S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1965
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, the criminal procedure law, the fami-
   ly  court  act, the general business law, the insurance law, the labor
   law, the public health law, the social services  law,  and  the  state
   finance  law, in relation to establishing the New York state office to
   end domestic and gender-based violence
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The article heading of article 21 of the executive law, as
 added by chapter 463 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
                                 ARTICLE 21
                        NEW YORK STATE OFFICE [FOR
                         THE PREVENTION OF] TO END
                    DOMESTIC AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
   § 2. Section 575 of the executive law, as added by chapter 463 of  the
 laws  of 1992, subdivisions 3, 4 and 5 as amended by section 1 of part B
 of chapter 55 of the laws of 2021, paragraph (o)  of  subdivision  3  as
 amended  by chapter 23 of the laws of 2023, paragraph (p) of subdivision
 3 as relettered by chapter 740 of the laws of 2022, subdivisions 7 and 8
 as added by chapter 396 of the laws of 1994, subdivision 9 as  added  by
 chapter 368 of the laws of 1997, subdivision 10 as added by section 3 of
 part  A of chapter 491 of the laws of 2012 and paragraph (d) of subdivi-
 sion 10 as amended by chapter 248 of the laws of  2017,  is  amended  to
 read as follows:
   § 575. New  York  state office [for the prevention of] TO END domestic
 AND GENDER-BASED violence. 1.  Establishment of office. There is  hereby
 established  within  the executive department the "New York state office
 [for the prevention of] TO  END  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence",
 hereinafter in this section referred to as the "office".

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03213-01-5
 A. 1965                             2
              

 
   2.  Duties  and responsibilities. The office shall advise the governor
 and the legislature on the most effective ways for state  government  to
 respond  to  the  problem  of  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence. In
 fulfilling this responsibility, the office shall consult  with  experts,
 service  providers  and  representative  organizations  in  the field of
 domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence and shall  act  as  an  advocate  for
 domestic   AND   GENDER-BASED  violence  victims  and  SURVIVOR-CENTERED
 programs.
   3. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION THE  FOLLOWING  TERMS
 SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A)  "DOMESTIC  VIOLENCE" MEANS A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR USED BY AN INDI-
 VIDUAL TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN POWER AND CONTROL OVER  THEIR  INTIMATE
 PARTNER.  SUCH  BEHAVIOR  INCLUDES ABUSIVE AND COERCIVE TACTICS, THREATS
 AND ACTIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF CRIMINAL  BEHAVIOR,
 INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, FINANCIAL, AND SEXU-
 AL ABUSE.
   (B)  "GENDER-BASED  VIOLENCE"  MEANS  THREATS TO HARM, OR ACTUAL HARMS
 COMMITTED AGAINST A PERSON OR PERSONS BASED ON ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED  SEX,
 GENDER,  SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION OR OTHER SUCH
 SEX OR GENDER RELATED  CHARACTERISTICS.  "GENDER-BASED  VIOLENCE"  SHALL
 INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED  TO, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; SEXUAL VIOLENCE;
 HUMAN TRAFFICKING; REPRODUCTIVE COERCION  AND  VIOLENCE;  STALKING;  AND
 CHILD-ABUSE   AS   CONNECTED  TO  GENDER-BASED  VIOLENCE.  "GENDER-BASED
 VIOLENCE" SHALL NOT INCLUDE ACTIONS TAKEN BY A  PERSON  IN  SELF-DEFENSE
 AGAINST AN ACT OR SERIES OF ACTS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE.
   4.  Activities.  In  addition,  the office shall develop and implement
 policies and  programs  designed  to  assist  victims  of  domestic  AND
 GENDER-BASED  violence  and their families, and to provide education and
 prevention,  training  and  technical  assistance.  Such  domestic   AND
 GENDER-BASED  violence-related  activities  shall  include,  but  not be
 limited to:
   (a) Serving as a clearinghouse for information and materials;
   (b) Developing and coordinating community outreach and  public  educa-
 tion throughout the state;
   (c) Developing and delivering training to professionals, including but
 not limited to professionals in the fields of:
   (i) domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence;
   (ii) health and mental health;
   (iii) social and human services;
   (iv) public education;
   (v) law enforcement and criminal justice;
   (vi) alcohol and substance abuse;
   (d) Developing and promoting school-based prevention programs;
   (e)  Providing  technical  assistance  to  state  and local government
 bodies and other agencies and to private BUSINESSES  AND  not-for-profit
 corporations,  on  effective SURVIVOR-CENTERED policies and responses to
 domestic AND  GENDER-BASED  violence,  including  development  of  model
 [domestic violence] policies[, pursuant to subdivisions seven, eight and
 nine of this section];
   (f)  Promoting  and  facilitating  interagency cooperation among state
 agencies and intergovernmental cooperation between different  levels  of
 government  in the state in the delivery and/or funding of SURVIVOR-CEN-
 TERED services;
   (g) Operating, IN COLLABORATION WITH SURVIVORS, STATE COALITIONS,  AND
 OTHER  STAKEHOLDERS, as an advocate for [domestic violence services and]
 victims AND FOR SURVIVOR-CENTERED  DOMESTIC  AND  GENDER-BASED  VIOLENCE
 A. 1965                             3
 
 SERVICES,  INCLUDING  PERIODIC  SOLICITATION OF INPUT FROM SURVIVORS AND
 SERVICE PROVIDERS REGARDING SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES, AND NEEDS;
   (h)  Undertaking  program  and  services  needs assessments on its own
 initiative or at the request of the governor, the legislature or service
 providers;
   (i) Examining  the  relationship  between  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED
 violence  and  other  problems  and making recommendations for effective
 policy response;
   (j) Collecting data, conducting research, and holding public hearings;
   (k) Making periodic reports to the governor and the legislature recom-
 mending policy and program directions and reviewing  the  activities  of
 the office;
   (l) [Developing] WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN DEVELOPING and promoting
 [senior center based] GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE prevention programs;
   (m) [promoting best practices for abusive partner intervention] INVES-
 TIGATING,  ESTABLISHING  AND PROMOTING BEST PRACTICES FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
 FOR THOSE WHO HARM THEIR INTIMATE PARTNERS;
   (n) Administering grant  funds  appropriated  and  made  available  to
 support    compliance   with   article   one   hundred   [twenty-nine-b]
 TWENTY-NINE-B of  the  education  law;  and  undertaking  such  actions,
 duties, and responsibilities as may be necessary to serve the purpose of
 article  one hundred [twenty-nine-b] TWENTY-NINE-B of the education law;
 and
   (o) (i) Within amounts appropriated for such purpose, the office shall
 contract with an organization designated by the  federal  department  of
 health  and  human  services to coordinate statewide improvements within
 local communities, social services systems,  and  programming  regarding
 the  prevention  and intervention of domestic violence in New York state
 to mutually develop a training program as described in  this  paragraph.
 The office and such organization shall be responsible for providing such
 training  to  psychiatrists,  psychologists  and  social workers who are
 licensed in the state of New York, so that such individuals may  conduct
 court  ordered forensic evaluations, involving child custody and visita-
 tion pursuant to paragraph (a-3)  of  subdivision  one  of  section  two
 hundred  forty of the domestic relations law; for consulting with domes-
 tic violence service providers and representative organizations  in  the
 field  of  domestic  violence  when  such  training is provided in their
 communities; and for reviewing and updating  training  topics  at  least
 once  every  two  years. Such training shall include, but not be limited
 to, a review of: relevant statutes; case  law  and  psychological  defi-
 nitions  of  domestic  violence;  coercive  control and child abuse; the
 dynamics and effects of domestic AND  GENDER-BASED  violence  and  child
 abuse,  including  but  not  limited to, emotional, financial, physical,
 technological and sexual abuse; the barriers and fears  associated  with
 reporting  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence and child abuse and why
 victims may not have documented evidence of abuse; tactics commonly used
 by one party to induce fear in another party or child, including verbal,
 emotional, psychological, and/or economic abuse,  isolating  techniques,
 coercive control, and monitoring of a partner's location and activities;
 litigation  abuse  and  demands for custody or joint custody in order to
 pressure the partner to return or punish the partner for leaving;  trau-
 ma,  particularly  as  it relates to sexual abuse and the risks posed to
 children and the long-term dangers and impacts imposed by  the  presence
 of  adverse  childhood  experiences;  the  increased  risk of escalating
 violence that occurs during child custody proceedings; and the danger of
 A. 1965                             4
 
