NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7612
SPONSOR: Espinal TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to establishing a statewide toll-free elderly abuse hotline for purposes
of reporting of endangered adults
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Establishes a single statewide toll-
free telephone number which people may call to report any abuse,
neglect, exploitation or abandonment of an elderly person,
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: A statewide toll-free telephone
number will be in operation twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,
for the sole purpose of reporting the known or suspected abuse of an
elderly person. This abuse shall include, but not be limited to: phys-
ical and/or mental mistreatment, neglect, exploitation or abandonment.
EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER: Subdivision 1 of
section 473-b of the social services law is remunerated subdivision 2
and a new subdivision 1 is added.
JUSTIFICATION: An Elder Abuse Hotline is necessary for the protection
of the welfare and security of our state's elderly who are often too
vulnerable to protect themselves from a potentially life-threatening
situation. By establishing a toll-free telephone number, a person may
promptly report a case in which an elderly person is maltreated. In
situations where a relative is responsible, abused seniors are less apt
to report the criminal behavior. A statewide hotline will create an
accessible reporting system, and serve as the first step in protecting
the senior from abuse.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: A.5400 in the 2011/2012 Legislative Session
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Not yet determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE: One hundred and twenty days after it becomes law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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7612
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 28, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ESPINAL -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing a
statewide toll-free elderly abuse hotline for purposes of reporting of
endangered adults
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 473-b of the social
2 services law, as added by chapter 523 of the laws of 1984, is amended to
3 read as follows:
4 1. The office shall establish, maintain and operate a single statewide
5 toll-free telephone number for the purpose of receiving telephone calls
6 alleging abuse or maltreatment of an elderly person, including but not
7 limited to abuse, neglect or financial exploitation as defined in this
8 article.
9 2. Any person who in good faith believes that a person eighteen years
10 of age or older may be an endangered adult or in need of protective or
11 other services, pursuant to this article, and who, based on such belief
12 either:
13 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
14 it shall have become a law, except that any rules and regulations neces-
15 sary for the timely implementation of this act on its effective date may
16 be promulgated on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11223-01-3
