S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9845
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 14, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. LUPARDO, ENGLEBRIGHT, MOSLEY -- Multi-Sponsored
   by -- M. of A.    ABBATE,  BARRON,  COOK,  D'URSO,  GALEF,  GOTTFRIED,
   HIKIND, JOYNER, McDONALD, SCHIMMINGER -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Children and Families
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the social services law and the elder law, in relation
   to providing protective services to certain individuals

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 473 of the social services law is amended by adding
 a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
   9.  (A)  WITHIN  AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN
 AND FAMILY SERVICES SHALL ESTABLISH  A  STATEWIDE,  TOLL-FREE  TELEPHONE
 NUMBER  (A "HOTLINE") TO RECEIVE REPORTS CONSISTENT WITH SUBDIVISION ONE
 OF THIS SECTION. THE HOTLINE SHALL RECEIVE  REPORTS  OF  ALLEGATIONS  OF
 REPORTABLE  INCIDENTS TWENTY-FOUR HOURS PER DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.  THE
 HOTLINE SHALL ACCEPT ANONYMOUS CALLS.
   (B) WHEN ANY ALLEGATION THAT COULD REASONABLY CONSTITUTE A  REPORTABLE
 INCIDENT  IS RECEIVED BY THE HOTLINE, THE HOTLINE SHALL ACCEPT AND IMME-
 DIATELY TRANSMIT NOTICE OF THE REPORT ORALLY AND ELECTRONICALLY  TO  ANY
 APPROPRIATE  STATE  AGENCIES OR LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICE. WHENEVER A
 TELEPHONE CALL OR ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION TO THE HOTLINE ALLEGES AN  ACT
 OR  CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY CONSTITUTE A CRIMINAL OFFENSE OR AN IMMEDIATE
 THREAT TO AN INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE, THE  HOTLINE  SHALL
 CONVEY, BY THE MOST EXPEDIENT MEANS AVAILABLE, THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
 IN  SUCH  CALL OR TRANSMISSION TO THE APPROPRIATE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
 OR DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY, THE APPROPRIATE EMER-
 GENCY RESPONDER, AND THE RELEVANT STATE AGENCY OR LOCAL SOCIAL  SERVICES
 OFFICE.
   (C) THE COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS
 TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF THE HOTLINE, INCLUDING
 BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO,  PROCEDURES  FOR TIMELY AND ACCURATE REFERRALS TO
 OTHER STATE AGENCIES OR ENTITIES THAT MAY HAVE  INVESTIGATIVE  OR  OVER-
 SIGHT AUTHORITY REGARDING REPORTED INCIDENTS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD04886-08-8

 A. 9845                             2
 
   § 2. Subdivision 16 of section 202 of the elder law, as added by chap-
 ter 455 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
   16.  to  the  extent appropriations are available, and in consultation
 with the office of children and family services, conduct a public educa-
 tion campaign that  emphasizes  zero-tolerance  for  elder  abuse.  Such
 campaign shall include information about the signs and symptoms of elder
 abuse,  identification  of  potential  causes  of elder abuse, resources
 available to assist in the prevention of elder  abuse,  where  suspected
 elder  abuse can be reported, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INFORMATION
 REGARDING THE STATEWIDE HOTLINE AS PROVIDED  FOR  IN  PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF
 SUBDIVISION  NINE  OF  SECTION  FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-THREE OF THE SOCIAL
 SERVICES LAW, contact information  for  programs  offering  services  to
 victims of elder abuse such as counseling, and assistance with arranging
 personal care and shelter. Such campaign may include, but not be limited
 to: printed educational and informational materials; audio, video, elec-
 tronic, other media; and public service announcements or advertisements.
   § 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2019.