 basing child custody decisions on claims that  a  child's  deficient  or
 negative relationship with a parent is caused by the other parent.
   (ii)  The  office, in consultation with the organization designated by
 the federal department of health and human services to coordinate state-
 wide improvements within local communities, social services systems, and
 programming  regarding  the  prevention  and  intervention  of  domestic
 violence  in  New  York  state,  shall  determine a reasonable number of
 training-hours that shall  be  required  for  the  first  instance  such
 program  is  provided to psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers
 and a reasonable number of training-hours that  shall  be  required  for
 subsequent refresher courses provided to such individuals.
   (iii)  The organization designated by the federal department of health
 and human services to coordinate  statewide  improvements  within  local
 communities,  social  services  systems,  and  programming regarding the
 prevention and intervention of domestic violence in New York state shall
 be responsible for providing  a  certification  of  completion  to  each
 psychiatrist,  psychologist  or social worker who satisfies the require-
 ments of such training program, so that  such  individuals  may  conduct
 court  ordered  forensic evaluations involving child custody and visita-
 tion pursuant to paragraph (a-3)  of  subdivision  one  of  section  two
 hundred forty of the domestic relations law; and
   (p)  Any  other activities including the making of and promulgation of
 rules and regulations deemed necessary to facilitate the  prevention  of
 domestic violence within the scope and purview of this article which are
 not otherwise inconsistent with any other provisions of law.
   [4.]  5.  Advisory  council.  (a) An advisory council is hereby estab-
 lished to make recommendations on  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence
 related  issues  and effective strategies [for the prevention of] TO END
 domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence, to  assist  in  the  development  of
 appropriate  policies  and priorities for effective intervention, public
 education and advocacy, and to facilitate and assure  communication  and
 coordination  of  efforts  among  state  agencies  and between different
 levels of government, state, federal, and municipal, [for the prevention
 of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence.
   (b) The advisory council shall consist of nine members  and  seventeen
 ex-officio  members.  Each member shall be appointed to serve for a term
 of three years and shall continue in office until a successor  appointed
 member  is made. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed
 for the unexpired term of the member [he  or  she]  SUCH  MEMBER  is  to
 succeed.  All  of the members shall be individuals with expertise in the
 area of domestic AND  GENDER-BASED  violence.  Three  members  shall  be
 appointed  by  the  governor,  two  members  shall be appointed upon the
 recommendation of the temporary president of  the  senate,  two  members
 shall  be appointed upon the recommendation of the speaker of the assem-
 bly, one member shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the minor-
 ity leader of the senate, and one member shall  be  appointed  upon  the
 recommendation  of  the  minority leader of the assembly. The ex-officio
 members of the advisory board shall  consist  of  the  director  of  the
 office,  who shall chair the council, and the following members or their
 designees: the commissioner of the office of  temporary  and  disability
 assistance;  the  commissioner  of the department of health; the commis-
 sioner of the education department; the commissioner of  the  office  of
 mental  health; the commissioner of the office of addiction services and
 supports; the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services;
 the superintendent of the division of state police; the director of  the
 office  of  probation and correctional alternatives; the commissioner of
 A. 1965                             5
 
 the office of children and family services; the director of  the  office
 of  victim  services;  the  chief  administrative judge of the office of
 court administration; the commissioner of the department of  labor;  the
 director  of  the  state  office  for the aging; the commissioner of the
 department of corrections and community supervision; the commissioner of
 homes and community renewal; the chief executive officer of the New York
 state coalition against domestic violence; and the executive director of
 the New York state coalition against sexual assault.
   (c) The advisory council shall meet as often as  deemed  necessary  by
 the chair but in no event less than two times per year.
   (d)  The  members  of  the advisory council shall receive no salary or
 other  compensation  for  their  services  but  shall  be  entitled   to
 reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the perform-
 ance  of  their  duties  within  amounts made available by appropriation
 therefor subject to the approval of the  director  of  the  budget.  The
 ex-officio  members  of the advisory council shall receive no additional
 compensation for their services on the advisory council above the salary
 they receive from the respective departments or  divisions  that  employ
 them.
   [5.]  6.  Executive director. (a) The governor shall appoint an execu-
 tive director of the office who shall  serve  at  the  pleasure  of  the
 governor.
   (b) The executive director shall receive an annual salary fixed by the
 governor within the amounts appropriated specifically therefor and shall
 be  entitled  to  reimbursement  for  reasonable  expenses  incurred  in
 connection with the performance of the director's duties.
   (c) The director of the office, with the approval of the governor, may
 accept as agent of the state any grant, including federal grants, or any
 gift or donation for any of the purposes of this article. Any moneys  so
 received may be expended by the office to effectuate any purpose of this
 article, subject to the applicable provisions of the state finance law.
   (d)  The executive director shall appoint staff and perform such other
 functions to ensure the efficient operation of the office.
   [6.] 7. Assistance of other agencies. The office may request and shall
 receive in a timely manner from any department, division, board, bureau,
 commission or agency of the state, such information  and  assistance  as
 shall  enable it to properly carry out its powers and duties pursuant to
 this article.
   [7. Model domestic violence policy for counties. (a) The office  shall
 convene  a  task  force  of  county level municipal officials, municipal
 police and members of  the  judiciary,  or  their  representatives,  and
 directors  of domestic violence programs, including representatives from
 a  statewide  advocacy  organization  for  the  prevention  of  domestic
 violence,  to develop a model domestic violence policy for counties. For
 the purposes of this subdivision, "county" shall have the  same  meaning
 as  such term is defined in section three of the county law, except that
 the city of New York shall be deemed to be one county. The office  shall
 give  due  consideration  to  the  recommendations  of the governor, the
 temporary president of the senate and the speaker of  the  assembly  for
 participation by any person on the task force, and shall make reasonable
 efforts to assure regional balance in membership.
   (b)  The  purpose  of the model policy shall be to provide consistency
 and coordination by and between county agencies and departments, includ-
 ing criminal justice agencies and the judiciary, and, as appropriate, by
 municipalities or  other  jurisdictions  within  the  county  and  other
 governmental  agencies and departments, by assuring that best practices,
 A. 1965                             6

