STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3005 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 27, 2021 ___________ Introduced by Sens. SEPULVEDA, BIAGGI -- 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 and the education law, in relation to establishing Junior's law The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 "Junior's law". 3 § 2. Article 6 of the social services law is amended by adding a new 4 title 8-B to read as follows: 5 TITLE 8-B 6 SAFE HAVENS FOR ENDANGERED CHILDREN 7 Section 448-a. Definitions. 8 448-b. Safe havens. 9 § 448-a. Definitions. As used in this title: 10 1. The term "small business" shall mean a business with fifty employ- 11 ees or less. 12 2. The term "endangered child" shall mean an individual under the age 13 of eighteen who has had physical injury inflicted upon him or her by 14 other than accidental means or is in imminent danger of physical injury. 15 3. The term "safe haven" shall mean a temporary place of refuge or 16 security whereupon an endangered child shall remain until the proper 17 authorities arrive to mitigate an immediate threat. 18 § 448-b. Safe havens. 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of 19 law, pursuant to regulations of the office of children and family 20 services, a small business shall provide safe haven to an endangered 21 child who enters upon such premises stating an immediate threat upon 22 their wellbeing. 23 2. Such small business shall notify the police immediately of such 24 threat and permit such endangered child to remain until the police 25 arrive. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD03646-01-1

S. 3005 2 1 3. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, a small business 2 who knowingly or willfully fails to report under this title will be 3 subject to penalties determined by the commissioner of the office of 4 children and family services. 5 § 3. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new 6 subdivision 57 to read as follows: 7 57. The commissioner is authorized and directed to facilitate a "safe 8 walk home zone" program in which local boards of education and school 9 boards are required to work with local chambers of commerce to create 10 specific areas in which students are able to safely travel to and from 11 school. The commissioner shall promulgate any necessary rules or regu- 12 lations to guide in the creation of such program. 13 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately, 14 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces- 15 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are 16 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

Establishes "Junior's law"

What's Happening

Why It Matters