S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5941
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 2, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. PICHARDO, SAYEGH, TAYLOR, DE LA ROSA, DICKENS,
   ZEBROWSKI, J. RIVERA, SIMON, COOK, WILLIAMS, FRONTUS,  REYES,  WEPRIN,
   FERNANDEZ,  STIRPE, BUTTENSCHON, M. MILLER, NIOU -- Multi-Sponsored by
   -- M. of A.  ABBATE, ENGLEBRIGHT, J. M. GIGLIO, TAGUE -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Children and Families

 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.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD03646-01-1

 A. 5941                             2
 
   2. SUCH SMALL BUSINESS SHALL NOTIFY THE  POLICE  IMMEDIATELY  OF  SUCH
 THREAT  AND  PERMIT  SUCH  ENDANGERED  CHILD  TO REMAIN UNTIL THE POLICE
 ARRIVE.
   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 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.