Senate Bill S7535

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7535

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the New York city charter and the administrative code of
the city of New York, in relation to requiring the administration for
children's services and New York city public school employees provide a
verbal and written warning of the student's right to refuse an interview
and right to a supportive adult during the interview

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to inform children of their rights to either
request a supportive adult during or refuse an interview with the admin-
istration for children's services.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISION

Section 1: The New York city charter is amended by adding a new section
619 that explains that employees of the administration for children's
services must provide students who are meant to be interviewed by the
              

administration with a verbal and written warning about their rights to
refusal, consent and a supportive adult.

Section 2: Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York
is amended by adding a new chapter 11 that explains that when a student
is meant to be interviewed by an employee of the department, the employ-
ee must provide students with a verbal and written warning about their
rights to refusal, consent and a supportive adult.

Section 3: This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it
shall have become a law.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The unfortunate racial biases that exist in New York City's child
welfare system have been recognized by the Administration for Children's
services (ACS). ACS has launched a pilot program to educate parents on
their rights. Although it is important for children to understand their
rights in the context of the welfare system, it is also crucial the
children understand theirs. ACS has been actively battling to address
disparities in the child welfare system and reports have proved their
effectiveness.

This bill mandates that employees of the Administration of Children's
services and New York city public schools provide students with a writ-
ten and verbal notice of their right to consent, their right to refuse
an interview, and their right to request a supportive adult while the
interview commences. Informing students of their right to refusal,
consent and support, is a preventative step to help reduce the amount of
families separated unnecessarily or on a discriminatory basis due to
children being misinterpreted or students not knowing their rights. This
also ensures students are not unnecessarily taken away from their class
and do not miss vital education. This bill builds upon the continuous
efforts of ACS to keep children safe.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become law