Int. No. 1717-A
By Council Members Ampry-Samuel, Levin, Chin, Gibson, Ayala, Cornegy, Lander, Brannan, Reynoso, Adams, D. Diaz, Rosenthal, Kallos, Louis, Dinowitz and Barron
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to information regarding demographic information of parents and children at each step in the child welfare system and a plan to address racial and income disparities
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 9 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-919 to read as follows:
§ 21-919 Demographic reporting and plan to address disparities. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Demographic information. The term “demographic information” means race or ethnicity, gender, community district, primary language, and any other category ACS deems relevant.
Step in the child welfare system. The term “step in child welfare system” includes, but is not limited to, when a report is accepted by the state central register and triggers an investigation, when an ACS investigation results in a case being determined indicated, when an ACS investigation results in a case being unfounded, when a case is handled by ACS in a non-investigatory manner; when a child is removed from their residence or the custody of their parent or primary caretaker on an emergency basis pursuant to section 1024 of the family court act, when a child is removed from their residence or the custody of their parent or primary caretaker pursuant to section 1027 of the family court act, when ACS files a child protective proceeding in family court pursuant to article 10 of the family court act, when ACS opens a preventive services case, and any other instance that ACS deems relevant.
b. Beginning September 1, 2022, and annually on September 1 thereafter, ACS shall submit to the mayor and speaker of the council and post on its website demographic information of parents and children at each step in the child welfare system. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to:
1. The total number of parents at each step in the child welfare system, disaggregated by demographic information; and
2. The total number of children at each step in the child welfare system, disaggregated by demographic information.
c. ACS shall address any disparate outcomes identified based on demographic information reported pursuant to subdivision b of this section in equity assessments required pursuant to subchapter 6 of chapter 1 of title 3 of the administrative code of the city of New York.
d. No information that is otherwise required to be collected and reported pursuant to this section shall be collected and reported in a manner that would violate any applicable provision of federal, state or local law relating to the privacy of information or that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or otherwise conflict with the interests of law enforcement.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
ACK
LS 8787/12055
10/13/2021 9:09pm