What's happening
This bill requires care providers to give information or file reports in suspected domestic violence cases and mandates related training and resources.
Why it matters
Expands the list of mandatory reporters. The bill significantly broadens the range of professionals (“care providers”) required to act in suspected domestic violence cases. This includes not only healthcare workers but also educators, social workers, child care providers, camp staff, and many more, increasing the likelihood that signs of domestic violence will be identified and addressed early.
Establishes clear anti-retaliation protections. Employees who make good-faith reports of suspected domestic violence cannot face retaliation from their employers, and institutions cannot require prior approval or notification before a report is filed. This helps ensure staff feel secure in reporting without fear for their jobs or professional standing.
Mandates standardized training and educational materials. Employers must provide annual training for care providers on recognizing domestic violence and distribute official, up-to-date written information (prepared by the state’s domestic violence office) about reporting responsibilities. This aims to improve both awareness and effective response among frontline professionals.
Creates formal reporting and resource systems. The bill requires the state to develop a standardized reporting form and procedures, and mandates that counties update and distribute information on local support resources every two years. This helps ensure victims receive accurate, timely information about their options and available services, and that reports are processed consistently.
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Require Domestic Violence Info
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to social services
- Referred to social services
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.
Inform Victims of Domestic Violence
In Assembly Committee · Social Services · Sponsor Billy Jones
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5628
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LITTLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring care providers to provide information in cases of suspected domestic violence
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Jamie Rose care provider act".
§ 2. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 459-i to read as follows:
§ 459-i. Care providers required to provide information in cases of suspected domestic violence. 1. (a) Care providers in cities, towns and villages (i) with a population less than one million; and (ii) located in a county in which the county legislature has declared an agency other than a law-enforcement agency as its primary domestic violence agency are required to provide domestic violence support information or, at the request of the suspected victim, cause a report to be made in accordance with this article when they have reasonable cause to suspect that an individual coming before them in their professional or official capacity is the victim of domestic violence. For purposes of this section "care providers" shall include, but are not limited to: any physician; registered physician assistant; surgeon; medical examiner; coroner; dentist; dental hygienist; osteopath; optometrist; chiropractor; podiatrist; resident; intern; psychologist; registered nurse; nurse practitioner; social worker; emergency medical technician; licensed creative arts therapist; licensed marriage and family therapist; licensed mental health counselor; licensed psychoanalyst; licensed behavior analyst; certified behavior analyst assistant; hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of persons; a Christian Science practitioner; school official, which includes but is not limited
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03004-03-9
S. 5628 2
to school teacher, school guidance counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, school nurse, school administrator or other school personnel required to hold a teaching or administrative license or certificate; full or part-time compensated school employee required to hold a temporary coaching license or professional coaching certificate; social services worker; employee of a publicly-funded emergency shelter for families with children; director of a children's overnight camp, summer day camp or traveling summer day camp, as such camps are defined in section thirteen hundred ninety-two of the public health law; day care center worker; school-age child care worker; provider of family or group family day care; employee or volunteer in a residential care facility for children that is licensed, certified or operated by the office of children and family services; or any other child care or foster care worker; mental health professional; substance abuse counselor; alcoholism counselor; all persons credentialed by the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services; peace officer; police officer; district attorney or assistant district attorney; investigator employed in the office of a district attorney; or other law enforcement official.
(b) Whenever such person files a report under this article in his or her capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, he or she shall immediately notify the person in charge of such institution, school, facility or agency, or his or her designated agent. Such person in charge, or the designated agent of such person, shall be responsible for all subsequent administration necessitated by the report. Any report shall include the name, title and contact information for every staff person of the institution who is believed to have direct knowledge of the allegations in the report. Nothing in this section or article is intended to require more than one report from any such institution, school or agency.
(c) A medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency shall not take any retaliatory personnel action, as such term is defined in paragraph (e) of subdivision one of section seven hundred forty of the labor law, against an employee because such employee believes that he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that an individual is the victim of domestic violence and that employee therefore makes a report in accordance with this article at the request of the suspected victim. No school, school official, child care provider, foster care provider, residential care facility provider, hospital, medical institution provider or mental health facility provider shall impose any conditions, including prior approval or prior notification, upon a member of their staff who files a report under this article.
2. Any person, institution, school, facility, agency, organization, partnership or corporation which employs persons that file a report of suspected incidents of domestic violence pursuant to subdivision one of this section shall make a good-faith effort to provide all such current and new employees with written information explaining the reporting process set out in such subdivision. Such written information shall be prepared by the advisory council of the office for the prevention of domestic violence, and shall be made available on the office for the prevention of domestic violence website. The employers shall be responsible for the costs associated with printing and distributing the written information. If an employer is unable to provide such information, the employer may request the office for the prevention of domestic violence mail the information to such employer.
S. 5628 3
3. The office for the prevention of domestic violence shall create a form for the reporting of suspected domestic violence cases described in subdivision one of this section. Such form shall be provided by a person that files a report of suspected domestic violence cases to the suspected victim of domestic violence, and shall be made available on the office for the prevention of domestic violence website. Such form shall include, but not be limited to, a description of the circumstances leading to the suspected case of domestic violence, the alleged perpetrator of domestic violence and the date of the suspected incident. Such form shall be submitted by the care provider to the county primary domestic violence agency. Such primary domestic violence agency shall keep all such forms on file.
4. Any employer which employs a care provider shall hold annual trainings for care providers on how to recognize the signs of domestic violence.
5. For purposes of this section "domestic violence support information" shall include, but not be limited to, materials discussing options that a survivor of domestic violence has in order to protect him or herself at any given time, and the resources that a primary domestic violence agency provides in the county. Such material shall be updated by the primary domestic violence agency in the county every two years.
6. The suspected domestic violence victim shall have the right to refuse domestic violence support information at any time.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 requiring care providers to provide information in cases of suspected domestic violence
Purpose
To provide information and care to those to be suspected victims of domestic violence.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 cites the act as the "Jamie Rose Care Provider Act"
Section 2 amends the social service law by adding new section 459-i parts (1) which sets a population cap, establishes primary domestic violence agencies, lists, but not limits, Care Providers, identifies administrative necessities by this legislation, gives protections to Care Providers, (2) creation of educational material educating Care Providers on protocol in the case of suspected domestic violence, (3) creation of a evidential paper trail of suspected domestic violence, (4) requirement of annual training sessions for Care Providers on how to recognize the signs of domestic violence, (5) providing informative material on local programs for suspected victims of domestic violence, (6) and requiring the right for the suspected victim of domestic violence to refuse support from a Care Provider at any time.
Section 3 provides the effective date.
Justification
Jamie Rose, a young woman from Tupper Lake, and her estranged partner with a history of domestic violence were at doctor's office. While at the doctor's office, Jamie's estranged partner made audible verbal threats, heard by staff of the doctor's office, on Jamie's life. Under current law, no one who was working in the doctor's office, who heard the threats, would have been required to ensure Jamie's safety. Sadly, after the appointment, Jamie was murdered by her estranged partner.
All too often, survivors of domestic violence are unaware of the help they can receive within their communities. This legislation will help the many of domestic violence survivors, which are in a similar situ- ation as Jamie was, to ensure that they know there are reliable and helpful options available at any time.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.