STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6479 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE March 14, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to elderly abuse protective services; and making an appropriation therefor The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Article 5 of the social services law is amended by adding a 2 new title 9 to read as follows: 3 TITLE 9 4 ELDERLY ABUSE PROTECTIVE ACT 5 Section 310. Declaration of purpose. 6 311. Definitions. 7 312. Reporting the possible necessity for protective services. 8 313. Action on reports. 9 314. Judicial review. 10 315. Authority of office of children and family services. 11 316. Assistance of other agencies. 12 317. Review. 13 318. Costs for providing protective services. 14 319. Abuse of duties of caretaker. 15 320. Statewide central register of elderly abuse. 16 § 310. Declaration of purpose. The legislature declares that no elder- 17 ly person in the state shall be subjected to abuse or deprivation. 18 Towards that end the "elderly abuse protective act" is enacted. 19 § 311. Definitions. For purposes of this title: 20 1. The term "elderly person" means any resident of the state who is 21 sixty-two years of age or older. 22 2. An elderly person shall be deemed to be "in need of protective 23 services" if such person is unable to perform or obtain services which 24 are necessary to maintain physical and mental health. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD08240-01-5
S. 6479 2 1 3. The term "services which are necessary to maintain physical and 2 mental health" includes, but is not limited to, the provision of medical 3 care for physical and mental health needs, the relocation of an elderly 4 person to a facility or institution able to offer such care, assistance 5 in personal hygiene, food, clothing, adequately heated and ventilated 6 shelter, protection from health and safety hazards, protection from 7 maltreatment the result of which includes, but is not limited to, malnu- 8 trition, deprivation of necessities or physical punishment, and trans- 9 portation necessary to secure any of the above stated needs, except that 10 this term shall not include taking such person into custody without 11 consent except as provided in this title. 12 4. The term "protective services" means services provided by the state 13 as described in section four hundred seventy-three of this chapter, 14 which are necessary to prevent abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandon- 15 ment. 16 5. The term "abuse" includes but is not limited to any act or omission 17 which results in the infliction of physical pain or injury, or the 18 infliction of mental anguish that requires medical attention or the 19 deprivation by a caretaker of services which are necessary to maintain 20 physical or mental health. 21 6. The term "neglect" refers to an elderly person who is either living 22 alone and not able to provide for oneself the services which are neces- 23 sary to maintain physical and mental health or is not receiving the said 24 necessary services from the responsible caretaker. 25 7. The term "exploitation" means intentional economic exploitation of 26 an elderly person by means of theft, fraud, coercion or extortion. 27 8. The term "abandonment" refers to the desertion or wilful forsaking 28 of an elderly person by a caretaker or the foregoing of duties or the 29 withdrawal or neglect of duties and obligations owed an elderly person 30 by a caretaker or other person. 31 9. The term "caretaker" means a person who has the responsibility for 32 the care of an elderly person as a result of family relationship or who 33 has assumed the responsibility for the care of the elderly voluntarily, 34 by contract or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. 35 § 312. Reporting the possible necessity for protective services. 1. 36 Any licensed physician or surgeon, any resident physician or intern in 37 any hospital in this state, whether or not so licensed, any registered 38 nurse, any adult care facility administrator, any person paid for caring 39 for a resident in an adult care facility, any staff person employed by 40 an adult care facility, any patient's advocate and any licensed practi- 41 cal nurse, medical examiner, dentist, osteopath, optometrist, chiroprac- 42 tor, podiatrist, social worker, coroner, clergyperson, peace officer, 43 pharmacist or physical therapist or any attorney, accountant, trustee, 44 guardian, conservator or other person who has responsibility for prepar- 45 ing the tax records of an elderly person or a person who has a fiduciary 46 responsibility for any other action concerning the use or preservation 47 of an elderly adult's property, who has a reasonable basis to believe 48 that any elderly person has been abused, neglected, exploited or aban- 49 doned, or is in a condition which is the result of such abuse, neglect, 50 exploitation or abandonment, or who is in need of protective services, 51 or any attorney, accountant, trustee, guardian, conservator or other 52 person who has responsibility for preparing the tax records of an elder- 53 ly person or a person who has a fiduciary responsibility for any other 54 action concerning the use or retention of an elderly adult's property 55 who has a reasonable basis to believe that an elderly adult has been
