STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2059--A
Cal. No. 191
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sens. BONACIC, CARLUCCI, GALLIVAN, KENNEDY, RITCHIE, SAVI-
NO, VALESKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Judiciary -- recommitted to the Commit-
tee on Judiciary in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- reported
favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report,
ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the
Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading,
amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of
third reading
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to the court-appointed
special advocates program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 212 of the judiciary law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (w) to read as follows:
3 (w) Adopt rules and regulations standardizing use of court-appointed
4 special advocate (CASA) programs in this state and governing the struc-
5 ture, administration and operation of such programs.
6 § 2. The judiciary law is amended by adding a new article 21-C to read
7 as follows:
8 ARTICLE 21-C
9 COURT-APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES PROGRAM
10 Section 849-l. Appointment.
11 849-m. Confidentiality.
12 § 849-l. Appointment. A person employed by, or volunteering for, a
13 court-appointed special advocate (CASA) program shall not be eligible
14 for appointment by a family court to assist such court unless such
15 program is in compliance with the rules and regulations of the chief
16 administrator of the courts adopted pursuant to paragraph (w) of subdi-
17 vision two of section two hundred twelve of this chapter, and such
18 program has been approved by the chief administrator. Such person or
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04741-09-8
S. 2059--A 2
1 volunteer so appointed shall only exercise the functions and duties
2 specifically authorized by the court.
3 § 849-m. Confidentiality. Each CASA program shall safeguard the confi-
4 dentiality of all information and material in accordance with applicable
5 state and federal laws, rules and regulations and, to this end, shall
6 ensure that all of its board members, officers, employees and volunteers
7 are trained in, and comply with, such laws, rules and regulations.
8 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
