Bill > A00823

This bill requires all state and private agencies with mandatory reporters (professionals who are legally required to report incidents of abuse or neglect involving vulnerable people, such as social workers, healthcare workers, or educators) to retrain their entire staff on a new reporting protocol. Specifically, staff must be trained to report incidents not only to the vulnerable persons' central register, but also directly to 9-1-1 operators and county district attorneys' offices. The bill mandates that all written materials, including training manuals, informational brochures, posters, and wallet cards, be updated to reflect these new reporting requirements. Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for knowingly failing to report such incidents from a class A misdemeanor to a class E felony and clarifies that employees cannot face retaliation for making such reports. The goal of these changes appears to be improving the immediate response to potential crimes against vulnerable populations by ensuring more direct and immediate reporting to emergency and law enforcement services.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A823