S. 6479 3 1 exploited, shall within three calendar days report such information or 2 cause a report to be made in the following manner: 3 (a) if the abuse has occurred in a long-term care facility, except a 4 state mental hospital or a state development center, the report shall be 5 made to the commissioner of the office of children and family services; 6 (b) if the suspected or alleged abuse occurred in a state mental 7 health hospital or a state developmental center, the report shall be 8 made to the office of mental health or the office for people with devel- 9 opmental disabilities; or 10 (c) if the abuse has occurred any place other than one described in 11 paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision, the report shall be made to 12 the statewide central register. 13 Any person required to report under the provision of this section who 14 fails to make such report may be fined not more than five hundred 15 dollars. 16 2. Such report shall contain the name and address of the involved 17 elderly person, information regarding the nature and extent of the 18 abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment, and any other information 19 which the reporter believes might be helpful in an investigation of the 20 case and the protection of such elderly person. 21 3. Any other person having reasonable cause to believe that an elderly 22 person is being, or has been abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned 23 or who is in need of protective services may report such information in 24 any reasonable manner to the commissioner of the office of children and 25 family services or such commissioner's designee. 26 4. Any person who makes any report pursuant to this title, or who 27 testifies in any administrative or judicial proceeding arising from such 28 report shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability on account 29 of such report or testimony, except for liability for perjury, unless 30 such person was grossly negligent or acted in bad faith or with mali- 31 cious purpose. 32 5. Any physician, surgeon, or psychotherapist shall not be required to 33 file a report pursuant to this section if all the following conditions 34 are met: 35 (a) such physician, surgeon, or psychotherapist has been told by an 36 elder or dependent adult that such elder or dependent adult has experi- 37 enced behavior constituting physical abuse, abandonment, isolation, 38 financial abuse, or neglect; 39 (b) such physician, surgeon, or psychotherapist is not aware of any 40 independent evidence that corroborates the statement that abuse has 41 occurred; 42 (c) the elder or dependent adult has been diagnosed with a mental 43 illness or dementia, or is the subject of a court ordered conservator- 44 ship because of mental illness or dementia; and 45 (d) in the exercise of clinical judgment, such physician, surgeon, or 46 psychotherapist reasonably believes that such abuse did not occur. 47 6. In a long-term care facility, a person who otherwise would have 48 been required to report abuse pursuant to this section, shall not be 49 required to file a report if the following conditions are met: 50 (a) such person is aware that there is a proper plan of care; 51 (b) such person is aware that the plan of care was properly provided 52 or executed; 53 (c) a physical, mental, or medical injury occurred as a result of care 54 provided pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this subdivision; and 55 (d) such person reasonably believes that the injury was not the result 56 of abuse.
S. 6479 4 1 7.(a) Any individual specified in subdivision one of this section who 2 has knowledge of, or reasonably suspects that, types of elder or depend- 3 ent adult abuse for which reports are not mandated have been inflicted 4 upon an elder or dependent adult or that such elder or dependent adult's 5 emotional well-being is endangered in any other way, may report the 6 known or suspected instance of abuse. 7 (b) If the suspected or alleged abuse occurred in a long-term care 8 facility other than a state mental health hospital or a state develop- 9 mental center, the report may be made to the commissioner of the office 10 of children and family services. 11 (c) If the suspected or alleged abuse occurred in a state mental 12 health hospital or a state developmental center, the report may be made 13 to the office of mental health or the office for people with develop- 14 mental disabilities. 15 (d) If the suspected or alleged abuse occurred in a place other than a 16 place described in paragraph (b) or (c) of this subdivision, the report 17 may be made to the statewide central register. 18 8. If the conduct involves criminal activity not covered in subdivi- 19 sion five or six of this section, it may be immediately reported to the 20 appropriate law enforcement agency. 21 9. When two or more individuals specified in subdivision one of this 22 section are present and jointly have knowledge or reasonably suspect 23 that types of abuse of an elder or a dependent adult for which a report 24 is or is not mandated have occurred, and when there is agreement among 25 them, the telephone report may be made by a member of the team selected 26 by mutual agreement, and a single report may be made and signed by the 27 selected member of the reporting team. Any member who has knowledge that 28 the member designated to report has failed to do so shall thereafter 29 make the report. 30 10. A telephone report of a known or suspected instance of elder or 31 dependent adult abuse shall include the name of the person making the 32 report, the name and age of the elder or dependent adult, the present 33 location of the elder or dependent adult, the names and addresses of 34 family members or any other person responsible for the elder or depend- 35 ent adult's care, if known, the nature and extent of the elder or 36 dependent adult's condition, the date of the incident, and any other 37 information, including information that led that person to suspect elder 38 or dependent adult abuse, requested by the agency receiving the report. 