What's happening
This bill requires the Justice Center to refer certain suspicious and unexplained injuries and all deaths to 9-1-1.
Why it matters
Mandates immediate emergency response. By requiring the Justice Center to refer serious injuries and all deaths to 9-1-1, the bill ensures that first responders (EMS, police) are quickly involved, potentially saving lives and preserving evidence.
Targets vulnerable populations. The Justice Center oversees incidents involving people with developmental disabilities and mental health issues. This amendment focuses on safeguarding these especially at-risk individuals by guaranteeing a rapid, external emergency response.
Standardizes handling of suspicious injuries. The bill provides clear criteria for when to call 9-1-1—such as broken bones, burns, or unresponsiveness—reducing ambiguity and the risk of underreporting or mishandling potentially criminal or life-threatening situations.
Increases accountability and transparency. Automatic referral to 9-1-1 means external authorities are notified, which can help prevent cover-ups, encourage thorough investigations, and reassure families and the public that serious incidents are being addressed with urgency.
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
Report Injuries to 911
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3150
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- 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 executive law, in relation to the procedure followed by the justice center when responding to certain reportable incidents
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 553 of the executive law, as added by section 3 of part A of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(a) establishing procedures for the timely response to, and effective investigation of, allegations of reportable incidents that are accepted by the statewide vulnerable persons' central register, such procedures shall include but not be limited to, requiring the referral to 9-1-1 of reportable incidents which includes suspicious and unexplained injuries to include broken bones, hematomas, open wounds beyond minor first aid, black eyes, swollen noses, extreme and questionable bruising, choke marks, burns, individuals found unresponsive and all deaths to a 9-1-1 operator;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09431-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Purpose
Relates to the procedure followed by the justice center when responding to certain reportable incidents.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 553 of the executive law to require the referral to 9-1-1 of reportable incidents which includes suspicious and unexplained injuries, broken bones, hematomas, open wounds, black eyes, swollen noses, extreme and questionable bruising, choke marks, burns, and unresponsive individuals.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
Justification
Often it is the case that people with illnesses, disabilities and vulnerabilities suffer incidents of abuse that go unreported. This bill would mandate that the justice center refer certain calls of concern to 9-1-1 when there is the suspicion of abuse.
Prior legislative history
2018: S.8440 - Referred to Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.