S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5101
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 8, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sens. KENNEDY, BRESLIN, DILAN, LATIMER -- 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 assisting
mandated reporters of child abuse or maltreatment to maintain the
child's safety
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The second undesignated paragraph of paragraph (A) of
subdivision 4 of section 422 of the social services law, as amended by
section 6 of part D of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012, is amended to
read as follows:
After a child, other than a child in residential care, who is reported
to the central register of abuse or maltreatment reaches the age of
eighteen years, access to a child's record under subparagraphs (a) and
(b) of this paragraph shall be permitted only if a sibling or off-spring
of such child is before such person and is a suspected victim of child
abuse or maltreatment. In addition, a person or official required to
make a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment pursuant to
section four hundred thirteen of this chapter shall receive, upon
request, the findings of an investigation made pursuant to this title.
However, no information may be released unless the person or official's
identity is confirmed by the office. [If the request for such informa-
tion is made prior to the completion of an investigation of a report,
the released information shall be limited to whether the report is
"indicated", "unfounded" or "under investigation", whichever the case
may be.] NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, WITHIN THIRTY
CALENDAR DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A REPORT OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR
MALTREATMENT FROM A PERSON OR OFFICIAL REQUIRED TO MAKE SUCH A REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION FOUR HUNDRED THIRTEEN OF THIS TITLE, A COUNTY
DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO THE MANDATED
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00832-01-7
S. 5101 2
REPORTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING THE MANDATED REPORTER IN HIS OR
HER PROFESSIONAL AND OFFICIAL ROLE IN MAINTAINING THE CHILD'S SAFETY:
(I) THE NAME OF THE CHILD AND THE DATE IN WHICH THE REPORT WAS MADE;
(II) WHETHER THE REFERRAL WAS ACCEPTED FOR ASSESSMENT; (III) WHETHER THE
REFERRAL WAS CLOSED WITHOUT SERVICES; (IV) WHETHER THE ASSESSMENT
RESULTED IN SERVICES RELATED TO THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD; AND (V) THE
NAME AND CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE COUNTY CASEWORKER RESPONSIBLE FOR
INVESTIGATING THE REFERRAL. If the request for such information is made
after the completion of an investigation of a report, the released
information shall be limited to whether the report is "indicated" or
"unfounded", whichever the case may be. A person given access to the
names or other information identifying the subjects of the report, or
other persons named in the report, except the subject of the report or
other persons named in the report, shall not divulge or make public such
identifying information unless he or she is a district attorney or other
law enforcement official and the purpose is to initiate court action or
the disclosure is necessary in connection with the investigation or
prosecution of the subject of the report for a crime alleged to have
been committed by the subject against another person named in the
report. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit any
release, disclosure or identification of the names or identifying
descriptions of persons who have reported suspected child abuse or
maltreatment to the statewide central register or the agency, institu-
tion, organization, program or other entity where such persons are
employed or the agency, institution, organization or program with which
they are associated without such persons' written permission except to
persons, officials, and agencies enumerated in subparagraphs (e), (f),
(h), (j), (l), (m) and (v) of this paragraph.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.