S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6762
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 19, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee 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.
              

                                                            LBD07307-01-9

 A. 6762                             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 on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law.