STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7834
IN SENATE
March 1, 2018
___________
Introduced by Sen. SAVINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of a
statewide toll-free hotline for reporting instances of bullying in
schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 115 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 115. Toll-free statewide bullying hotline. 1. The department shall
4 establish a statewide, toll-free telephone number (a "hotline") to
5 receive reports of bullying in schools. The hotline shall receive
6 reports of allegations of reportable incidents twenty-four hours per
7 day, seven days a week. The hotline shall accept anonymous calls and, if
8 feasible, accept text messages. The department shall provide information
9 about such hotline to each public and private school in the state.
10 2. When any allegation that could reasonably constitute a reportable
11 incident is received by the hotline, the hotline shall accept and imme-
12 diately transmit notice of the report orally and electronically to any
13 appropriate state agencies or local social services office. Whenever a
14 telephone call or electronic transmission to the hotline alleges an act
15 or circumstances that may constitute a criminal offense or an immediate
16 threat to an individual's health, safety or welfare, the hotline shall
17 convey, by the most expedient means available, the information contained
18 in such call or transmission to the appropriate law enforcement agency
19 or district attorney and, to the extent necessary, the appropriate emer-
20 gency responder, and the relevant state agency or local social services
21 office.
22 3. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to
23 facilitate the implementation and operation of the hotline, including
24 but not limited to, procedures for timely and accurate referrals to
25 other state agencies or entities that may have investigative or over-
26 sight authority regarding reported incidents.
27 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14683-01-8