BILL NUMBER: S4015                     REVISED 7/29/2019

SPONSOR: CARLUCCI
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To allow the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities to place
video cameras on the entrance and exit of all facilities.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 Amends the mental hygiene law to provide that, the Office
for-People with Developmental Disabilities, including group homes, resi-
dential homes, inpatient facilities, and all other facilities to install
video cameras at all entrances and exits; to ensure safety, the Commis-
sioner, in consultation with the State Police, shall develop a system
for maintaining such recorded images.

Section 2 This act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

              

Paula Liblick, a 61yo OPWDD resident in a group home in the Hudson was
assaulted and raped by an intruder to the home, but since no mechanism
existed to catalogue visitors to the home, no suspects were identified
except for the 2 long term staff at the home. Also, recently the New
York Times ran a series of stories entitled "At State Run Homes, abuse
and Impunity" which highlighted many of the problems in the state run
homes, facilities and programs.

We have cameras recording information on visitors to many public build-
ings and institutions in an effort to protect the denizens and property
at these sites. So, certainly, the residents and participants of the
state run OPWDD programs, who are society's most vulnerable, deserve to
be protected in the sane manner.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-18: A745 reported to Ways & Means/S2941 referred to Mental Health
2015-16: A1059 reported to Ways & Means/S3622 reported to Finance
2013-14: A1715A reported to Codes/S2000A reported to Finance
2011-12: A7128 referred to Mental He reported to Finance

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This. act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become law.