Bill Text: NY A06021 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relates to the establishment of a statewide toll-free hotline for reporting instances of bullying in schools.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 14-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to education [A06021 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-A06021-Introduced.html

---

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          6021
                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                    February 26, 2019
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ORTIZ,  MOSLEY,  SEAWRIGHT, DICKENS, D'URSO,
          ARROYO, LAVINE, SIMON, BLAKE, COOK, DE LA ROSA, WILLIAMS, BICHOTTE  --
          Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to
          the Committee on Education
        AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of a
          statewide toll-free hotline for reporting  instances  of  bullying  in
          schools
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 115 to
     2  read as follows:
     3    § 115. Toll-free statewide bullying hotline. 1. The  department  shall
     4  establish  a  statewide,  toll-free  telephone  number  (a "hotline") to
     5  receive reports of  bullying  in  schools.  The  hotline  shall  receive
     6  reports  of  allegations  of  reportable incidents twenty-four hours per
     7  day, seven days a week. The hotline shall accept anonymous calls and, if
     8  feasible, accept text messages. The department shall provide information
     9  about such hotline to each public and private school in the state.
    10    2. When any allegation that could reasonably constitute  a  reportable
    11  incident  is received by the hotline, the hotline shall accept and imme-
    12  diately transmit notice of the report orally and electronically  to  any
    13  appropriate  state  agencies or local social services office. Whenever a
    14  telephone call or electronic transmission to the hotline alleges an  act
    15  or  circumstances that may constitute a criminal offense or an immediate
    16  threat to an individual's health, safety or welfare, the  hotline  shall
    17  convey, by the most expedient means available, the information contained
    18  in  such  call or transmission to the appropriate law enforcement agency
    19  or district attorney and, to the extent necessary, the appropriate emer-
    20  gency responder, and the relevant state agency or local social  services
    21  office.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD06042-01-9
        A. 6021                             2
     1    3. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to
     2  facilitate  the  implementation  and operation of the hotline, including
     3  but not limited to, procedures for  timely  and  accurate  referrals  to
     4  other  state  agencies  or entities that may have investigative or over-
     5  sight authority regarding reported incidents.
     6    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.