New York State Assembly Committee on Children and Families Holds Public Hearing on Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR)
The New York State Assembly Committee on Children and Families held a public hearing on the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR), which included testimony from individuals affected negatively by the state’s anonymous reporting and mandated reporting requirements.
Overreporting Detracts Resources from Children Being Abused
According to Democratic Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Children and Families, the current system encourages overreporting, which diverts resources away from children being abused. "Overreporting detracts resources away from kids that are being abused, and we’re finding a very large number of unfounded cases," he said.
SCR Data Reveals Unfounded Investigations
SCR data showed that out of almost 300,000 calls in 2022, roughly 80% led to unfounded investigations of apparently non-abusive families. These investigations can be damaging, causing unannounced home visits, invasive interviews, and disruptions at school, and sometimes even enabling domestic violence offenders to commit more abuse.
Coalition for Change
To address these issues, a coalition of organizations and individuals, including the Center for Family Representation, the New York Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline, and the Children’s Rights organization, has formed to push for changes to the reporting system.
Proposed Legislation
Four bills were proposed during the last legislative session to address the issues with the current system. They aim to protect families by making child protective services (CPS) fairer and more transparent, reducing unnecessary CPS involvement, supporting privacy, and helping to rebuild trust in the system to improve outcomes for kids.
Reducing False and Discriminatory CPS Interventions
One proposed bill, S902B, would change how New York handles reports of child abuse and neglect. Under the new confidential reporting system, no investigation would begin unless the person making the report provides their name and contact information. This information would remain confidential unless a judge ordered its release, and the caller would have protections in case self-identifying could be dangerous.
Analog to Miranda Rights
Another proposed bill, S901A, would create an analog to Miranda rights for parents and caregivers under investigation for abuse or neglect. CPS would need to read them their rights, such as the right to know the accusations, refuse entry to investigators, or get a lawyer, on first contact.
Protecting Consent in Healthcare
A third proposed bill, S320B, would ban drug, cannabis, and alcohol testing for newborns, pregnant people, or those who have just given birth, unless they have consent or there is a medical emergency. This aims to improve maternal and infant health, ensure fairness, and prevent unwarranted CPS attention.
Funding Community-Based Programs
Finally, a fourth proposed bill, A2801, would create the Child and Family Well-Being Program, which would fund community-based programs to prevent violence and support families in need.
Conclusion
The hearing highlighted the need for change in the system, with many testifying against the existing model. While no legislation emerged from the hearing, the proposed bills and the coalition’s efforts to reform the system aim to reduce unnecessary investigations, support privacy, and improve outcomes for children.
FAQs
- What is the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR)?
- The SCR is a database of reports of child abuse and maltreatment, established to provide a centralized system for reporting and investigating these incidents.
- What are the proposed bills aiming to reform the system?
- Four bills were proposed to address the issues with the current system, including changing the reporting system, creating an analog to Miranda rights, banning drug testing, and funding community-based programs.
- What are the goals of the proposed bills?
- The goals are to reduce unnecessary and discriminatory CPS interventions, protect families’ privacy, and improve outcomes for children.