39 § 313. Action on reports. 1. The commissioner of the office of chil- 40 dren and family services upon receiving a report that an elderly person 41 allegedly is being, or has been, abused, neglected, exploited or aban- 42 doned, or is in need of protective services shall cause a prompt and 43 thorough evaluation to be made, through the appropriate local or county 44 department of social services to determine the situation relative to the 45 condition of the elderly person and what action and services, if any, 46 are required. The evaluation shall include a visit to the named elderly 47 person and consultation with those individuals having knowledge of the 48 facts of the particular case. 49 2. Upon probable cause to believe that an individual covered by this 50 title is being abused, maltreated or neglected, a representative of the 51 local or county department of social services, accompanied by a law 52 enforcement officer, may enter a premises, after obtaining a court order 53 and announcing their authority and purpose. 54 3. Upon completion of the evaluation of each case, written findings 55 shall be prepared which shall include recommended action and a determi- 56 nation of whether protective services are needed.
S. 6479 5 1 4. Each local or county department of social services shall maintain a 2 registry of the reports received, the evaluation and findings and the 3 actions recommended, and shall furnish copies of such data to the office 4 of children and family services for a statewide register. 5 5. Neither the original report nor the evaluation report of the local 6 or county department of social services shall be deemed a public record. 7 The name of the person making the original report or any person 8 mentioned in such report shall not be disclosed unless the person making 9 the original report specifically requests such disclosure or unless a 10 judicial proceeding results therefrom. 11 § 314. Judicial review. 1. If it is determined that an elderly person 12 is in need of protective services, the local or county department of 13 social services shall furnish the necessary services, provided the 14 elderly person consents. 15 2. If an elderly person does not consent to the receipt of reasonable 16 and necessary protective services, or if such person withdraws the 17 consent, such services shall not be provided or continued, except that 18 if the commissioner of the office of children and family services has 19 reason to believe that such elderly person is at risk of serious harm 20 and lacks capacity to consent, such commissioner may proceed to petition 21 for an order for short-term involuntary protective services pursuant to 22 section four hundred seventy-three-a of this chapter. 23 3. If the caretaker of an elderly person who has consented to the 24 receipt of reasonable and necessary protective services refuses to allow 25 the provision of such services to such elderly person, the commissioner 26 of the office of children and family services may petition the supreme 27 court or the surrogate's court for an order enjoining the caretaker from 28 interfering with the provision of protective services to the elderly 29 person. The petition shall allege specific facts sufficient to show that 30 the elderly person is in need of protective services and consents to 31 their provision and that the caretaker refuses to allow the provision of 32 such services. If the judge finds that the elderly person is in need of 33 such services and has been prevented by the caretaker from receiving the 34 same, the judge may issue an order enjoining the caretaker from inter- 35 fering with the provision of protective services to the elderly person. 36 § 315. Authority of office of children and family services. 1. Every 37 person, department, agency or commission authorized to carry out the 38 duties enumerated in this title shall have access to all relevant 39 records, except that records which are confidential to an elderly person 40 shall only be disclosed with the written consent of the elderly person 41 or such elderly person's representative. The authority of the office of 42 children and family services under this title shall include, but not be 43 limited to, the right to initiate or otherwise take those actions neces- 44 sary to assure the health, safety and welfare of any elderly person, 45 subject to any specific requirement for individual consent, and the 46 right to authorize the transfer of an elderly person from an adult care 47 facility, intermediate or residential health care facility, nursing 48 home, or hospital. 49 2. The office of children and family services, within ten calendar 50 days of the referral of any cases for the provision of protective 51 services, shall furnish the local or county department of social 52 services a written report outlining the intended plan of services. The 53 local or county department of social services shall have the right to 54 comment on the proposed plan. 55 § 316. Assistance of other agencies. In performing the duties set 56 forth in this title, the local or county department of social services