 policies, protocols and procedures are used  to  address  the  issue  of
 domestic violence, and to secure the safety of the victim including, but
 not limited to:
   (i) response, investigation and arrest policies by police agencies;
   (ii)  response  by other criminal justice agencies, including disposi-
 tion of domestic violence complaints, the provision of  information  and
 orders of protection;
   (iii)  response by human services and health agencies, including iden-
 tification, assessment, intervention and referral policies and responses
 to victims and the perpetrators of domestic violence;
   (iv) training and appropriate and relevant measures for periodic eval-
 uation of community efforts; and
   (v) other issues as shall be appropriate and  relevant  for  the  task
 force to develop such policy.
   (c)  Such  model  policy shall be reviewed by the task force to assure
 consistency with existing law and shall be made the  subject  of  public
 hearings  convened  by  the office throughout the state at places and at
 times which are convenient for attendance by the public, after which the
 policy shall be reviewed by the task force and amended as  necessary  to
 reflect  concerns raised at the hearings. If approved by the task force,
 such model policy shall be provided as approved with explanation of  its
 provisions  to the governor and the legislature not later than two years
 after the effective date of this subdivision. Notification of the avail-
 ability of such model domestic violence policy  shall  be  made  by  the
 office  to  every county in the state, and copies of the policy shall be
 made available to them upon request.
   (d) The office in consultation  with  the  task  force,  providers  of
 service, the advisory council and others, including representatives of a
 statewide  advocacy  organization  for the prevention domestic violence,
 shall provide technical support, information and encouragement to  coun-
 ties  to  implement  the  provisions  of  the  model  policy on domestic
 violence.
   (e) Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed  to  prevent
 the governing body of a county from designating a local advisory commit-
 tee  to investigate the issues, work with providers of domestic violence
 programs and other interested parties, and to aid in the  implementation
 of the policy required by this subdivision. Such governing body or advi-
 sory  committee  may request and shall receive technical assistance from
 the office for the development of such a policy. Implementation  of  the
 model  domestic  violence  policy  may  take  place in a form considered
 appropriate by the governing body of  a  county,  including  guidelines,
 regulations and local laws.
   (f)  The  office  shall survey county governments within four years of
 the effective date of this subdivision to determine the level of compli-
 ance with the model domestic violence policy, and shall take such  steps
 as shall be necessary to aid county governments in the implementation of
 such policy.]
   8.  State domestic violence policy. [(a) The office shall survey every
 state agency to determine any activities, programs, rules,  regulations,
 guidelines  or  statutory  requirements  that  have a direct or indirect
 bearing on the state's efforts and abilities to  address  the  issue  of
 domestic  violence  including,  but  not  limited  to,  the provision of
 services to victims and their families. Within two years of  the  effec-
 tive date of this subdivision, the office shall compile such information
 and  provide a report, with appropriate comments and recommendations, to
 the governor and the legislature. For the purposes of this  subdivision,
 A. 1965                             7

 "state  agency"  shall  have the same meaning as such term is defined in
 section two-a of the state finance law.
   (b)  Within  three years of the effective date of this subdivision the
 office shall recommend a state domestic violence policy consistent  with
 statute  and  best  practice,  policies, procedures and protocols to the
 governor and the legislature. The purpose of such model policy shall  be
 to  provide  consistency  and coordination by and between state agencies
 and departments to address the issue of domestic violence. In developing
 such model policy, the office shall consult with  a  statewide  advocacy
 organization  for  the prevention of domestic violence, and shall assure
 that the advisory council reviews all data and recommendations and shall
 not submit such model policy until approved  by  the  advisory  council.
 Such  recommendations shall be provided exclusive of any study or report
 the office is required to undertake pursuant to a chapter of the laws of
 nineteen hundred ninety-four, entitled "the family protection and domes-
 tic violence intervention act of 1994".
   (c)] No state agency shall promulgate a rule  pursuant  to  the  state
 administrative  procedure  act, or adopt a guideline or other procedure,
 including a request for proposals, directly or indirectly affecting  the
 provision  of services to victims of domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence,
 or the provision of services by residential or non-residential  domestic
 violence  programs,  as  such  terms are defined in section four hundred
 fifty-nine-a of the social services law, or establish  a  grant  program
 directly  or  indirectly  affecting  such victims of domestic OR GENDER-
 BASED violence or providers of service,  without  first  consulting  the
 office,  which  shall  provide  all  comments in response to such rules,
 guidelines or procedures in writing  directly  to  the  chief  executive
 officer of such agency, to the administrative regulations review commit-
 tee  and  to the appropriate committees of the legislature having juris-
 diction of the subject matter addressed  within  two  weeks  of  receipt
 thereof,  provided  that  failure  of  the office to respond as required
 herein shall not otherwise impair the ability of such  state  agency  to
 promulgate  a  rule.  This paragraph shall not apply to an appropriation
 which finances a contract with a not-for-profit organization  which  has
 been  identified  for  a  state  agency without the use of a request for
 proposals.
   9. [Model domestic violence employee awareness and assistance  policy.
 (a) The office shall convene a task force including members of the busi-
 ness  community, employees, employee organizations, representatives from
 the department of labor and the empire  state  development  corporation,
 and  directors  of domestic violence programs, including representatives
 of statewide advocacy  organizations  for  the  prevention  of  domestic
 violence,  to  develop  a model domestic violence employee awareness and
 assistance policy for businesses.
   The office shall give due consideration to the recommendations of  the
 governor,  the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the
 assembly for participation by any person on the task  force,  and  shall
 make reasonable efforts to assure regional balance in membership.
   (b)  The purpose of the model employee awareness and assistance policy
 shall be to provide businesses with the best practices, policies, proto-
 cols and procedures in  order  that  they  ascertain  domestic  violence
 awareness  in  the  workplace,  assist affected employees, and provide a
 safe and helpful working environment for employees currently  or  poten-
 tially  experiencing  the  effects  of domestic violence. The model plan
 shall include but not be limited to:
 A. 1965                             8

   (i) the establishment of a definite corporate policy statement  recog-
 nizing  domestic  violence as a workplace issue as well as promoting the
 need to maintain job security for those employees currently involved  in
 domestic violence disputes;
   (ii)  policy  and  service publication requirements, including posting
 said policies and service availability  pamphlets  in  break  rooms,  on
 bulletin boards, restrooms and other communication methods;
   (iii)  a listing of current domestic violence community resources such
 as shelters, crisis intervention programs, counseling and  case  manage-
 ment  programs, legal assistance and advocacy opportunities for affected
 employees;
   (iv) measures to ensure workplace safety including, where appropriate,
 designated parking areas, escort services and  other  affirmative  safe-
 guards;
   (v)  training programs and protocols designed to educate employees and
 managers in how to recognize, approach and assist employees experiencing
 domestic violence, including both victims and batterers; and
   (vi) other issues as shall be appropriate and relevant  for  the  task
 force in developing such model policy.
   (c)  Such  model  policy shall be reviewed by the task force to assure
 consistency with existing law and shall be made the  subject  of  public
 hearings  convened  by  the office throughout the state at places and at
 times which are convenient for attendance by the public, after which the
 policy shall be reviewed by the task force and amended as  necessary  to
 reflect  concerns raised at the hearings. If approved by the task force,
 such model policy shall be provided as approved with explanation of  its
 provisions  to  the governor and the legislature not later than one year
 after the effective date of this  subdivision.  The  office  shall  make
 every  effort  to  notify  businesses  of the availability of such model
 domestic violence employee awareness and assistance policy.
   (d) The office in consultation  with  the  task  force,  providers  of
 services,  the  advisory  council,  the  department of labor, the empire
 state development corporation, and representatives of statewide advocacy
 organizations for the prevention of  domestic  violence,  shall  provide
 technical  support,  information,  and  encouragement  to  businesses to
 implement the provisions of the model domestic violence employee  aware-
 ness and assistance policy.
   (e)  Nothing  contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to prevent
 businesses from adopting their own domestic violence employee  awareness
 and assistance policy.
   (f) The office shall survey businesses within four years of the effec-
 tive  date  of  this  section  to  determine  the  level of model policy
 adoption amongst businesses and shall take steps  necessary  to  promote
 the further adoption of such policy.
   10.]  Fatality  review team. (a) There shall be established within the
 office a fatality review team for the purpose of analyzing, in  conjunc-
 tion  with  local representation, the domestic violence-related death or
 near death of individuals, with the goal of:
   (i) examining the trends and  patterns  of  domestic  violence-related
 fatalities in New York state;
   (ii)  educating  the public, service providers, and policymakers about
 domestic  violence  fatalities  and  strategies  for  intervention   and
 prevention; and
   (iii)  recommending  policies,  practices, procedures, and services to
 reduce fatalities due to domestic violence.
 A. 1965                             9
 
