Sayegh, Taylor, De La Rosa, Dickens, Zebrowski, Rivera J, Simon, Cook, Williams, Frontus, Reyes,
Weprin, Fernandez, Stirpe, Buttenschon, Miller M, Niou
MLTSPNSR
Abbate, Englebright, Giglio JM, Tague
Add Art 6 Title 8-B §§448-a & 448-b, Soc Serv L; amd §305, Ed L
Establishes "Junior's law" which requires a business with fifty employees or less to provide safe haven to endangered children and creates a "safe walk home zone" program between local boards of education and school boards and local chambers of commerce.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5941
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 2, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PICHARDO, SAYEGH, TAYLOR, DE LA ROSA, DICKENS,
ZEBROWSKI, J. RIVERA, SIMON, COOK, WILLIAMS, FRONTUS, REYES, WEPRIN,
FERNANDEZ, STIRPE, BUTTENSCHON, M. MILLER, NIOU -- Multi-Sponsored by
-- M. of A. ABBATE, ENGLEBRIGHT, J. M. GIGLIO, TAGUE -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Children and Families
AN ACT to amend the social services law and the education law, in
relation to establishing Junior's law
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 "Junior's law".
3 § 2. Article 6 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
4 title 8-B to read as follows:
5 TITLE 8-B
6 SAFE HAVENS FOR ENDANGERED CHILDREN
7 Section 448-a. Definitions.
8 448-b. Safe havens.
9 § 448-a. Definitions. As used in this title:
10 1. The term "small business" shall mean a business with fifty employ-
11 ees or less.
12 2. The term "endangered child" shall mean an individual under the age
13 of eighteen who has had physical injury inflicted upon him or her by
14 other than accidental means or is in imminent danger of physical injury.
15 3. The term "safe haven" shall mean a temporary place of refuge or
16 security whereupon an endangered child shall remain until the proper
17 authorities arrive to mitigate an immediate threat.
18 § 448-b. Safe havens. 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of
19 law, pursuant to regulations of the office of children and family
20 services, a small business shall provide safe haven to an endangered
21 child who enters upon such premises stating an immediate threat upon
22 their wellbeing.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03646-01-1
A. 5941 2
1 2. Such small business shall notify the police immediately of such
2 threat and permit such endangered child to remain until the police
3 arrive.
4 3. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, a small business
5 who knowingly or willfully fails to report under this title will be
6 subject to penalties determined by the commissioner of the office of
7 children and family services.
8 § 3. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
9 subdivision 57 to read as follows:
10 57. The commissioner is authorized and directed to facilitate a "safe
11 walk home zone" program in which local boards of education and school
12 boards are required to work with local chambers of commerce to create
13 specific areas in which students are able to safely travel to and from
14 school. The commissioner shall promulgate any necessary rules or regu-
15 lations to guide in the creation of such program.
16 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately,
17 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
18 sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
19 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
