Asm. Jessica González-Rojas

Establishes the mandatory reporting of child abuse and maltreatment task force to examine, evaluate, and make recommendations concerning the child welfare system and the mandatory reporting of child abuse and maltreatment; requires the task force to submit a report to the legislature; sets forth the duties of the members of the task force.

Establishes fetal and infant mortality review boards to study fetal and infant mortality and morbidity and make recommendations on policies, best practices, and strategies to reduce fetal and infant mortality and morbidity.

Provides that, conditions of poverty, including but not limited to, the inability to provide or obtain clothing, home or property repair, or childcare, shall not be the sole determining factor when providing notification to the appropriate police authorities or the local child protective service unless there is willful or negligent action or failure to act and a nexus to harm such that the child has suffered or there is a substantial risk the child will suffer serious physical, mental, or emotional impairment.

Grants employees access to personnel records; requires notice of negative information in such records and an opportunity for a review; permits employee to include certain information in personnel records.

Maddy summaryThis bill aims to improve the health, safety, and human rights of pregnant and postpartum individuals in correctional facilities and their young children. It mandates comprehensive medical care, including prenatal screenings, labor support, mental health services, and privacy protections, while also ensuring access to nutritious food and safe living conditions. Additionally, the legislation establishes a right for children born in these facilities to remain with their parents until the child is eighteen months old, or until the parent is paroled if that occurs sooner, with specific exceptions only for clear and convincing evidence of imminent risk to the child.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state prisons and detention centers to provide incarcerated individuals with free voice communication services, such as phone calls, without charging them or their families. It explicitly prohibits correctional facilities from earning any revenue from these communications and mandates that in-person visit programs continue to operate alongside these services. The law applies to contracts signed on or after April 1, 2025, and ensures that any existing contracts for these services must end by March 31, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Correctional Association of New York to regularly inspect residential juvenile detention facilities operated by the Office of Children and Family Services. It grants the association the power to conduct unannounced visits, review facility records and policies, and confidentially communicate with both youth residents and staff to ensure their welfare. Additionally, the legislation establishes a confidential toll-free hotline for youth to report abuse or unsafe conditions and expands the legal authority of Prisoners' Legal Services to represent these youth, access their records, and investigate complaints. The Office of Children and Family Services is required to respond in writing to annual reports submitted by the Correctional Association detailing the state of these facilities and any recommended improvements.

Requires certain documents and forms to be provided in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited English proficient immigrants of five years or less according to the American community survey, as published by the United States census bureau.

Requires a caller making a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment to the central registry to leave their name and contact information; prohibits the office of children and family services from releasing information identifying a person who made such a report.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the state social services office to implement an electronic benefit transfer system by June 21, 2026. The new system must use standard commercial technology, specifically requiring the use of computer chip cards, to distribute benefits to eligible recipients. The legislation also mandates that the office upgrade the system as soon as possible to meet these new standards. This change aims to modernize how government assistance is delivered but does not alter the amount of benefits available to individuals.