   (b) A domestic violence-related death or near  death  shall  mean  any
 death or near death caused by a family or household member as defined in
 section  eight  hundred twelve of the family court act or section 530.11
 of the criminal procedure law, except that there shall be no  review  of
 the  death  or near death of a child for those cases in which the office
 of children and family services is required to issue a  fatality  report
 in  accordance  with  subdivision  five  of section twenty of the social
 services law.
   (c) The team shall review deaths or near deaths  in  cases  that  have
 been  adjudicated  and  have  received a final judgment and that are not
 under investigation.
   (d) Members of a domestic  violence  fatality  review  team  shall  be
 appointed  by the executive director[, in consultation with the advisory
 council,] and shall include, but not be limited to,  one  representative
 from the office of children and family services, the office of temporary
 and  disability  assistance,  the division of criminal justice services,
 the state police, the department of health, the office of court adminis-
 tration, the office of  probation  and  correctional  alternatives,  the
 department  of  corrections  and  community  supervision,  the office of
 victim services, at least one representative from local law enforcement,
 a county prosecutor's office, a local social services district, a member
 of the judiciary, and a domestic violence services program  approved  by
 the office of children and family services. A domestic violence fatality
 review  team  may  also  include  representatives  from  sexual  assault
 services programs, public health,  mental  health  and  substance  abuse
 agencies,  hospitals, clergy, local school districts, local divisions of
 probation, local offices of the department of corrections and  community
 supervision,  the  office  of the medical examiner or coroner, any local
 domestic violence task force, coordinating council or other  interagency
 entity  that meets regularly to support a coordinated community response
 to domestic violence, any other program that provides services to domes-
 tic violence victims, or any other person necessary to the work  of  the
 team, including survivors of domestic violence.
   (e)  The  team  shall  identify potential cases and shall select which
 deaths or near deaths will be reviewed each year. Localities may request
 that the team conduct a review of a particular death or near death.
   (f) The team shall work with officials and  organizations  within  the
 community where the death or near death occurred to conduct each review.
   (g)  Team members shall serve without compensation but are entitled to
 be reimbursed for travel expenses to the  localities  where  a  fatality
 review will be conducted and members who are full-time salaried officers
 or  employees  of the state or of any political subdivision of the state
 are entitled to their regular compensation.
   (h) To the extent consistent with federal law, upon request  the  team
 shall  be provided client-identifiable information and records necessary
 for the investigation of a domestic violence-related death or near death
 incident, including, but not limited to:
   (i) records maintained by a local social services district;
   (ii) law enforcement records,  except  where  the  provision  of  such
 records would interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation or
 identify  a  confidential source or endanger the safety or welfare of an
 individual;
   (iii) court records;
   (iv) probation and parole records;
   (v) records from  domestic  violence  residential  or  non-residential
 programs;
 A. 1965                            10
 
   (vi)  records from any relevant service provider, program or organiza-
 tion; and
   (vii)  all other relevant records in the possession of state and local
 officials or agencies provided, however, no official or agency shall  be
 required  to provide information or records concerning a person charged,
 investigated or convicted in such death or near death  in  violation  of
 such person's attorney-client privilege.
   (i)  Any  information  or  records  otherwise SEALED, confidential and
 privileged in accordance with state law which are provided to  the  team
 shall  remain SEALED, confidential, AND PRIVILEGED as otherwise provided
 by law. All records received, meetings conducted,  reports  and  records
 made  and maintained and all books and papers obtained by the team shall
 be confidential and shall not be open or made available, except by court
 order or as set forth in paragraphs (k) and (l) of this subdivision.
   (j) Any person who releases or permits the release of any  information
 protected under paragraph (i) of this subdivision to persons or agencies
 not  authorized to receive such information shall be guilty of a class A
 misdemeanor.
   (k) Team members and persons who present information to the team shall
 not be questioned in any civil  or  criminal  proceeding  regarding  any
 opinions  formed  as  a result of a meeting of the team. Nothing in this
 section shall be construed to prevent a person  from  testifying  as  to
 information  which  is obtained independently of the team or information
 which is public.
   (l) Team members are not liable for damages or  other  relief  in  any
 action brought by reason of the reasonable and good faith performance of
 a duty, function, or activity of the team.
   (m) Consistent with all federal and state confidentiality protections,
 the  team  may  provide  recommendations to any individual or entity for
 appropriate actions  to  improve  a  community's  response  to  domestic
 violence.
   (n)  The  team  shall  periodically  submit a cumulative report to the
 governor and the legislature incorporating  the  aggregate  data  and  a
 summary  of  the general findings and recommendations resulting from the
 domestic violence fatality reviews completed pursuant to  this  subdivi-
 sion.  The  cumulative  report shall thereafter be made available to the
 public, consistent with federal and state confidentiality protections.
   § 3. Subdivision 6 of section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law, as
 amended by chapter 663 of the laws  of  2019,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   6.  Notice.  Every  police officer, peace officer or district attorney
 investigating a family offense  under  this  article  shall  advise  the
 victim  of the availability of a shelter or other services in the commu-
 nity, and shall immediately give the victim written notice of the  legal
 rights  and remedies available to a victim of a family offense under the
 relevant provisions of this chapter and the  family  court  act.    Such
 notice shall be prepared, at minimum, in plain English, Spanish, Chinese
 and  Russian  and  if  necessary,  shall  be delivered orally, and shall
 include but not be limited to the information contained in the following
 statement:
   "Are you the victim of domestic violence? If you need  help  now,  you
 can call 911 for the police to come to you. You can also call a domestic
 violence  hotline.  You can have a confidential talk with an advocate at
 the hotline about help you can get in your  community  including:  where
 you can get treatment for injuries, where you can get shelter, where you
 can  get  support,  and  what  you can do to be safe. The New York State
 A. 1965                            11
 
 24-hour Domestic & Sexual Violence Hotline number is (insert the  state-
 wide  multilingual  800  number).  They can give you information in many
 languages. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 711.
   This is what the police can do:
   They can help you and your children find a safe place such as a family
 or friend's house or a shelter in your community.
   You  can ask the officer to take you or help you and your children get
 to a safe place in your community.
   They can help connect you to a local domestic violence program.
   They can help you get to a hospital or clinic for medical care.
   They can help you get your personal belongings.
   They must complete a report discussing the incident.  They  will  give
 you  a  copy  of  this  police report before they leave the scene. It is
 free.
   They may, and sometimes must, arrest the person who harmed you if  you
 are  the victim of a crime. The person arrested could be released at any
 time, so it is important to plan for your safety.
   If you have been abused or threatened, this is what you  can  ask  the
 police or district attorney to do:
   File a criminal complaint against the person who harmed you.
   Ask  the  criminal  court  to issue an order of protection for you and
 your child if the district attorney  files  a  criminal  case  with  the
 court.
   Give  you  information  about filing a family offense petition in your
 local family court.
   You also have the right to ask  the  family  court  for  an  order  of
 protection for you and your children.
   This is what you can ask the family court to do:
   To  have  your  family  offense  petition filed the same day you go to
 court.
   To have your request heard in court the same day you file or the  next
 day court is open.
   Only  a judge can issue an order of protection. The judge does that as
 part of a criminal or family court case against the  person  who  harmed
 you.  An  order  of  protection in family court or in criminal court can
 say:
   That the other person have no contact or  communication  with  you  by
 mail, phone, computer or through other people.
   That the other person stay away from you and your children, your home,
 job or school.
   That  the  other  person  not  assault, harass, threaten, strangle, or
 commit another family offense against you or your children.
   That the other person turn in their firearms  and  firearms  licenses,
 and not get any more firearms.
   That you have temporary custody of your children.
   That the other person pay temporary child support.
   That the other person not harm your pets or service animals.
   If  the  family  court  is closed because it is night, a weekend, or a
 holiday, you can go  to  a  criminal  court  to  ask  for  an  order  of
 protection.
   If  you  do not speak English or cannot speak it well, you can ask the
 police, the district attorney, or the criminal or family  court  to  get
 you  an  interpreter  who speaks your language. The interpreter can help
 you explain what happened.
 A. 1965                            12
 