S. 6479 6 1 may request the assistance of the staffs and resources of all appropri- 2 ate state departments, agencies and commissions and local health direc- 3 tors. 4 § 317. Review. Subsequent to the authorization for the provision of 5 reasonable and necessary protective services, the office of children and 6 family services shall initiate a review of each case within forty-five 7 days, to determine whether continuation of, or modification in, the 8 services provided is warranted. A decision to continue the provision of 9 such services should be made in concert with appropriate personnel from 10 other involved state and local groups, agencies and departments, and 11 shall comply with the consent provisions of this title. Reevaluations of 12 each such case shall be made every ninety days thereafter. The office of 13 children and family services shall advise the appropriate local or coun- 14 ty department of social services of the decisions relative to continua- 15 tion of protective services for each such elderly person. 16 § 318. Costs for providing protective services. Prior to implementa- 17 tion of any protective services, an evaluation shall be undertaken by 18 the office of children and family services pursuant to regulations which 19 shall be adopted by the commissioner of the office of children and fami- 20 ly services regarding the elderly person's financial capability for 21 paying for the protective services. If the person is so able, procedures 22 for the reimbursement for the costs of providing the needed protective 23 services should be initiated. If it is determined that the person is not 24 financially capable of paying for such needed services, the services 25 shall be provided in accordance with policies and procedures established 26 by the commissioner of the office of children and family services for 27 the provision of social services benefits under such circumstances. 28 § 319. Abuse of duties of caretaker. If as a result of any investi- 29 gation initiated under the provisions of this title, a determination is 30 made that a caretaker or other person has abused, neglected, exploited 31 or abandoned an elderly person, such information shall be referred in 32 writing to the attorney general or such attorney general's designee, and 33 the district attorney in the county in which the abuse, neglect, exploi- 34 tation or abandonment is believed to have occurred which shall conduct 35 such further investigation, if any is deemed necessary and shall deter- 36 mine whether criminal proceedings should be initiated against such care- 37 taker or other person, in accordance with applicable state law. 38 § 320. Statewide central register of elderly abuse. 1. There shall be 39 established in the office of children and family services a statewide 40 central register of elderly abuse reports made pursuant to this title. 41 2. The central register shall be capable of receiving oral and elec- 42 tronic reports of elderly abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment 43 and of immediately identifying prior reports of elderly abuse, neglect, 44 exploitation or abandonment and capable of monitoring the provision of 45 elderly protective services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. 46 To effectuate this purpose, but subject to the provisions of the appro- 47 priate local plan for the provision of elderly protective services, 48 there shall be a single statewide telephone number that all persons, 49 whether mandated by law or not, may use to report cases of suspected 50 elderly abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment and that all persons 51 so authorized by this title may use for determining the existence of 52 prior reports in order to evaluate the condition or circumstances of the 53 elderly person before them. Such oral reports shall be immediately 54 transmitted orally or electronically by the office of children and fami- 55 ly services to the appropriate local elderly protective service. If the 56 records indicate a previous report concerning a subject of the report,
S. 6479 7 1 other persons named in the report or other pertinent information, the 2 appropriate local elderly protective service shall be immediately noti- 3 fied of the fact. 4 3. The central register shall include but not be limited to the 5 following information: all the information in the written report; a 6 record of the final disposition of the report, including services 7 offered and services accepted; the plan for rehabilitative treatment; 8 the names and identifying data, dates and circumstances of any person 9 requesting or receiving information from the register; and any other 10 information which the commissioner of the office of children and family 11 services believes might be helpful in the furtherance of the purposes of 12 this chapter. 13 4. Reports made pursuant to this title as well as any other informa- 14 tion obtained, reports written or photographs taken concerning such 15 reports in the possession of the office of children and family services 16 or local departments shall be confidential and shall only be made avail- 17 able to (a) a physician who has before them an elderly person whom such 18 physician reasonably suspects may be abused, neglected, exploited or 19 abandoned; (b) a person authorized to place an elderly person in protec- 20 tive custody when such person has before them an elderly person whom 21 such person so authorized reasonably suspects may be abused, neglected, 22 exploited or abandoned and such person requires the information in the 23 record to determine whether to place the elderly person in protective 24 custody; (c) a duly authorized agency having the responsibility for the 25 care or supervision of an elderly person who is reported to the central 26 register of elderly abuse; (d) any person who is the subject of the 27 report or other persons named in the report; (e) a court, upon a finding 28 that the information in the record is necessary for the determination of 29 an issue before the court; (f) a grand jury, upon a finding that the 30 information in the record is necessary for the determination of charges 31 before the grand jury; (g) any appropriate state legislative committee 32 responsible for elderly protective legislation and any temporary state 33 commission having the powers of a