New York A 4392: Relates to establishing a county representation system for electing the governor and lieutenant-governor within the state

Bill Text

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A04392 Summary:

BILL NOA04392 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S04245

&nbsp

SPONSORO'Pharrow

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add Art 19-J §§535 - 535-f, Exec L

&nbsp

Establishes the independent office of the child advocate to ensure the protection and promotion of the rights of children in the care of any state agency or local social services district.

Go to top A04392 Actions:

BILL NOA04392 

&nbsp

02/04/2025referred to children and families

01/07/2026referred to children and families

Go to topA04392 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA04392 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA04392 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4392

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 4, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. O'PHARROW -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Children and Families

 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of
 the independent office of the child advocate

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 19-J
 2 to read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 19-J
 4 INDEPENDENT OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE
 5 Section 535. Independent office of the child advocate; creation.
 6 535-a. Definitions.
 7 535-b. The child advocate.
 8 535-c. Duties of the child advocate.
 9 535-d. Cooperation of other agencies.
 10 535-e. Duty to maintain confidentiality.
 11 535-f. Additional provisions.
 12 § 535. Independent office of the child advocate; creation. There is
 13 hereby created in the executive department, an independent office of the
 14 child advocate, which shall:
 15 1. examine, evaluate and report to the governor and the legislature
 16 on:
 17 (a) particular and systemic issues in publicly funded programs over-
 18 seen by any executive agency with custody of children; and
 19 (b) multi-systemic issues that children in the care, custody or guar-
 20 dianship of any state agency that has custody of children or a local
 21 social services district, and the families of such children experience
 22 in accessing needed services across systems; and
 23 2. advocate for, and report to the governor and the legislature on
 24 suggested statutory, regulatory or policy changes aimed at improving
 25 outcomes and services for children and their families in New York state.
 26 § 535-a. Definitions. As used in this article:
 27 1. "Child" or "children" means:
 28 (a) a person, or persons under the age of eighteen; or

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07934-01-5

 A. 4392 2

 1 (b) a person or persons under the age of twenty-one who has been
 2 placed into the care, custody, or guardianship of any state agency that
 3 has custody of children or a local social services district pursuant to
 4 article three, seven, ten, ten-A, ten-B or ten-C of the family court act
 5 or section three hundred fifty-eight-a, three hundred eighty-three-c,
 6 three hundred eighty-four-a or three hundred eighty-four-b of the social
 7 services law; or
 8 (c) a person or persons under the age of twenty-one who is placed in
 9 residential care as defined in section four hundred twelve of the social
 10 services law.
 11 2. "Child advocate" means the person appointed pursuant to subdivision
 12 one of section five hundred thirty-five-b of this article to direct and
 13 oversee the activities of the independent office of the child advocate.
 14 § 535-b. The child advocate. 1. The child advocate shall be an indi-
 15 vidual with at least five years experience in the general subject area
 16 of either child welfare, juvenile justice or childhood behavioral
 17 health, who shall be appointed by the governor.
 18 2. The child advocate may hire or appoint persons as may be deemed
 19 necessary to carry out the duties of the independent office of the child
 20 advocate. The duties of persons employed or appointed by the child advo-
 21 cate shall be performed under the advice and supervision of the child
 22 advocate. Persons employed or appointed by the independent office of the
 23 child advocate shall be individuals with expertise in the a