   You can get the forms you need to ask for an order  of  protection  at
 your  local  family  court (insert addresses and contact information for
 courts). You can also get them online: www.NYCourts.gov/forms.
   You do not need a lawyer to ask for an order of protection.
   You  have  a  right to get a lawyer in the family court. If the family
 court finds that you cannot afford to pay for a lawyer, it must get  you
 one for free.
   If you file a complaint or family court petition, you will be asked to
 swear to its truthfulness because it is a crime to file a legal document
 that you know is false."
   The  division  of  criminal  justice services in consultation with the
 state office [for the prevention of] TO END  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED
 violence  shall  prepare the form of such written notice consistent with
 provisions of this section and distribute copies thereof to  the  appro-
 priate law enforcement officials pursuant to subdivision nine of section
 eight hundred forty-one of the executive law.
   Additionally,  copies  of  such  notice shall be provided to the chief
 administrator of the courts to  be  distributed  to  victims  of  family
 offenses  through  the criminal court at such time as such persons first
 come before the court and to the state department of health for distrib-
 ution to all hospitals defined under article twenty-eight of the  public
 health  law.  No cause of action for damages shall arise in favor of any
 person by reason of any failure to comply with the  provisions  of  this
 subdivision except upon a showing of gross negligence or willful miscon-
 duct.
   §  4. Section 214-b of the executive law, as amended by chapter 432 of
 the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   § 214-b. Family offense intervention. The  superintendent  shall,  for
 all  members  of  the  state  police including new and veteran officers,
 develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the state office
 [for the prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence, writ-
 ten policies and procedures consistent with article eight of the  family
 court act and applicable provisions of the criminal procedure and domes-
 tic  relations  laws, regarding the investigation of and intervention in
 incidents of family offenses. Such policies and  procedures  shall  make
 provision  for education and training in the interpretation and enforce-
 ment of New York's family offense laws, including but not limited to:
   (a) intake and recording of victim statements, and the  prompt  trans-
 lation  of  such statements if made in a language other than English, in
 accordance with subdivision (c)  of  this  section,  on  a  standardized
 "domestic  violence incident report form" promulgated by the state divi-
 sion of criminal justice services in consultation with  the  superinten-
 dent  and  with the state office [for the prevention of] TO END domestic
 AND GENDER-BASED violence, and the investigation thereof so as to ascer-
 tain whether a crime has been committed against the victim by  a  member
 of the victim's family or household as such terms are defined in section
 eight  hundred  twelve of the family court act and section 530.11 of the
 criminal procedure law;
   (b) the need for immediate intervention in family  offenses  including
 the  arrest  and detention of alleged offenders, pursuant to subdivision
 four of section 140.10 of the  criminal  procedure  law,  and  notifying
 victims  of  their  rights,  in  their native language, if identified as
 other than English, in accordance with subdivision (c) of this  section,
 including  but  not limited to immediately providing the victim with the
 written notice provided in subdivision six  of  section  530.11  of  the
 A. 1965                            13
 
 criminal  procedure  law  and  subdivision five of section eight hundred
 twelve of the family court act.
   (c)  The superintendent, in consultation with the division of criminal
 justice services and the office [for the prevention of] TO END  domestic
 AND  GENDER-BASED  violence  shall determine the languages in which such
 translation required by subdivision (a) of this section, and the notifi-
 cation required pursuant to subdivision (b) of this  section,  shall  be
 provided.  Such determination shall be based on the size of the New York
 state population that  speaks  each  language  and  any  other  relevant
 factor. Such written notice required pursuant to subdivision (b) of this
 section  shall  be  made  available  to all state police officers in the
 state.
   § 5. Subdivision 1 of section 221-a of the executive law,  as  amended
 by chapter 492 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  The  superintendent, in consultation with the division of criminal
 justice services, office of court administration, and  the  office  [for
 the  prevention  of]  TO  END  domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence, shall
 develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment and maintenance of  a
 statewide  computerized  registry  of  all  orders  of protection issued
 pursuant to articles four, five, six, eight and ten of the family  court
 act,  section  530.12 of the criminal procedure law and, insofar as they
 involve victims of domestic violence as defined by section four  hundred
 fifty-nine-a  of the social services law, section 530.13 of the criminal
 procedure law and sections two hundred forty and two  hundred  fifty-two
 of the domestic relations law, and orders of protection issued by courts
 of competent jurisdiction in another state, territorial or tribal juris-
 diction,  special  orders  of conditions issued pursuant to subparagraph
 (i) or (ii) of paragraph (o) of subdivision one of section 330.20 of the
 criminal procedure law insofar as they involve a victim  or  victims  of
 domestic  violence as defined by subdivision one of section four hundred
 fifty-nine-a of the social services  law  or  a  designated  witness  or
 witnesses to such domestic violence, and all warrants issued pursuant to
 sections  one  hundred fifty-three and eight hundred twenty-seven of the
 family court act, and arrest and bench warrants as defined  in  subdivi-
 sions twenty-eight, twenty-nine and thirty of section 1.20 of the crimi-
 nal  procedure  law,  insofar  as  such  warrants  pertain  to orders of
 protection or temporary orders of protection;  provided,  however,  that
 warrants issued pursuant to section one hundred fifty-three of the fami-
 ly  court  act  pertaining  to  articles three and seven of such act and
 section 530.13 of the criminal procedure law shall not  be  included  in
 the  registry.  The  superintendent  shall  establish  and maintain such
 registry for the purposes of ascertaining the  existence  of  orders  of
 protection,  temporary orders of protection, warrants and special orders
 of conditions, and for enforcing the  provisions  of  paragraph  (b)  of
 subdivision four of section 140.10 of the criminal procedure law.
   §  6.  Subdivision 1 of section 221-a of the executive law, as amended
 by chapter 427 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   1. The superintendent, in consultation with the division  of  criminal
 justice  services,  office  of court administration, and the office [for
 the prevention of] TO END  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence,  shall
 develop  a comprehensive plan for the establishment and maintenance of a
 statewide computerized registry  of  all  orders  of  protection  issued
 pursuant  to articles four, five, six, eight and ten of the family court
 act, section 530.12 of the criminal procedure law and, insofar  as  they
 involve  victims of domestic violence as defined by section four hundred
 fifty-nine-a of the social services law, section 530.13 of the  criminal
 A. 1965                            14
 
 procedure  law  and sections two hundred forty and two hundred fifty-two
 of the domestic relations law, extreme  risk  protection  orders  issued
 pursuant  to  article sixty-three-A of the civil practice law and rules,
 and  orders  of protection issued by courts of competent jurisdiction in
 another state, territorial or tribal  jurisdiction,  special  orders  of
 conditions  issued pursuant to subparagraph (i) or (ii) of paragraph (o)
 of subdivision one of section 330.20 of the criminal procedure law inso-
 far as they involve a victim or victims of domestic violence as  defined
 by  subdivision  one  of section four hundred fifty-nine-a of the social
 services law or a designated  witness  or  witnesses  to  such  domestic
 violence,  and  all  warrants  issued  pursuant  to sections one hundred
 fifty-three and eight hundred twenty-seven of the family court act,  and
 arrest and bench warrants as defined in subdivisions twenty-eight, twen-
 ty-nine  and thirty of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, inso-
 far as such warrants pertain to orders of protection or temporary orders
 of protection; provided,  however,  that  warrants  issued  pursuant  to
 section  one  hundred  fifty-three of the family court act pertaining to
 articles three and seven of such act and section 530.13 of the  criminal
 procedure  law shall not be included in the registry. The superintendent
 shall establish and maintain such registry for the  purposes  of  ascer-
 taining  the  existence  of  orders  of  protection, temporary orders of
 protection, warrants and special orders of conditions, and for enforcing
 the provisions of paragraph (b) of subdivision four of section 140.10 of
 the criminal procedure law.
   § 7. The opening paragraph of subdivision 15 of  section  837  of  the
 executive law, as amended by chapter 432 of the laws of 2015, is amended
 to read as follows:
   Promulgate,  in  consultation  with the superintendent of state police
 and the state office  [for  the  prevention  of]  TO  END  domestic  AND
 GENDER-BASED  violence, and in accordance with paragraph (f) of subdivi-
 sion three of section eight hundred forty of this article,  a  standard-
 ized "domestic violence incident report form" for use by state and local
 law  enforcement  agencies in the reporting, recording and investigation
 of all alleged incidents of domestic violence, regardless of whether  an
 arrest  is  made  as  a result of such investigation. Such form shall be
 prepared in multiple parts, one of which shall be  immediately  provided
 to  the victim, and shall include designated spaces for: the recordation
 of the results of the investigation by the law  enforcement  agency  and
 the  basis  for  any action taken; the recordation of a victim's allega-
 tions of domestic violence; the age and gender of  the  victim  and  the
 alleged  offender  or  offenders;  and immediately thereunder a space on
 which the victim may sign and verify  such  victim's  allegations.  Such
 form shall also include, but not be limited to spaces to identify:
   §  8.  Paragraph  (f) of subdivision 3 of section 840 of the executive
 law, as amended by chapter 432 of the laws of 2015, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   (f)  Develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the state
 office  [for  the  prevention  of]  TO  END  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED
 violence,  written policies and procedures consistent with article eight
 of the family court act and applicable provisions of the criminal proce-
 dure and domestic relations laws, regarding  the  investigation  of  and
 intervention  by  new and veteran police officers in incidents of family
 offenses. Such policies and procedures shall make provisions for  educa-
 tion  and  training  in the interpretation and enforcement of New York's
 family offense laws, including but not limited to:
 A. 1965                            15
 
