Bill Text: NY A02934 | 2015-2016 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to the appointment of a child advocate.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-06 - referred to children and families [A02934 Detail]

Download: New_York-2015-A02934-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         2934
                              2015-2016 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   January 20, 2015
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. HEVESI -- read once and referred to the Committee
         on Children and Families
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the social services law and the family court act, in
         relation to the appointment of a child advocate
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Section 421 of the social services law is amended by adding
    2  a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
    3    9.  REPORT  TO  FAMILY  COURT  FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A CHILD ADVOCATE
    4  PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE THOUSAND  EIGHTEEN  OF  THE  FAMILY  COURT  ACT,
    5  FOLLOWING  AN  INCIDENT  THAT  REQUIRES THE CARE OF A HEALTHCARE PROFES-
    6  SIONAL, AND WHERE  THE  HEALTHCARE  PROFESSIONAL  AND  CHILD  PROTECTIVE
    7  SERVICES DO NOT AGREE ON AN APPROPRIATE COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE CHILD.
    8    S  2.  Section 1018 of the family court act, as added by section 11 of
    9  part A of chapter 3 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
   10    S 1018. Conferencing and mediation. 1.  In  any  proceeding  initiated
   11  pursuant  to  this  article, the court may, at its discretion, authorize
   12  the use of conferencing or mediation at any point in the proceedings  to
   13  further  a  plan  for the child that fosters the child's health, safety,
   14  and well-being. Such conferencing or mediation  may  involve  interested
   15  relatives or other adults who are significant in the life of the child.
   16    2.  A  CHILD  ADVOCATE  SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE COURT, WHEN A REPORT
   17  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION NINE OF SECTION FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-ONE  OF  THE
   18  SOCIAL  SERVICES  LAW,  IS  RECEIVED.  SUCH  ADVOCATE  SHALL MEDIATE ANY
   19  DISPUTES BETWEEN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
   20  WORKERS ON THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION FOR THE CHILD.
   21    S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD04645-01-5