BILL NUMBER: S8778
SPONSOR: BRISPORT
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to information
required to be provided in calls made to the statewide central register
of child abuse and maltreatment; and to amend a chapter of the laws of
2025 amending the social services law relating to the administration of
the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment, as
proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 550-A and A. 66-A, in relation
to the effectiveness thereof
 
PURPOSE:
This chapter amendment clarifies provisions of L.2025, C.668.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation amends the underlying chapter regarding information
required when calls are made to the statewide central register of child
abuse and maltreatment (SCR).
Subsection 1(a) amends the underlying chapter by making a technical
change to reference changes in a subsequent paragraph.
Subsection 2(d) removes the requirement that the SCR keep a caller's
identity confidential unless a court or administrative law judge orders
disclosure. Under the amended language, the SCR may transmit a report to
the local district for investigation without obtaining the caller's name
and contact information, if the SCR SCR reasonably believes the caller
is under 18 years of age.
Subsection 2(e) makes corresponding changes to include callers reason-
ably believed to be under the age of 18 and also removes language that
callers be connected to the HEARS family line, as well as language
regarding "retaliatory" allegations. Language is added which provides
that callers who decline to leave their name and contact information
will be informed that preventive or supportive services may be available
to assist in addressing concerns of well being of a child and that
referrals for those services may be provided upon request.
Section 3 amends the underlying chapter, changing the effective date of
sections one and two to both take effect 180 days after the law is
enacted.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Chapter amendment to Chapter 668 of the Laws of 2025.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided however, that sections
one and two of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2025 amending the social
services law relating to the administration of the statewide central
register of child abuse and maltreatment, as proposed in legislative
bills numbers S. 550- A and A. 66-A, takes effect.