   (1) intake and recording of victim statements, and the  prompt  trans-
 lation  of  such statements if made in a language other than English, in
 accordance with subparagraph three of this paragraph, on a  standardized
 "domestic  violence incident report form" promulgated by the division of
 criminal  justice  services  in  consultation with the superintendent of
 state police, representatives of  local  police  forces  and  the  state
 office  [for  the  prevention  of]  TO  END  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED
 violence, and the investigation thereof so as  to  ascertain  whether  a
 crime  has been committed against the victim by a member of the victim's
 family or household as such terms are defined in section  eight  hundred
 twelve of the family court act and section 530.11 of the criminal proce-
 dure law; and
   (2)  the  need for immediate intervention in family offenses including
 the arrest and detention of alleged offenders, pursuant  to  subdivision
 four  of  section  140.10  of  the criminal procedure law, and notifying
 victims of their rights, in their  native  language,  if  identified  as
 other  than English, in accordance with subparagraph three of this para-
 graph, including but not limited to  immediately  providing  the  victim
 with the written notice required in subdivision six of section 530.11 of
 the criminal procedure law and subdivision five of section eight hundred
 twelve of the family court act;
   (3) determine, in consultation with the superintendent of state police
 and  the office [for the prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED
 violence, the languages in which such translation required  by  subpara-
 graph  one  of this paragraph, and the notification required by subpara-
 graph two of this paragraph, shall be provided. Such determination shall
 be based on the size of the New York state population that  speaks  each
 language  and  any  other  relevant factor. Such written notice required
 pursuant to subparagraph two of this paragraph shall be  made  available
 to  all  local law enforcement agencies throughout the state. Nothing in
 this paragraph shall prevent the council from using  the  determinations
 made  by  the superintendent of state police pursuant to subdivision (c)
 of section two hundred fourteen-b of this chapter;
   § 9. The opening paragraph  of  paragraph  2  of  subdivision  (b)  of
 section  153-c  of  the family court act, as added by chapter 367 of the
 laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   A plan for a pilot program pursuant to this section shall be developed
 by the chief administrator of the courts or  [his  or  her]  SUCH  CHIEF
 ADMINISTRATOR'S delegate in consultation with one or more local programs
 providing  assistance  to  victims of domestic violence, the office [for
 the prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence, and attor-
 neys who represent family offense petitions. The plan shall include, but
 is not limited to:
   § 10. Paragraph 2 of subdivision (a) of section 249-b  of  the  family
 court  act,  as  added by chapter 476 of the laws of 2009, is amended to
 read as follows:
   2. provide for the development of training programs with the input  of
 and in consultation with the state office [for the prevention of] TO END
 domestic  AND GENDER-BASED violence. Such training programs must include
 the dynamics of domestic violence and its effect on victims and on chil-
 dren, and the relationship between such dynamics and the issues  consid-
 ered  by  the  court, including, but not limited to, custody, visitation
 and child support. Such training programs along with  the  providers  of
 such  training  must  be  approved by the office of court administration
 following consultation with and input from the  state  office  [for  the
 prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence; and
 A. 1965                            16
 
   §  11.  The  closing  paragraph of subdivision 5 of section 812 of the
 family court act, as amended by chapter 663 of  the  laws  of  2019,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   The  division  of  criminal  justice services in consultation with the
 state office [for the prevention of] TO END  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED
 violence  shall  prepare the form of such written notice consistent with
 the provisions of this section and  distribute  copies  thereof  to  the
 appropriate  law  enforcement  officials pursuant to subdivision nine of
 section eight hundred forty-one  of  the  executive  law.  Additionally,
 copies  of  such  notice shall be provided to the chief administrator of
 the courts to be distributed to victims of family offenses  through  the
 family  court  at  such time as such persons first come before the court
 and to the state department of health for distribution to all  hospitals
 defined under article twenty-eight of the public health law. No cause of
 action  for  damages shall arise in favor of any person by reason of any
 failure to comply with the provisions of this subdivision except upon  a
 showing of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
   §  12.  Subdivision  3  of section 403 of the general business law, as
 amended by chapter 715 of the laws  of  2019,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   3.  The  advisory  committee shall advise the secretary on all matters
 relating to this article, and on such other  matters  as  the  secretary
 shall  request.  In advising the secretary on matters concerning profes-
 sional education or curriculum, inclusive of the maintenance of cultural
 and ethnic awareness within the prescribed curriculum in regard to  hair
 types,  including,  but not limited to, curl pattern, hair strand thick-
 ness, and volume of hair, the advisory committee shall,  to  the  extent
 practicable,  consult  with the state education department. The advisory
 committee is directed, in consultation with the department of state, the
 New York state office [for  the  prevention  of]  TO  END  domestic  AND
 GENDER-BASED  violence  and  an advocacy group recognized by the federal
 department of health and human services, which has the ability to  coor-
 dinate  statewide  and  with local communities on programming and educa-
 tional materials related to the prevention and intervention of  domestic
 violence in New York state, to develop, provide for and integrate aware-
 ness  training  on domestic violence and sexual assault for all prospec-
 tive students seeking to be licensed under this article. Further,  on  a
 voluntary basis for those seeking to renew their license as provided for
 in  this  article  to develop and provide access to educational material
 for domestic violence and sexual assault awareness.
   § 13. Section 408-b of the general business law, as amended by chapter
 71 of the laws of 2020, is amended to read as follows:
   § 408-b. Domestic violence and sexual assault awareness education. The
 department shall ensure that domestic violence and sexual assault aware-
 ness education courses are made available to all  licensees  and  appli-
 cants  for  a  license or renewal pursuant to this article and that such
 courses are offered through the department's website. The department, in
 consultation with the office [for the prevention of] TO END domestic AND
 GENDER-BASED violence and advocacy  groups  recognized  by  the  federal
 department  of  health  and  human services or the federal department of
 justice, which have the ability to coordinate statewide and  with  local
 communities  on  programming  and  educational  materials related to the
 prevention and intervention of domestic violence or  sexual  assault  in
 New  York  state,  shall develop and provide access to domestic violence
 and sexual assault awareness education  courses  appropriate  for  those
 licensed under this article.
 A. 1965                            17

