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A06835 Summary:

A06835 Actions:

A06835 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)



 
BILL NUMBER: A6835
 
SPONSOR: Galef (MS)

 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to establish a temporary state commission to
study child abuse prevention and make recommendations for the implemen-
tation of child abuse prevention programs across the state; and provid-
ing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
 
The purpose of this legislation is to establish a temporary commission
of child abuse prevention.
 
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 

Approximately 1,300 children die each year in this country as a result
of child abuse and neglect, and many others receive serious injuries. In
New York State, approximately 80,000 children are found to be maltreated
each year.
 
Child abuse and neglect has been rising across the State and more
resources are expended to treat the consequences including incarcera-
tion, court costs, foster care and more. A study by Prevent Child Abuse
New York estimated these costs to be approximately 42.4 billion each
year; while the amount spent on primary prevention is less than 30
million.
 
Tragic cases of child abuse are reported in the press on a regular basis
and while these reports focus on the most horrific cases, most cases of
child abuse are preventable. These cases range from severe neglect to
the explosive shaking of a crying baby. Research has demonstrated that
programs focusing on education and training of future and new parents

are the most practical and cost-effective means for preventing child
abuse and neglect.
 
Effective prevention programs that promote the safety and well-being of
children and families can reduce the suffering of children, assist
parents in developing better parenting skills and reduce the economic
costs to society. The total financial costs of child abuse and neglect
are quite high, but the benefits or savings from investing in prevention
programs also are quite high.
 
Many prevention programs address not only child abuse prevention but
other aspects of family dynamics that threaten child and family well-be-
ing. These include preventable health conditions such as low birth
weight, infant mortality, drug addicted babies and more. These programs
often provide referrals, education, expertise, and most importantly
stability for at-risk families.
 
While a number of these prevention programs have proven to be both bene-

ficial and cost effective, they are currently only offered to a small
number of families at risk of abuse and neglect. For examples, home
visitation is only available to about 10%-14% of eligible families.
 
By studying the availability of successful prevention programs, and the
best way to expand their services to more families at risk, we can save
 
numerous children from having to endure abuse and neglect while saving
the state considerable fiscal resources.
 
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
A. 9038 and S. 2095-A of 2013/2014
A. 2163 of 2011/2012
A. 7518 of 2009/2010
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
The fiscal implications associated with this passes of this legislation
has not yet been determined.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed two years after such effective date.

A06835 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          6835
 
                               2015-2016 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      April 6, 2015
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M. of A. GALEF, SCARBOROUGH -- read once and referred to
          the Committee on Governmental Operations
 
        AN ACT to establish a temporary state commission to  study  child  abuse
          prevention  and  make  recommendations for the implementation of child
          abuse prevention programs across the  state;  and  providing  for  the
          repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature  hereby  acknowledges
     2  that child abuse is a continuing societal problem in the state affecting
     3  at  least  80,000  children  each  year. In recent years, there has been
     4  research on the long-term effects of child abuse on  the  individual  as
     5  well as society. The vast majority of research has demonstrated that the
     6  consequences  of  child  abuse  are grave, damaging and often spill over
     7  into a person's adult life. Adverse  effects  have  been  identified  in
     8  maltreated children's physical, cognitive, emotional and social develop-
     9  ment.
    10    Furthermore,  the  legislature finds that the failure to address child
    11  abuse through preventive measures not only harms a million children each
    12  year in this country, it imposes a tremendous cost to society. Like most
    13  states, New York spends  a  considerable  amount  of  fiscal  and  human
    14  resources  to  treat  the  numerous  consequences  of  child  abuse  and
    15  maltreatment. The failure to invest in prevention results in  a  signif-
    16  icantly greater amount of resources needed to treat the outcomes.
    17    §  2.  A temporary state commission, to be known as the "commission of
    18  child abuse prevention", is hereby established to examine, evaluate  and
    19  make  recommendations  concerning  child abuse prevention efforts in the
    20  state. The commission shall consider the need for additional legislation
    21  as well as a  stable  source  of  funding  for  child  abuse  prevention
    22  programs.  Specific  issues  to  be  addressed  by  the commission shall
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02258-01-5
        A. 6835                             2
 
     1  include home visitation programs and screening for families at  risk  of
     2  child maltreatment.
     3    § 3. The commission shall consist of thirteen members, to be appointed
     4  as follows: three members to be appointed by the governor; three members
     5  to  be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three members
     6  to be appointed by the speaker  of  the  assembly;  two  members  to  be
     7  appointed  by  the  minority leader of the senate; and two members to be
     8  appointed by the minority leader of the assembly. The members shall have
     9  demonstrated expertise in and experience with the field of  child  abuse
    10  prevention.  A chairperson and vice-chairperson of such commission shall
    11  be elected by the majority of its members, all members being present.
    12    § 4. The members of the commission shall receive no  compensation  for
    13  their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
    14  incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
    15    §  5.  The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
    16  as it may deem necessary for the performance of  its  functions.    Such
    17  commission  may  meet  and hold public and/or private hearings within or
    18  without the state, and shall  have  all  the  powers  of  a  legislative
    19  committee pursuant to the legislative law.
    20    §  6.  For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission shall be
    21  authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or
    22  analyses it may deem relevant in cooperation with or by  agreement  with
    23  any other public or private agency.
    24    § 7. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any
    25  recommendations  for  legislative  action  as  it may deem necessary and
    26  appropriate, to the governor, the temporary president of the senate  and
    27  the  speaker  of the assembly no later than one year after the effective
    28  date of this act.
    29    § 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
    30  deemed repealed two years after such effective date.