionals—to report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable individuals, which could lead to earlier interventions and better outcomes.
Speeds up emergency response. The hotline must immediately relay urgent cases (including those potentially involving criminal acts or immediate threats to health and safety) to law enforcement, emergency responders, and relevant agencies, which could save lives or prevent harm by reducing delays.
Boosts public awareness and education. The bill mandates a public education campaign that not only explains elder abuse and its warning signs but also widely publicizes the new hotline, increasing the likelihood that abuse will be recognized and reported by the general public.
Improves coordination among agencies. By requiring the Office of Children and Family Services to set up rules for timely and accurate referrals to the right state or local agencies, the bill aims to reduce bureaucratic gaps, ensuring cases don’t fall through the cracks.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Create State Abuse Hotline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to children and families
- 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.
Create State Abuse Hotline
In Senate Committee · Aging · Sponsor Susan Serino
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6762
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 19, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law and the elder law, in relation to providing protective services to certain individuals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 473 of the social services law is amended by adding a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
9. (a) Within amounts appropriated therefor, the office of children and family services shall establish a statewide, toll-free telephone number (a "hotline") to receive reports consistent with subdivision one of this section. The hotline shall receive reports of allegations of reportable incidents twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week. The hotline shall accept anonymous calls.
(b) When any allegation that could reasonably constitute a reportable incident is received by the hotline, the hotline shall accept and immediately transmit notice of the report orally and electronically to any appropriate state agencies or local social services office. Whenever a telephone call or electronic transmission to the hotline alleges an act or circumstances that may constitute a criminal offense or an immediate threat to an individual's health, safety or welfare, the hotline shall convey, by the most expedient means available, the information contained in such call or transmission to the appropriate law enforcement agency or district attorney and, to the extent necessary, the appropriate emergency responder, and the relevant state agency or local social services office.
(c) The commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the implementation and operation of the hotline, including but not limited to, procedures for timely and accurate referrals to other state agencies or entities that may have investigative or oversight authority regarding reported incidents.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07307-01-9
A. 6762 2
§ 2. Subdivision 16 of section 202 of the elder law, as added by chapter 455 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
16. to the extent appropriations are available, and in consultation with the office of children and family services, conduct a public education campaign that emphasizes zero-tolerance for elder abuse. Such campaign shall include information about the signs and symptoms of elder abuse, identification of potential causes of elder abuse, resources available to assist in the prevention of elder abuse, where suspected elder abuse can be reported, including, but not limited to, information regarding the statewide hotline as provided for in paragraph (a) of subdivision nine of section four hundred seventy-three of the social services law, contact information for programs offering services to victims of elder abuse such as counseling, and assistance with arranging personal care and shelter. Such campaign may include, but not be limited to: printed educational and informational materials; audio, video, electronic, other media; and public service announcements or advertisements.
§ 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.