   §  14.  Subsections  (f)  and (g) and paragraph 8 of subsection (h) of
 section 2612 of the insurance law, subsections (f) and (g) as amended by
 chapter 579 of the laws of 2022, and paragraph 8 of  subsection  (h)  as
 added  by  section  2  of part E of chapter 491 of the laws of 2012, are
 amended to read as follows:
   (f)  If  any  person  covered by an insurance policy issued to another
 person as the policyholder delivers to the insurer that issued the poli-
 cy, at its home office, a valid order of protection against the  policy-
 holder,  issued  by a court of competent jurisdiction in this state, or,
 except where the insurance policy was issued  by  a  health  insurer  as
 defined  in subparagraph (B) of paragraph [(1)] ONE of subsection (h) of
 this section, a request to designate  an  alternative  mailing  address,
 telephone number or method of contact for the purpose of receiving claim
 related  information if the person states that disclosure of all or part
 of the claim related information could endanger the person, the  insurer
 shall  be prohibited for the duration of the order, or until the request
 designating an alternative mailing address, telephone  number  or  other
 method of contact is cancelled by the requesting person in writing, from
 disclosing  to  the  policyholder the address, telephone number or other
 method of contact for the insured, or for any person or entity providing
 covered services to the insured, any personally identifying  information
 of  the  insured,  or the nature of the covered services provided to the
 insured, or from  mailing,  delivering,  or  otherwise  providing  claim
 related  information  to any mailing address, telephone number, or other
 method of contact other than as  designated  by  the  requesting  person
 pursuant to this subsection. If a child is the covered person, the right
 established by this subsection may be asserted by, and shall also extend
 to, the parent or guardian of the child. An insurer may require a person
 making  a request to designate an alternative mailing address, telephone
 number or other method of contact pursuant to this subsection  to:  make
 the  request in writing; include in the request a statement that disclo-
 sure of all or part of  the  claim  related  information  to  which  the
 request  pertains  could  endanger  the  person or child; and specify an
 alternative mailing  address,  telephone  number,  or  other  method  of
 contact. For the purpose of this subsection, "claim related information"
 means  all  claim  or  billing  information  relating specifically to an
 insured or person covered by an insurance policy issued  by  an  insurer
 other  than a health insurer as defined in subparagraph (B) of paragraph
 [(1)] ONE of subsection (h) of  this  section.  The  superintendent,  in
 consultation  with the commissioner of health and the office of children
 and family services and the office [for the prevention of] TO END domes-
 tic AND GENDER-BASED violence,  shall  promulgate  rules  to  guide  and
 enable  insurers  to  guard  against  the  disclosure of the address and
 location of an insured who is a victim of domestic violence.
   (g) If any person covered by a group insurance policy delivers to  the
 insurer that issued the policy, at its home office, (i) a valid order of
 protection against another person covered by the group policy, issued by
 a  court  of  competent jurisdiction in this state, or, except where the
 insurance policy was issued by a health insurer as defined  in  subpara-
 graph  (B)  of  paragraph [(1)] ONE of subsection (h) of this section, a
 request to designate an alternative mailing address, telephone number or
 other method of contact for  the  purpose  of  receiving  claim  related
 information  if  the person states that disclosure of all or part of the
 claim related information could endanger the person, the  insurer  shall
 be prohibited for the duration of the order, or until the request desig-
 nating  an alternative mailing address, telephone number or other method
 A. 1965                            18
 
 of contact is cancelled  by  the  requesting  person  in  writing,  from
 disclosing  to  the  person against whom a valid order of protection was
 issued the address, telephone number or other method of contact for  the
 insured  person  covered by the order of protection or for any person or
 entity providing covered services to the insured person covered  by  the
 order  of  protection,  any  personally  identifying  information of the
 insured, or the nature of the covered services provided to the  insured,
 or from mailing, delivering, or otherwise providing claim related infor-
 mation  to  any  mailing  address,  telephone number, or other method of
 contact other than as designated by the requesting  person  pursuant  to
 this subsection. If a child is the covered person, the right established
 by  this  subsection  may  be asserted by, and shall also extend to, the
 parent or guardian of the child. An insurer may require a person  making
 a  request to designate an alternative mailing address, telephone number
 or other method of contact pursuant to  this  subsection  to:  make  the
 request  in  writing; include in the request a statement that disclosure
 of all or part of the claim related information  to  which  the  request
 pertains  could endanger the person or child; and specify an alternative
 mailing address, telephone number, or other method of contact.  For  the
 purpose  of this subsection, "claim related information" means all claim
 or billing information relating specifically to  an  insured  or  person
 covered  by an insurance policy issued by an insurer other than a health
 insurer as defined  in  subparagraph  (B)  of  paragraph  [(1)]  ONE  of
 subsection (h) of this section. The superintendent, in consultation with
 the  commissioner  of health, the office of children and family services
 and the office [for the prevention of] TO END domestic AND  GENDER-BASED
 violence,  shall  promulgate rules to guide and enable insurers to guard
 against the disclosure of the address and location of an insured who  is
 a victim of domestic violence.
   (8)  The  superintendent,  in  consultation  with  the commissioner of
 health, the office of children and family services and the  office  [for
 the  prevention  of]  TO  END  domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence, shall
 promulgate rules to  guide  health  insurers  in  guarding  against  the
 disclosure of the information protected pursuant to this subsection.
   §  15.  Section  10-a of the labor law, as added by chapter 527 of the
 laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
   § 10-a. Domestic violence policy. The  commissioner  shall  study  the
 issue  of  employees  separated  from employment due to acts of domestic
 violence as referred to in and qualified by section four hundred  fifty-
 nine-a  of  the social services law. The commissioner shall consult with
 the New York state office [for the prevention of] TO  END  domestic  AND
 GENDER-BASED violence and its advisory council, the department of social
 services,  the  division of women and members of the public in preparing
 such study.  Such study shall include a  review  of  case  histories  in
 which  unemployment compensation was sought and an analysis of the poli-
 cies in other states. A copy of such study shall be transmitted  to  the
 temporary  president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on or
 before January fifteenth, nineteen hundred ninety-six and shall  contain
 policy recommendations.
   §  16.  Section  10-b of the labor law, as added by chapter 368 of the
 laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
   § 10-b. Domestic violence employee  awareness  and  assistance.    The
 commissioner  shall  assist  the  office  [for the prevention of] TO END
 domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence in the creation, approval and dissem-
 ination of the model domestic violence employee awareness and assistance
 policy [as further defined in subdivision nine of section  five  hundred
 A. 1965                            19

 seventy-five  of  the executive law. Upon completion and approval of the
 model plan as outlined in  subdivision  nine  of  section  five  hundred
 seventy-five  of the executive law, the commissioner shall assist in the
 promotion of the model policy to businesses in New York state].
   §  17.  Section 2137 of the public health law, as added by chapter 163
 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
   § 2137.   Domestic violence  recognition.  The  department  shall,  in
 consultation with the office [for the prevention of] TO END domestic AND
 GENDER-BASED  violence  and  statewide organizations and community based
 organizations, develop a protocol for the identification  and  screening
 of victims of domestic violence who may either be a protected individual
 or a contact as used in this title.
   §  18.  Subdivision  2  of section 2803-p of the public health law, as
 added by chapter 271 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
   2. Every hospital having maternity and newborn services shall  provide
 information  concerning family violence to parents of newborn infants at
 any time prior to the discharge of the mother.  Such  information  shall
 also  be  provided  by  every  diagnostic  and treatment center offering
 prenatal care services to women upon an  initial  prenatal  care  visit.
 The  commissioner  shall, in consultation with the state office [for the
 prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence and the depart-
 ment of social services, prepare, produce and transmit  such  notice  to
 such facilities in quantities sufficient to comply with the requirements
 of  this  section.  Such  notice  shall  contain information which shall
 include but not be limited to the effects of  family  violence  and  the
 services available to women and children experiencing family violence.
   Such  information  shall  be  in  clear  and  concise language readily
 comprehensible.  Nothing in this section shall preclude a facility  from
 providing  the  notice required by this section as an addendum to, or in
 connection with, any other information required to be  provided  by  any
 other provision of law, rule or regulation.
   §  19.  Subdivision  3  of section 2805-z of the public health law, as
 amended by chapter 37 of the  laws  of  2020,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   3. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may
 be  necessary and proper to carry out effectively the provisions of this
 section. Prior to promulgating such rules and regulations,  the  commis-
 sioner  shall  consult  with  the  office [for the prevention of] TO END
 domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence and other such persons as the commis-
 sioner deems necessary to  develop  a  model  policy  for  hospitals  to
 utilize  in  complying  with  this  section and to identify the domestic
 violence or victim assistance organizations operating in each hospital's
 geographic area, a list of  which  the  commissioner  shall  provide  to
 hospitals with the model policy.
   §  20.  The  opening paragraph of subdivision (g) of section 17 of the
 social services law, as added by chapter 280 of the  laws  of  2002,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   require  participation  of all employees of a child protective service
 in a training course which has been developed by  the  office  [for  the
 prevention  of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence in conjunction
 with the office of children and family  services  whose  purpose  is  to
 develop  an  understanding  of the dynamics of domestic violence and its
 connection to child abuse and neglect. Such course shall:
   § 21. Subdivision 1 of section 111-v of the social  services  law,  as
 added by chapter 398 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
 A. 1965                            20
 
