NY State Senate Bill 2017-S542

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

Please enter your contact information

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

A valid email address is required.

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 30, 2018	reported and committed to finance
Jan 03, 2018	referred to social services
Apr 24, 2017	reported and committed to finance
Jan 04, 2017	referred to social services

Votes

- Apr 30, 2018 - Social Services Committee Vote
  S542
  
  7
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Social Services Committee Vote: Apr 30, 2018
      
      aye (7)
      
      Alcantara
      
      Amedore
      
      Helming
      
      Kavanagh
      
      LaValle
      
      Persaud
      
      Tedisco
  Apr 24, 2017 - Social Services Committee Vote
  S542
  
  7
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Social Services Committee Vote: Apr 24, 2017
      
      aye (7)
      
      Alcantara
      
      Amedore
      
      Helming
      
      LaValle
      
      Persaud
      
      Squadron
      
      Tedisco

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A1996
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §575, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2013-2014: S1593, A9050
2015-2016: S3630, A2005
2019-2020: S1290, A2523
2021-2022: A1849

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the report of programs available to survivors of domestic violence.

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S542        Revised 2/2/17

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
reporting of programs available to survivors of domestic violence

 PURPOSE :

To create a report detailing various programs aimed at assisting
survivors of domestic violence as well as supporting information.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 states the legislative intent and further states that by
November 30, 2019 a report and recommendations shall be provided
including the types of treatment programs and resources currently
available, an evaluation of existing domestic violence forensic
examiner programs, a list of criminal offenses for which creation of a
statewide domestic violence forensic examiner program would be of
assistance, recommendations to enhance collection of evidence, and an
evaluation of fiscal costs.

Section 2 is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Forensic examiner programs provide significant amounts of assistance

to both survivors of domestic violence, but also law enforcement
looking to build a case. For example, The Family Justice Center of
Erie County is home to a Forensic Medical Unit (FMU) in all of NY
State dedicated to domestic violence, thanks to the partnership with
University of Buffalo Family Medicine. These full-time Registered
Nurses document end photograph (via electronic body mapping) client
injuries using high-tech digital camera equipment. This documentation
is immeasurable in its ability to detect injuries that traditional
hospital Photographs cannot detect; the high-tech equipment can also
detect pooling of blood under the skin from incidents like
strangulation; as one example. These visual records, which can take
four or more hours to produce, are then used by the District Attorney
in prosecutions, if the client wishes to press charges. Additionally,
the FMU nurse testifies at trial, as required.

The Forensic Medical Unit is one of the agency's most sought after
services and the Erie County District Attorney calls the records
generated by the FMU "invaluable" leading to increased plea bargains
and higher conviction rates. The increased plea bargains, thanks to
the FMU, save taxpayers the skyrocketing expense of trial. The DA's
office has put. area hospitals on notice to send all domestic violence
victims to the Family Justice Center for injury documentation,
informing hospitals that traditional photos are not suitable evidence
for court. Not only does it save taxpayers money but it saves victims
the trauma of testifying at a trial along with avoiding the trauma of
being examined at a hospital; where the evidence is NOT permissible in
court. The forensic medical unit documentation is permissible in court
with conviction rates almost 100% of the time.

This legislation will allow for sustainability of FMU in the Family
Justice Center as a "one stop center" and will allow for evaluation
and expansion, over time, of forensic medical units in other Family
Justice Centers throughout New York State.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

S.6889/A.9669 of 2011-2012 Reported to Senate Finance Committee.
S.1593-B/ A.9050 of 2013-2014 Passed Senate.
S.3630/A.2005 of 2015-2016 Referred to Social Services.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    542
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FUNKE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to reporting of  programs
   available to survivors of domestic violence

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.  Section 575 of the executive law is amended  by  adding  a
 new subdivision 11 to read as follows:
   11. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. (A) THE LEGISLATURE HEREBY FINDS THAT DOMESTIC
 VIOLENCE  IS  A  PERVASIVE  PROBLEM  IN NEW YORK STATE, WITH HUNDREDS OF
 THOUSANDS OF INCIDENTS BEING REPORTED EACH YEAR. THE LEGISLATURE FURTHER
 FINDS THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORENSIC EXAMINER PROGRAMS HAVE THE  POTEN-
 TIAL  TO  IMPROVE  THE  STATE'S  ABILITY  TO  PROSECUTE SUCH CRIMES, AND
 ENHANCE THE PROVISION OF TREATMENT AND SERVICES TO  VICTIMS.  THEREFORE,
 THE  LEGISLATURE  FINDS IT PRUDENT AND NECESSARY TO REQUIRE A COMPREHEN-
 SIVE EVALUATION OF EXISTING SERVICES AND SUCH FORENSIC EXAMINER PROGRAMS
 TO DETERMINE HOW TO BEST REDUCE AND ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITHIN THE
 STATE.
   (B) ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER THIRTIETH, TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN, THE EXECU-
 TIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE FOR  THE  PREVENTION  OF  DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE
 SHALL,  IN  CONJUNCTION  WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH AND THE COMMIS-
 SIONER OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, PROVIDE A  REPORT  AND  RECOMMENDA-
 TIONS  TO  THE  GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE
 SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY  REGARDING  THE  POTENTIAL  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A
 STATEWIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORENSIC EXAMINER PROGRAM.
   (C)  SUCH REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
 TO:
   (I) THE TYPES OF TREATMENT PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES CURRENTLY  AVAILABLE
 TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD02462-01-7

 S. 542                              2
 
   (II) AN EVALUATION OF ANY EXISTING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORENSIC EXAMINER
 PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THEIR IMPACT ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROSECUTIONS;
   (III)  A  LIST  OF  CRIMINAL  OFFENSES FOR WHICH PROSECUTIONS COULD BE
 AIDED BY A STATEWIDE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORENSIC EXAMINER PROGRAM;
   (IV) RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING POTENTIAL PRACTICES AND PROTOCOLS  THAT
 COULD ENHANCE THE COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, AND
 IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TREATMENT AND SERVICES PROVIDED TO VICTIMS; AND
   (V) AN EVALUATION OF FISCAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
 A  STATEWIDE  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FORENSIC EXAMINER PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE
 POTENTIAL ROLE OF PRIVATE INSURANCE PROVIDERS AND  RECOMMENDED  MEASURES
 TO AVOID SUBJECTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS TO ANY UNFUNDED MANDATE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

Create an account. An account allows you to sign petitions with a single click, officially support or oppose key legislation, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Senate Bill S542

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Apr 30, 2018 - Social Services Committee Vote

Social Services Committee Vote: Apr 30, 2018

Apr 24, 2017 - Social Services Committee Vote

Social Services Committee Vote: Apr 24, 2017

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S542

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Rich Funke

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Details

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S542 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments