Bill Text: NY S05331 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Relates to notice of indicated reports of child maltreatment and changes of placement in child protective and voluntary foster care placement and review proceedings.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-06 - REFERRED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES [S05331 Detail]
Download: New_York-2015-S05331-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 5331 2015-2016 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E May 13, 2015 ___________ Introduced by Sen. FELDER -- (at request of the Office of Court Adminis- tration) -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Children and Families AN ACT to amend the family court act and the social services law, in relation to notice of indicated reports of child maltreatment and changes of placement in child protective and voluntary foster care placement and review proceedings; and to repeal certain provisions of the family court act, in relation to technical changes thereto THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Section 1017 of the family court act is amended by adding a 2 new subdivision 5 to read as follows: 3 5. IN ANY CASE IN WHICH AN ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS 4 ARTICLE REMANDING OR PLACING A CHILD IN THE CUSTODY OF THE LOCAL SOCIAL 5 SERVICES DISTRICT, THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY 6 CHARGED WITH CUSTODY OR CARE OF THE CHILD SHALL REPORT ANY ANTICIPATED 7 CHANGE IN PLACEMENT TO THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEY 8 FOR THE CHILD NOT LATER THAN TEN DAYS PRIOR TO SUCH CHANGE IN ANY CASE 9 IN WHICH THE CHILD IS MOVED FROM THE FOSTER HOME OR PROGRAM INTO WHICH 10 HE OR SHE HAS BEEN PLACED OR IN WHICH THE FOSTER PARENTS MOVE OUT OF 11 STATE WITH THE CHILD; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHERE AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE 12 OF PLACEMENT ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS IS REQUIRED, THE REPORT SHALL BE 13 TRANSMITTED NO LATER THAN THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER SUCH CHANGE IN 14 PLACEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED 15 AGENCY SHALL ALSO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND 16 THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD OR INCLUDE IN THE PLACEMENT CHANGE REPORT ANY 17 INDICATED REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT OR CONCERNING THE CHILD 18 OR (IF A PERSON OR PERSONS CARING FOR THE CHILD IS OR ARE THE SUBJECT OF 19 THE REPORT) ANOTHER CHILD IN THE SAME HOME WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE INDI- 20 CATION OF THE REPORT. THE OFFICIAL OR AGENCY MAY PROTECT THE CONFIDEN- 21 TIALITY OF IDENTIFYING OR ADDRESS INFORMATION REGARDING THE FOSTER OR EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09818-02-5 S. 5331 2 1 PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE PARENTS. REPORTS REGARDING INDICATED REPORTS OF 2 CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL 3 INCLUDE A STATEMENT ADVISING RECIPIENTS THAT THE INFORMATION IN SUCH 4 REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL, SHALL 5 BE USED ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS ARTICLE OR 6 RELATED PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS ACT AND MAY NOT BE REDISCLOSED EXCEPT AS 7 NECESSARY FOR SUCH PROCEEDING OR PROCEEDINGS AND AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW. 8 REPORTS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE TRANSMITTED BY ANY APPROPRIATE 9 MEANS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BY ELECTRONIC MEANS OR PLACEMENT 10 ON THE RECORD DURING PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT. 11 S 2. Subparagraph (E) of paragraph (i) of subdivision (b) of section 12 1055 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 41 of the laws of 13 2010, is REPEALED. 14 S 3. Section 1055 of the family court act is amended by adding a new 15 subdivision (j) to read as follows: 16 (J) IN ANY CASE IN WHICH AN ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS 17 SECTION PLACING A CHILD IN THE CUSTODY OR CARE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF 18 SOCIAL SERVICES, THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY 19 CHARGED WITH CUSTODY OF THE CHILD SHALL REPORT ANY ANTICIPATED CHANGE IN 20 PLACEMENT TO THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE 21 CHILD NOT LATER THAN TEN DAYS PRIOR TO SUCH CHANGE IN ANY CASE IN WHICH 22 THE CHILD IS MOVED FROM THE FOSTER HOME OR PROGRAM INTO WHICH HE OR SHE 23 HAS BEEN PLACED OR IN WHICH THE FOSTER PARENTS MOVE OUT OF STATE WITH 24 THE CHILD; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT WHERE AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE OF PLACE- 25 MENT ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS IS REQUIRED, THE REPORT SHALL BE TRANSMITTED 26 NO LATER THAN THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER SUCH CHANGE IN PLACEMENT HAS 27 BEEN MADE. THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY SHALL ALSO 28 SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEY FOR 29 THE CHILD OR INCLUDE IN THE PLACEMENT CHANGE REPORT ANY INDICATED REPORT 30 OF CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT CONCERNING THE CHILD OR (IF A PERSON OR 31 PERSONS CARING FOR THE CHILD IS OR ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE REPORT) ANOTH- 32 ER CHILD IN THE SAME HOME WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE INDICATION OF THE 33 REPORT. THE OFFICIAL OR AGENCY MAY PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF IDEN- 34 TIFYING OR ADDRESS INFORMATION REGARDING THE FOSTER OR PROSPECTIVE ADOP- 35 TIVE PARENTS. REPORTS REGARDING INDICATED REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE OR 36 MALTREATMENT PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL INCLUDE A 37 STATEMENT ADVISING RECIPIENTS THAT THE INFORMATION IN SUCH REPORT OF 38 CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL, SHALL BE USED 39 ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS ARTICLE OR RELATED 40 PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS ACT AND MAY NOT BE REDISCLOSED EXCEPT AS NECES- 41 SARY FOR SUCH PROCEEDING OR PROCEEDINGS AND AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW. 42 REPORTS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE TRANSMITTED BY ANY APPROPRIATE 43 MEANS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BY ELECTRONIC MEANS OR PLACEMENT 44 ON THE RECORD DURING PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT. 45 S 4. Subparagraph (vii) of paragraph 2 of subdivision (d) of section 46 1089 of the family court act is amended by adding a new clause (H) to 47 read as follows: 48 (H) A DIRECTION THAT THE SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY 49 CHARGED WITH CARE AND CUSTODY OR GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF THE CHILD, 50 AS APPLICABLE, REPORT ANY ANTICIPATED CHANGE IN PLACEMENT TO THE ATTOR- 51 NEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD NOT LATER THAN TEN 52 DAYS PRIOR TO SUCH CHANGE IN ANY CASE IN WHICH THE CHILD IS MOVED FROM 53 THE FOSTER HOME OR PROGRAM INTO WHICH HE OR SHE HAS BEEN PLACED OR IN 54 WHICH THE FOSTER PARENTS MOVE OUT OF STATE WITH THE CHILD; PROVIDED, 55 HOWEVER, THAT WHERE AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE OF PLACEMENT ON AN EMERGENCY 56 BASIS IS REQUIRED, THE REPORT SHALL BE TRANSMITTED NO LATER THAN THE S. 5331 3 1 NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER SUCH CHANGE IN PLACEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. THE 2 SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY SHALL ALSO SUBMIT A REPORT 3 TO THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD OR 4 INCLUDE IN THE PLACEMENT CHANGE REPORT ANY INDICATED REPORT OF CHILD 5 ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT CONCERNING THE CHILD OR (IF A PERSON OR PERSONS 6 CARING FOR THE CHILD IS OR ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE REPORT) ANOTHER CHILD 7 IN THE SAME HOME WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE INDICATION OF THE REPORT. THE 8 OFFICIAL OR AGENCY MAY PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF IDENTIFYING OR 9 ADDRESS INFORMATION REGARDING THE FOSTER OR PROSPECTIVE ADOPTIVE 10 PARENTS. REPORTS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL NOT BE SENT TO ATTORNEYS FOR 11 BIRTH PARENTS WHOSE PARENTAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED OR WHO HAVE 12 SURRENDERED THEIR CHILD OR CHILDREN. REPORTS REGARDING INDICATED REPORTS 13 OF CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION 14 SHALL INCLUDE A STATEMENT ADVISING RECIPIENTS THAT THE INFORMATION IN 15 SUCH REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL, 16 SHALL BE USED ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS ARTICLE OR 17 RELATED PROCEEDINGS UNDER THIS ACT AND MAY NOT BE REDISCLOSED EXCEPT AS 18 NECESSARY FOR SUCH PROCEEDING OR PROCEEDINGS AND AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW. 19 REPORTS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE TRANSMITTED BY ANY APPROPRIATE 20 MEANS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BY ELECTRONIC MEANS OR PLACEMENT 21 ON THE RECORD DURING PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT; AND 22 S 5. Subdivision 3 of section 358-a of the social services law is 23 amended by adding a new paragraph (g) to read as follows: 24 (G) IN ANY CASE IN WHICH AN ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS 25 SECTION APPROVING A FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT INSTRUMENT, THE SOCIAL 26 SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY CHARGED WITH CUSTODY OR CARE OF 27 THE CHILD SHALL REPORT ANY ANTICIPATED CHANGE IN PLACEMENT TO THE ATTOR- 28 NEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD NOT LATER THAN TEN 29 DAYS PRIOR TO SUCH CHANGE IN ANY CASE IN WHICH THE CHILD IS MOVED FROM 30 THE FOSTER HOME OR PROGRAM INTO WHICH HE OR SHE HAS BEEN PLACED OR IN 31 WHICH THE FOSTER PARENTS MOVE OUT OF STATE WITH THE CHILD; PROVIDED, 32 HOWEVER, THAT WHERE AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE OF PLACEMENT ON AN EMERGENCY 33 BASIS IS REQUIRED, THE REPORT SHALL BE TRANSMITTED NO LATER THAN THE 34 NEXT BUSINESS DAY AFTER SUCH CHANGE IN PLACEMENT HAS BEEN MADE. THE 35 SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICIAL OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY SHALL ALSO SUBMIT A REPORT 36 TO THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE PARTIES AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD OR 37 INCLUDE IN THE PLACEMENT CHANGE REPORT ANY INDICATED REPORT OF CHILD 38 ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT CONCERNING THE CHILD OR (IF A PERSON OR PERSONS 39 CARING FOR THE CHILD IS OR ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE REPORT) CONCERNING 40 ANOTHER CHILD IN THE SAME HOME WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE INDICATION OF THE 41 REPORT. THE OFFICIAL OR AGENCY MAY PROTECT THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF IDEN- 42 TIFYING OR ADDRESS INFORMATION REGARDING THE FOSTER OR PROSPECTIVE ADOP- 43 TIVE PARENTS. REPORTS REGARDING INDICATED REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE OR 44 MALTREATMENT PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL INCLUDE A 45 STATEMENT ADVISING RECIPIENTS THAT THE INFORMATION IN SUCH REPORT OF 46 CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT SHALL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL, SHALL BE USED 47 ONLY IN CONNECTION WITH A PROCEEDING UNDER THIS SECTION OR RELATED 48 PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE FAMILY COURT ACT AND MAY NOT BE REDISCLOSED EXCEPT 49 AS NECESSARY FOR SUCH PROCEEDING OR PROCEEDINGS AND AS AUTHORIZED BY 50 LAW. REPORTS UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH MAY BE TRANSMITTED BY ANY APPROPRIATE 51 MEANS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BY ELECTRONIC MEANS OR PLACEMENT 52 ON THE RECORD DURING PROCEEDINGS IN FAMILY COURT. 53 S 6. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that sections 54 one, three, four and five of this act shall take effect on the one 55 hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, howev- 56 er, that section two of this act shall be deemed to have taken effect on S. 5331 4 1 the same date as section 1 of chapter 342 of the laws of 2010, took 2 effect; and, provided further, effective immediately, the addition, 3 amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the 4 implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized and 5 directed to be completed on or before such effective date. REPEAL NOTE: Subparagraph (E) of paragraph (i) of subdivision (b) of section 1055 of the family court act, as amended by section 67 of chap- ter 41 of the laws of 2010 contains language inconsistent with language in chapter 342 of the laws of 2010.