Senate Bill S1741

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1741
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 16, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- 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:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 "Junior's law".
   § 2.  Article 6 of the social services law is amended by adding a  new
 title 8-B to read as follows:
                                  TITLE 8-B
                    SAFE HAVENS FOR ENDANGERED CHILDREN
 SECTION 448-A. DEFINITIONS.
         448-B. SAFE HAVENS.
   § 448-A. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS TITLE:
   1.  THE TERM "SMALL BUSINESS" SHALL MEAN A BUSINESS WITH FIFTY EMPLOY-
 EES OR LESS.
   2. THE TERM "ENDANGERED CHILD" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE  AGE
 OF  EIGHTEEN  WHO  HAS  HAD PHYSICAL INJURY INFLICTED UPON HIM OR HER BY
 OTHER THAN ACCIDENTAL MEANS OR IS IN IMMINENT DANGER OF PHYSICAL INJURY.
   3. THE TERM "SAFE HAVEN" SHALL MEAN A TEMPORARY  PLACE  OF  REFUGE  OR
 SECURITY  WHEREUPON  AN  ENDANGERED  CHILD SHALL REMAIN UNTIL THE PROPER
 AUTHORITIES ARRIVE TO MITIGATE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT.
   § 448-B. SAFE HAVENS. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF
 LAW, PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF  CHILDREN  AND  FAMILY
 SERVICES,  A  SMALL  BUSINESS  SHALL PROVIDE SAFE HAVEN TO AN ENDANGERED
 CHILD WHO ENTERS UPON SUCH PREMISES STATING  AN  IMMEDIATE  THREAT  UPON
 THEIR WELLBEING.
   2.  SUCH  SMALL  BUSINESS  SHALL NOTIFY THE POLICE IMMEDIATELY OF SUCH
 THREAT AND PERMIT SUCH ENDANGERED  CHILD  TO  REMAIN  UNTIL  THE  POLICE
 ARRIVE.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD05617-01-9

 S. 1741                             2
 
   3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW, A SMALL BUSINESS
 WHO  KNOWINGLY  OR  WILLFULLY  FAILS  TO REPORT UNDER THIS TITLE WILL BE
 SUBJECT TO PENALTIES DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF
 CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES.
   §  3.  Section  305  of  the  education law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 57 to read as follows:
   57. THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO FACILITATE A  "SAFE
 WALK  HOME  ZONE"  PROGRAM IN WHICH LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION AND SCHOOL
 BOARDS ARE REQUIRED TO WORK WITH LOCAL CHAMBERS OF  COMMERCE  TO  CREATE
 SPECIFIC  AREAS  IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO SAFELY TRAVEL TO AND FROM
 SCHOOL. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE ANY NECESSARY RULES  OR  REGU-
 LATIONS TO GUIDE IN THE CREATION OF SUCH PROGRAM.
   §  4.  This act shall take effect immediately.  Effective immediately,
 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regulation  neces-
 sary  for  the  implementation  of  this  act  on its effective date are
 authorized and directed to be made  and  completed  on  or  before  such
 effective date.