S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7366
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               May 18, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Children and Families
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the social services law, in relation to updating the
   mandated reporter training to include how to  identify  an  abused  or
   maltreated child with an intellectual or developmental disability

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 413 of the social services law is amended by adding
 a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
   6. THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES  SHALL  UPDATE  TRAINING
 ISSUED  TO  PERSONS  AND OFFICIALS REQUIRED TO REPORT CASES OF SUSPECTED
 CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT TO INCLUDE GUIDANCE ON IDENTIFYING AN ABUSED
 OR MALTREATED CHILD WHEN SUCH CHILD IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH AN INTELLECTU-
 AL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1.03 OF THE  MENTAL
 HYGIENE  LAW.  SUCH GUIDANCE SHALL BE DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
 JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.  PERSONS
 AND  OFFICIALS  REQUIRED  TO  REPORT  CASES  OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR
 MALTREATMENT SHALL HAVE ONE YEAR FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS  SUBDI-
 VISION TO RECEIVE SUCH UPDATED MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING.
   §    2.  Paragraph  (c)  of subdivision 2 of section 421 of the social
 services law, as amended by section 7 of subpart A of part JJ of chapter
 56 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   (c) issue guidelines to assist local child protective services in  the
 interpretation  and assessment of reports of abuse and maltreatment made
 to the statewide central register  described  in  section  four  hundred
 twenty-two  of  this article. Such guidelines shall include information,
 standards and criteria for the identification  of  evidence  of  alleged
 abuse  and maltreatment as required to determine whether a report may be
 indicated pursuant to this article.  Provided  further,  the  office  of
 children and family services shall update such guidelines, standards and
 criteria issued to the local child protective services to include proto-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10847-03-3
              

 A. 7366                             2
 
 cols  to  reduce implicit bias in the decision-making processes, strate-
 gies for identifying adverse childhood experiences as defined  in  para-
 graph  (c) of subdivision one of section twenty-d of this chapter, [and]
 guidelines to assist in recognizing signs of abuse or maltreatment while
 interacting   virtually,  AND  GUIDANCE  ON  IDENTIFYING  AN  ABUSED  OR
 MALTREATED CHILD WHEN SUCH CHILD IS AN INDIVIDUAL WITH  AN  INTELLECTUAL
 OR  DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITY  AS  DEFINED IN SECTION 1.03 OF THE MENTAL
 HYGIENE LAW. The office  may  utilize  existing  programs  or  materials
 established pursuant to section twenty-d of this chapter.
   §  3. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
 law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment,  and/or  repeal  of
 any  rule  or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on
 its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or  before
 such effective date.