NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A11250
SPONSOR: Gordon
 
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to
requiring surveillance cameras in all state and volunteer agency vehi-
cles used to transport developmentally disabled individuals and in group
homes
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To require installation of surveil-
lance cameras with sound capability in all state and voluntary agency
vehicles used by providers who are certified, licensed, funded or oper-
ated to transport children or adults with mental or physical disabili-
ties. Also to require installation of surveillance cameras with sound
capability in all public common areas which provide services for chil-
dren or adults with mental or physical disabilities, as well as in any
school or private transport company vehicles used to transport children
or adults with mental disabilities. Requires installation of a surveil-
lance camera with sound capability at the request of and with the
consent of the parent or guardian of a child, thirteen or under in a
single occupancy bedroom.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Amends the mental hygiene law by
adding a new section 16.24 to require surveillance cameras with sound
capability for the protection of vulnerable populations.
 
JUSTIFICATION: Protection of vulnerable populations must be consistent
and enforceable. This legislation would he a critical component of that
initiative.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Significant - To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately upon enactment.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
11250
IN ASSEMBLY
May 25, 2010
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GORDON -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring
surveillance cameras in all state and volunteer agency vehicles used
to transport developmentally disabled individuals and in group homes
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
2 16.25 to read as follows:
3 § 16.25 Surveillance cameras.
4 (a) (i) All state and voluntary agency vehicles used by providers who
5 are certified, licensed, funded or operated by the office that are used
6 to transport children or adults with mental or physical disabilities
7 shall be equipped with surveillance cameras with sound capability.
8 (ii) All vehicles used at a facility providing residential care to
9 youth as such term is defined in paragraph (a) or (b) of subdivision
10 four of section four hundred twelve-a of the social services law to
11 transport such youth shall be equipped with surveillance cameras with
12 sound capability.
13 (b) (i) Surveillance cameras with sound capability shall be installed
14 in all public common areas including, but not limited to, all common
15 living areas, dining areas, hallways, classrooms and time-out rooms in
16 all group homes, residential and day schools and programs licensed,
17 certified, funded or operated by the office which provide services for
18 children or adults with mental or physical disabilities.
19 (ii) All public common areas including, but not limited to, all common
20 living areas, dining areas, hallways, classrooms and time-out rooms of a
21 facility providing residential care to youth as such term is defined in
22 paragraph (a) or (b) of subdivision four of section four hundred
23 twelve-a of the social services law shall be equipped with surveillance
24 cameras with sound capability.
25 (c) Any school or private transport company vehicles used to transport
26 children or adults with mental disabilities shall be equipped with
27 surveillance cameras with sound capabilities.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16589-07-0
A. 11250 2
1 (d) In all residential facilities statewide, for children with mental
2 disabilities certified, licensed, funded or operated by the office,
3 surveillance cameras may be placed in a child's, age thirteen or young-
4 er, room at the request of and with the consent of the child's parent or
5 guardian and only if the child is in a single occupancy bedroom.
6 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
7 the date on which it shall become a law.