Bill Text: NY S03955 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the domestic violence accountability program; requires mandatory domestic violence counseling.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 6-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICES [S03955 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-S03955-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3955 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 21, 2019 ___________ Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, FUNKE, GRIFFO, HELMING, ROBACH, SEPULVEDA, SEWARD -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to establishing the domestic violence accountability program; and to amend the penal law, in relation to mandatory domestic violence counseling The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The social services law is amended by adding a new section 2 459-i to read as follows: 3 § 459-i. Domestic violence accountability program. 1. There is hereby 4 established a domestic violence accountability program within the office 5 for the prevention of domestic violence. The executive director of the 6 office for the prevention of domestic violence, in consultation with 7 providers of domestic violence programs and domestic violence account- 8 ability programs and such other professionals as he or she may deem 9 appropriate shall establish, by regulation, the instructional and reha- 10 bilitative aspects of the program. Such program shall consist of at 11 least twenty-six and up to fifty-two sessions of one hour to one and 12 one-half hours each and include, but need not be limited to, classroom 13 instruction in areas deemed suitable by the executive director. 14 2. The form, content and method of presentation of the various aspects 15 of such program shall be established by the executive director. In the 16 development of the form, curriculum and content of such program, the 17 executive director may consult with the office of the attorney general 18 and any other state department or agency and request and receive assist- 19 ance from them. The executive director is also authorized to develop 20 more than one curriculum and course content for such program in order to 21 meet the varying needs of the participants. 22 3. A course in such program shall be available in at least every coun- 23 ty in the state, except where the executive director determines that EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02261-01-9S. 3955 2 1 there is not a sufficient number of domestic violence offenses in a 2 county to mandate the establishment of said course, and that provisions 3 be made for the residents of said county to attend a course in another 4 county where a course exists. 5 4. Participation in the program shall be required for those persons 6 convicted of domestic abuse offenses or persons who have been adjudi- 7 cated youthful offenders for domestic abuse offenses who satisfy the 8 criteria and meet the requirements for participation as established by 9 this section and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The executive 10 director may exercise discretion, to reject any person from partic- 11 ipation referred to such program and nothing contained in this section 12 shall be construed as creating a right to be included in any course or 13 program established under this section. 14 5. The executive director shall establish a list of approved providers 15 and a schedule of fees to be paid by or on behalf of each participant in 16 the program, and may, from time to time, modify same. Such fees shall 17 defray the ongoing expenses of the program. Provided, however, that 18 pursuant to an agreement with the department a municipality, department, 19 or other agency may conduct a course in such program with all or part of 20 the expense of such course and program being borne by such municipality, 21 department or agency. In no event shall such fee be refundable, either 22 for reasons of the participant's withdrawal or expulsion from such 23 program or otherwise. 24 § 2. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 60.38 to read as 25 follows: 26 § 60.38 Mandatory domestic violence counseling. 27 Any defendant convicted of any of the following offenses, where the 28 defendant and the person against whom the offense was committed were 29 members of the same family or household as defined in subdivision one of 30 section 530.11 of the criminal procedure law and as established pursuant 31 to section 370.15 of the criminal procedure law; any offense listed 32 under title H, title I or title O of part 3 of this chapter; or attempt 33 to commit any of the offenses under title H, title I or title O of part 34 3 of this chapter, shall be required to enroll and complete a domestic 35 violence accountability program as a condition of conditional discharge, 36 probation or parole. 37 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 38 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 39 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 40 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 41 completed on or before such effective date.
