Requires providers of residential services to developmentally disabled children to have surveillance cameras in the common areas of their residential facilities.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3715
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. LANZA, GALLIVAN, MATTERA, MURRAY -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to duties of provid-
ers of services for the developmentally disabled
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 16.39 to read as follows:
3 § 16.39 Surveillance cameras.
4 (a) (i) Surveillance cameras with sound capability shall be installed
5 in all public common areas including, but not limited to, all common
6 living areas, dining areas, hallways, classrooms and time-out rooms in
7 all group homes, residential and day schools and programs licensed,
8 certified, funded or operated by the office which provide services for
9 children or adults with mental or physical disabilities.
10 (ii) All public common areas including, but not limited to, all common
11 living areas, dining areas, hallways, classrooms and time-out rooms of a
12 facility providing residential care to youth which is operated, licensed
13 or certified by the office of children and family services, or which is
14 subject to the supervision of such office shall be equipped with
15 surveillance cameras with sound capability.
16 (b) In all residential facilities statewide, for children with mental
17 disabilities certified, licensed, funded or operated by the office,
18 surveillance cameras may be placed in a child's, age thirteen or young-
19 er, room at the request of and with the consent of the child's parent or
20 guardian and only if the child is in a single occupancy bedroom.
21 (c) Any provider that fails to implement the provisions of this
22 section shall be subjected to a fine of one thousand dollars per day of
23 noncompliances.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
25 law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05582-01-5
