What's happening
This bill requires the advisory council to review the Justice Center’s operations, abuse investigations, prosecutorial conduct, and accountability for special needs care.
Why it matters
Expands oversight power. By requiring the advisory council to review not only abuse investigations but also prosecutorial actions and accountability measures, the bill introduces an additional layer of scrutiny over the Justice Center’s core functions, potentially increasing transparency and public trust.
Focus on standards and investigator conduct. The mandate to review common standards and investigator requirements could lead to improved training, consistency, and professionalism among those handling sensitive abuse and neglect cases involving people with special needs.
Stronger accountability for offenders. The bill specifically ensures that individuals found responsible for abuse or neglect are held accountable and barred from future employment in special needs care, addressing concerns about repeat offenders and systemic loopholes.
Attention to deaths and high-risk cases. By including death investigations in the council’s review, the bill underscores the seriousness of oversight in the most severe incidents, aiming to prevent future tragedies and ensure rigorous follow-up when special needs individuals die in care.
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Who cares
Justice Center advisory council
The bill would require the council to review the center’s mission and operations, abuse and neglect claims, investigations and prosecutorial actions.
People with special needs
The council would review whether valid abuse and neglect allegations were promptly and fully investigated, responsible individuals were held accountable and procedures in death cases were appropriate.
Justice Center investigators and prosecutors
The council would review investigator standards and requirements, all prosecutorial conduct and whether prosecutions were valid and within the agency’s mission.
Care workers found responsible for abuse or neglect
The council would review the register of their names and whether they have been barred from employment caring for people with special needs.
Headline styles
Strengthen Special Needs Oversight
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to mental health
- Referred to mental health
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1133
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the powers and duties of the advisory council of the justice center for the protection of people with special needs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 561 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
6-a. The council shall review the mission and operations of the justice center for the protection of people with special needs, the validity of claims of abuse and neglect and the appropriateness of prosecutorial actions. This review shall also include but not be limited to:
(a) ensuring that allegations of abuse and neglect are valid and if so have been promptly and fully investigated;
(b) reviewing common standards and requirements for investigators;
(c) ensuring that individuals who are responsible for abuse and neglect have been held accountable;
(d) reviewing all prosecutorial conduct and ensuring all prosecutions were valid and within the mission of the agency;
(e) reviewing the register of names of individuals found responsible for acts of abuse or neglect and whether such individuals have been barred from employment in the care of people with special needs; and
(f) reviewing investigations and procedures related to cases involving death.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03438-01-5
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.