What's happening
This bill requires recording, transmission, and retention of all voice calls to New York's child abuse central register, effective January 1, 2021.
Why it matters
Creates a permanent audio record of all calls to the child abuse hotline, which could provide a more accurate and complete account of initial reports than written summaries or recollections.
Ensures greater accountability and transparency for both hotline staff and mandated reporters, potentially reducing disputes about what was reported or how calls were handled.
Mandates immediate sharing of call recordings with local child protective services, which may improve the quality and timeliness of investigations into suspected abuse or neglect.
Establishes clear retention periods (two years for non-reports and five years for reports) that could support future reviews, audits, or appeals, impacting both accused individuals and child welfare outcomes.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Record Child Abuse Hotline Calls
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to children and families
- Referred to children and families
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
864
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GALLIVAN, YOUNG -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to technological improvements to the central register
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 422 of the social services law is amended by adding a new paragraph (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no later than January first, two thousand twenty-one, the office of children and family services as part of the central register shall:
(i) record all voice calls made to the central register and shall make such recording a part of any report of suspected child abuse or neglect;
(ii) immediately transmit such voice recording as part of the record of an allegation of child abuse and neglect to the appropriate local child protective services for investigation; and
(iii) maintain recordings of any call that did not constitute a report of child abuse or neglect for at least two years and any call that did constitute a report of child abuse or neglect for at least five years.
§ 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2021.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02750-01-9
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 technological improvements to the central register
Purpose
This bill would require the Office of Children and Family Services to record all phone calls made to the central register and include this recording in any report of suspected child abuse or neglect.
Summary of provisions
:
Section 1 amends the social services law to require calls made to the central register be recorded and such recording made part of any report of suspected child abuse or neglect. This section also requires that all recordings that did not constitute a report of child abuse or neglect be maintained for at least two years and those that did constitute a report of child abuse or neglect be maintained for at least five years.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
The central register was established as part of the Child Protective Services Act of 1973 to encourage more complete reporting of child abuse and maltreatment. There have been few enhancements to the system in the forty years since its creation. This bill requires the Office of Chil- dren and Family Services to record all calls made to the central regis- ter. The recording must be transmitted as part of the record of an alle- gation of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate local child protective services agency for investigation. This will make it easier for child protection workers to investigate reports made to the central register.
This bill also requires the Office of Children and Family Services to maintain recordings of any call that, did not constitute a report of child abuse or neglect for at least two years and any call that did constitute a report of child abuse or neglect for at least five years.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.3169 Reported to Finance
2015-16: S.399-A Referred to Children and Families
2013-14: S.7042 Referred to Children and Families
Fiscal implications
The Office of Children and Family Services would be required to invest resources into improvements to the central register.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on January 1, 2021.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.