Requires statewide training for mandated reporters to include how to identify an abused or maltreated child with an intellectual or developmental disability.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7366
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 18, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to updating the
mandated reporter training to include how to identify an abused or
maltreated child with an intellectual or developmental disability
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 413 of the social services law is amended by adding
2 a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
3 6. The office of children and family services shall update training
4 issued to persons and officials required to report cases of suspected
5 child abuse or maltreatment to include guidance on identifying an abused
6 or maltreated child when such child is an individual with an intellectu-
7 al or developmental disability as defined in section 1.03 of the mental
8 hygiene law. Such guidance shall be developed in consultation with the
9 justice center for the protection of people with special needs. Persons
10 and officials required to report cases of suspected child abuse or
11 maltreatment shall have one year from the effective date of this subdi-
12 vision to receive such updated mandated reporter training.
13 § 2. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 2 of section 421 of the social
14 services law, as amended by section 7 of subpart A of part JJ of chapter
15 56 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
16 (c) issue guidelines to assist local child protective services in the
17 interpretation and assessment of reports of abuse and maltreatment made
18 to the statewide central register described in section four hundred
19 twenty-two of this article. Such guidelines shall include information,
20 standards and criteria for the identification of evidence of alleged
21 abuse and maltreatment as required to determine whether a report may be
22 indicated pursuant to this article. Provided further, the office of
23 children and family services shall update such guidelines, standards and
24 criteria issued to the local child protective services to include proto-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10847-03-3
A. 7366 2
1 cols to reduce implicit bias in the decision-making processes, strate-
2 gies for identifying adverse childhood experiences as defined in para-
3 graph (c) of subdivision one of section twenty-d of this chapter, [and]
4 guidelines to assist in recognizing signs of abuse or maltreatment while
5 interacting virtually, and guidance on identifying an abused or
6 maltreated child when such child is an individual with an intellectual
7 or developmental disability as defined in section 1.03 of the mental
8 hygiene law. The office may utilize existing programs or materials
9 established pursuant to section twenty-d of this chapter.
10 § 3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
11 law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of
12 any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on
13 its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before
14 such effective date.