legislative committee and having the 34 power to review such legislation and make recommendations thereon to the 35 governor and legislature; (h) any person engaged in a bona fide research 36 purpose, provided, however, that no information identifying the subjects 37 of the report or other persons named in the report shall be made avail- 38 able to the researcher unless it is absolutely essential to the research 39 purpose and the office of children and family services gives prior 40 approval; (i) authorized agencies and the office for the aging. Howev- 41 er, no information may be released unless the person or official's iden- 42 tity is confirmed by the department and the released information states 43 whether the report is "indicated" or "under investigation," whichever 44 the case may be. A person given access to the names or other information 45 identifying the subjects of the report or other persons named in the 46 report, except the subject of the report or other persons named in the 47 report, shall not divulge or make public such identifying information 48 unless such person is a district attorney or other law enforcement offi- 49 cial and the purpose is to initiate court action. 50 5. Unless an investigation of a report conducted pursuant to this 51 title determines that there is some credible evidence of the alleged 52 abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment, all information identifying 53 the subjects of the report and other persons named in the report shall 54 be expunged from the central register and from the records of all local 55 elderly protective services forthwith.
S. 6479 8 1 6. In all other cases, the record of the report to the central regis- 2 ter shall be expunged no later than ten years after the death of the 3 elderly person. In any case and at any time, the commissioner of the 4 office of children and family services may amend or expunge any record 5 upon good cause shown and notice to the subjects of the report and other 6 persons named in the report. 7 7. At any time, a subject of a report and other persons named in the 8 report may receive, upon request, a copy of all information contained in 9 the central register; provided, however, that the commissioner of the 10 office of children and family services is authorized to prohibit the 11 release of data that would identify the person who made the report or 12 who cooperated in a subsequent investigation, which such commissioner 13 reasonably finds will be detrimental to the safety or interests of such 14 person. 15 8. At any time subsequent to the completion of the investigation but 16 in no event later than ninety days after the subject of the report is 17 notified that the report is indicated the subject may request the 18 commissioner of the office of children and family services to amend or 19 expunge the record of the report. If the commissioner of the office of 20 children and family services does not amend or expunge the report within 21 ninety days of receiving such request, the subject shall have the right 22 to a fair hearing to determine whether the record of the report in the 23 central register should be amended or expunged on the grounds that it is 24 inaccurate or it is being maintained in a manner inconsistent with this 25 title. The appropriate local elderly protective service shall be given 26 notice of the fair hearing. The burden of proof in such hearing shall be 27 on the office of children and family services and appropriate local 28 elderly protective service. In such hearings, the fact that there was a 29 court finding of abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment shall be 30 presumptive evidence that the report was substantiated. The commissioner 31 of the office of children and family services or such commissioner's 32 designated agent is hereby authorized and empowered to make any appro- 33 priate order respecting the amendment or expungement of the record to 34 make it accurate or consistent with the requirements of this title. 35 9. Written notice of any expungement or amendment of any record, made 36 pursuant to the provisions of this title, shall be served upon each 37 subject of such record, other persons named in the report and the appro- 38 priate local elderly protective service. The latter, upon receipt of 39 such notice, shall take the appropriate similar action in regard to the 40 local elderly abuse register and inform, for the same purpose, any other 41 agency which received such record pursuant to this title. 42 10. Any person who willfully permits and any person who encourages the 43 release of any data and information contained in the central register to 44 persons or agencies not permitted by this title shall be guilty of a 45 class A misdemeanor. 46 § 2. The sum of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000), or so much 47 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the office of 48 children and family services out of any moneys in the state treasury in 49 the general fund to the credit of the state purposes account not other- 50 wise appropriated, for its expenses, including personal service, mainte- 51 nance and operation in carrying out the provisions of this act. Such 52 moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on 53 vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of the office of 54 children and family services or such commissioner's designee, in the 55 manner prescribed by law.
S. 6479 9 1 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 2 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 3 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 4 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 5 completed on or before such effective date.