Governor Hochul has signed into law more requirements for child abuse reporting training (see a copy of Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2024 below) – this time requiring specific training on handling a child who has an intellectual or developmental disability.  The new law allows two years in which to take this training, which will be part of the regular child abuse reporting training course.  More details will come from the state agencies implementing the new course requirements (New York State Education Department for dentists).  It should be noted that this is different than the recent changes made to the child abuse reporting training law that must be completed by April 1, 2025.  The new training on children with intellectual or developmental disabilities must be completed by November 17, 2026.  Governor Hochul had signed this into law on November 17, 2023, but only on condition that this Chapter 25 be passed in 2024 to extend the deadline for taking the new course requirements on intellectually/developmentally disabled children to November 17, 2026.

LAWS OF NEW YORK, 2024

                                         CHAPTER 25

  1       AN  ACT to amend the social services law, in relation to extending time
  2         frames for updated mandated reporter training
  3
  4           Became a law February 7, 2024, with the approval of the Governor.
  5                Passed by a majority vote, three-fifths being present.
  6
  7         The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
  8       bly, do enact as follows:
  9
10         Section 1.  Subdivision 6 of section 413 of the social services law, as
11       amended by a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the social services
12       law relating to updating the mandated reporter training to include how
13       to identify an abused or maltreated child with an intellectual or devel-
14       opmental disability, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 6463-A
15       and A. 7366, is amended to read as follows:
16         6.  The office of children and family services shall update training
17       issued to persons and officials required to report cases of suspected
18       child abuse or maltreatment to include guidance on identifying an abused
19       or maltreated child when such child is an individual with an intellectu-
20       al or developmental disability as defined in section 1.03 of the mental
21       hygiene law.  Such guidance shall be developed in consultation with the
22       justice center for the protection of people with special needs.  Persons
23       and officials required to report cases of suspected child abuse or
24       maltreatment shall have [one year] two years from the effective date of
25       this subdivision to receive such updated mandated reporter training.
26         § 2.  This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
27       manner as a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the social services law
28       relating to updating the mandated reporter training to include how to
29       identify an abused or maltreated child with an intellectual or devel-
30       opmental disability, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 6463-A
31       and A. 7366, takes effect.
32
33       The Legislature of the STATE OF NEW YORK ss:
34         Pursuant to the authority vested in us by section 70-b of the Public
35       Officers Law, we hereby jointly certify that this slip copy of this
36       session law was printed under our direction and, in accordance with such
37       section, is entitled to be read into evidence.
38
39          ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS                             CARL E. HEASTIE
40       Temporary President of the Senate                Speaker of the Assembly
41
42
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44
45       EXPLANATION--Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law
46                                    to be omitted.