   1. The department, in consultation with appropriate agencies including
 but  not limited to the New York state office [for the prevention of] TO
 END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence, shall  by  regulation  prescribe
 and  implement  safeguards  on the confidentiality, integrity, accuracy,
 access,  and  the  use  of  all  confidential information and other data
 handled or maintained, including data obtained pursuant to  section  one
 hundred eleven-o of this article and including such information and data
 maintained  in  the  automated  child  support  enforcement system. Such
 information and data  shall  be  maintained  in  a  confidential  manner
 designed  to  protect the privacy rights of the parties and shall not be
 disclosed except for the purpose of, and to  the  extent  necessary  to,
 establish  paternity,  or  establish,  modify  or  enforce  an  order of
 support.
   § 22. Subdivisions 1, 2 and 3 of section 349-a of the social  services
 law,  subdivisions  1  and 3 as added by section 36 of part B of chapter
 436 of the laws of 1997 and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter  144  of
 the laws of 2021, are amended to read as follows:
   1.  The  department,  after  consultation  with  the  office  [for the
 prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence  and  statewide
 domestic   violence  advocacy  groups,  shall  by  regulation  establish
 requirements for social services districts to notify all applicants and,
 upon recertification, recipients,  of  procedures  for  protection  from
 domestic  violence  and  the availability of services. Such notice shall
 inform applicants and recipients that the social services district  will
 make  periodic  inquiry  regarding  the  existence  of domestic violence
 affecting the individual.   Such notice shall  also  inform  individuals
 that   response  to  these  inquiries  is  voluntary  and  confidential;
 provided, however, that information regarding neglect or abuse of  chil-
 dren will be reported to child protective services.
   2.  Such  inquiry  shall  be performed utilizing a universal screening
 form to be developed by  the  department  after  consultation  with  the
 office [for the prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence
 and  statewide  domestic violence advocacy groups. Such screening may be
 conducted by telephone or other digital means  at  the  request  of  the
 applicant  or recipient. An individual may request such screening at any
 time, and any individual who at any time self identifies as a victim  of
 domestic  OR GENDER-BASED violence shall be afforded the opportunity for
 such screening.
   3. An individual indicating the presence of domestic  violence,  as  a
 result  of  such  screening,  shall  be  promptly referred to a domestic
 violence liaison who meets  training  requirements  established  by  the
 department,  after  consultation with the office [for the prevention of]
 TO  END  domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence  and  statewide  domestic
 violence advocacy groups.
   § 23. The opening paragraph of subdivision 2 and the opening paragraph
 of  subdivision  3 of section 427-a of the social services law, as added
 by chapter 452 of the laws of 2007, are amended to read as follows:
   Any social services district interested in implementing a differential
 response program shall apply  to  the  office  of  children  and  family
 services  for  permission  to  participate.  The  criteria  for a social
 services district to participate will be determined  by  the  office  of
 children and family services after consultation with the office [for the
 prevention  of]  TO  END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence, however the
 social services district's application must include a plan setting forth
 the following:
 A. 1965                            21
 
   The criteria for determining which cases may be placed in the  assess-
 ment  track  shall  be  determined  by  the  local  department of social
 services, in conjunction with the office of children and family services
 and after consultation with the office [for the prevention  of]  TO  END
 domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence.  Provided,  however, that reports
 including any of the following allegations shall not be included in  the
 assessment track of a differential response program:
   § 24. Subdivision (a) of section 483-cc of the social services law, as
 amended  by  chapter  368  of  the  laws  of 2015, is amended to read as
 follows:
   (a) As soon as practicable after a first encounter with a  person  who
 reasonably  appears  to  a  law  enforcement agency, district attorney's
 office, or an established provider of social or  legal  services  desig-
 nated  by  the office of temporary and disability assistance, the office
 [for the prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence or the
 office of victim services to be a human  trafficking  victim,  that  law
 enforcement agency or district attorney's office shall notify the office
 of  temporary  and  disability  assistance  and the division of criminal
 justice services that such person may be  eligible  for  services  under
 this  article  or,  in  the case of an established provider of social or
 legal services, shall notify the  office  of  temporary  and  disability
 assistance  and the division of criminal justice services if such victim
 consents to seeking services pursuant to this article.
   § 25. Subdivision (a) of section 483-ee of the social services law, as
 amended by chapter 496 of the laws  of  2023,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   (a)  There  is established an interagency task force on trafficking in
 persons, which shall consist of the following members  or  their  desig-
 nees: (1) the commissioner of the division of criminal justice services;
 (2)  the  commissioner of the office of temporary and disability assist-
 ance; (3) the commissioner of health; (4) the commissioner of the office
 of mental health; (5) the commissioner of labor; (6) the commissioner of
 the office of children and family services; (7) the commissioner of  the
 office  of  addiction  services  and  supports;  (8) the director of the
 office of victim services; (9) the executive director of the office [for
 the prevention of] TO END domestic AND GENDER-BASED violence;  (10)  the
 superintendent  of  the  division of state police; (11) the secretary of
 state; and the following  additional  members,  who  shall  be  promptly
 appointed  by  the governor, each for a term of two years, provided that
 such person's membership shall continue after such two year term until a
 successor is appointed and provided, further, that a member may be reap-
 pointed if again recommended in the manner specified  in  this  subdivi-
 sion[:];  (12) two members, who shall be appointed on the recommendation
 of the temporary president of the senate; (13) two members, who shall be
 appointed on the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly; (14) two
 members, who shall be appointed on the recommendation  of  the  not-for-
 profit organization in New York state that receives the largest share of
 funds,  appropriated  by  and  through  the  state budget, for providing
 services to victims of human trafficking, as shall be identified annual-
 ly in writing by the director of the budget; and (15)  one  member,  who
 shall  be  appointed  on  the recommendation of the president of the New
 York state bar association; and others as may be necessary to carry  out
 the  duties and responsibilities under this section. The task force will
 be co-chaired by the commissioners of the division of  criminal  justice
 services and the office of temporary and disability assistance, or their
 designees.  It  shall  meet  as  often as is necessary, but no less than
 A. 1965                            22
 
 three times per year, and under  circumstances  as  are  appropriate  to
 fulfilling  its duties under this section. All members shall be provided
 with written notice reasonably in advance of  each  meeting  with  date,
 time and location of such meeting.
   §  26.  Subdivision  3  of section 97-yyy of the state finance law, as
 added by chapter 634 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
   3. Moneys of the fund, following appropriation by the legislature  and
 allocation  by  the  director  of the budget, shall be available for the
 purpose of funding expenses of the office [for the prevention of] TO END
 domestic  AND  GENDER-BASED  violence  for  educational  and  prevention
 programs undertaken pursuant to article twenty-one of the executive law.
   §  27.  Wherever  the  term  "office  for  the  prevention of domestic
 violence" appears in the consolidated or  unconsolidated  laws  of  this
 state,  such  term shall hereby mean "office to end domestic and gender-
 based violence".
   § 28. This act shall take effect immediately;  provided  however  that
 the  amendments  to  subdivision  (a)  of  section  483-ee of the social
 services law made by section twenty-five of this act  shall  not  affect
 the  repeal  of such section and shall be deemed repealed therewith; and
 provided, further, that if chapter 427 of the laws  of  2024  shall  not
 have  taken  effect  on or before such date then section six of this act
 shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as such  chap-
 ter of the laws of 2024 takes effect.