Senate Bill S4691A

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S4691

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to mandating the recording of calls made to the statewide central
register of child abuse and maltreatment

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

The purpose of this bill is to require enhanced training for mandated
reporters.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

Section one would require all mandated reporters to complete two hours
of coursework or training regarding the identification and reporting
of child abuse and maltreatment, require certain mandated reporters
whose employment involves regular interaction with children to
complete two and one-half hours of coursework or training regarding
the identification of child abuse and maltreatment once every two
years and require that the Office of Children and Family Services must
approve and/or establish training which may be offered through various
means including internet and teleconferences.

Section two would require persons applying for a superintendent's
certificate to complete two and a half additional hours of coursework
or training at least once every two years on child abuse and
              

maltreatment.

Section three would require each school district to include within
existing training to mandated reporters information about the signs
and symptoms which may indicate child abuse or maltreatment.

Section four would require persons applying for a teacher's
certificate to complete two and a half additional hours of coursework
or training at least once every two years on child abuse and
maltreatment.

Section five would require persons seeking endorsement of a foreign
teachers certificate or diploma to complete two and a half additional
hours of coursework or training at least once every two years on child
abuse and maltreatment.

Section six and seven would require persons seeking endorsement of a
foreign teachers certificate or diploma to complete two and a half
additional hours of coursework or training at least once every two
years on child abuse and maltreatment.

Section eight would set forth the training requirements for those
licensed under the education law who are also mandated reporters,
including two hours prior to licensing and two and a half hour every
two years thereafter. It also allows the Department of Education to
develop a training curriculum regarding the identification and
reporting of child abuse and maltreatment which may be offered through
various means including internet and teleconferences, but provides
that such training curriculum shall be approved by the Office of
Children and Family Services and that, shall the Education Department
fail to establish a curriculum they shall use the OCFS curriculum.

Section nine would provide the same educational and continuing
education requirements for those professionals specifically named in
section 6507 of the education law.

Section ten would require the superintendent of the Division of the
State Police to develop and provide training to all current and new
employees who are likely to come in contact with children regarding
the identification and investigation of child abuse and maltreatment
and any protocols regarding the investigation of suspected child abuse
and maltreatment jointly with local departments of social services;

Section eleven would require the Municipal Police Training Council,
under the auspice of the Division of Criminal Justice Services to
include within existing mandated reporter training information
regarding the identification and investigation of child abuse and
maltreatment and any protocols regarding the investigation of
suspected child abuse and maltreatment jointly with local departments
of social services;

Section twelve would require all hospitals to develop and provide
training to all current and new employees who regularly assess
injuries in children regarding the identification of child abuse and
maltreatment.

Section thirteen would provide for an effective date of 120 days after
enactment provided that appropriate regulations and rules have been
amended or repealed.

 EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER :

This bill would add §413(1-a) to the Social Services Law, amends
§3003(4), §3209-a, §3004(2), the closing paragraph of §3007, §6501,
§6502, §6502-a, §6507(3) of the Education Law, amends §214-a and
§840(1)(j) of the Executive Law and amends §2805-n of the Public
Health Law.

 JUSTIFICATION :

At four public hearings held by the assembly, participants highlighted
a major concern. Reports to the state central register by mandated
reporters, such as doctors and teachers were being rejected because
they did not satisfy the requirements established by the state central
register. This bill would require that certain mandated reporters, who
are likely to encounter children in the course of their professional
duties, receive enhanced training on the identification of child abuse
and the requirements for reporting such abuse. The training would be
provided by entities that already provide mandated reporter training
on the process and requirements for reporting child abuse and
maltreatment including the Office of Children and Family Services,
hospitals, school districts, and state and local police.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS :

None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
120 days after enactment.