Int. No. 736

By Council Members Boyland, Brewer, Clarke, Fidler, Foster, Gennaro, Gerson, Gonzalez, James, Koppell, McMahon, Nelson, Palma, Stewart, Vann and Jackson

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to reporting requirements regarding domestic violence victims.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1.   Chapter 3 of title 21 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 21-310.1 to read as follows:

§21.310.1  Compilation of data on victims of domestic violence.  a.  The department shall screen each person entering the homeless shelters of New York city, including those processed through the emergency assistance unit, to determine if such person is a victim of domestic violence as defined in section 21-130.  The department shall keep confidential all information that it receives and protect the privacy of all individuals screened by the department to the extent provided by law.  Each such person shall be informed of the extent of protection of information provided to the department under article 6 and article 6-a of the public officers law.

b.  In addition to any other data which it may deem relevant, the department shall compile the following information on each person identified as a victim of domestic violence:

1. age;

2. relationship to abusing party;

3. number and ages of any children accompanying such person;

4. borough of residence;

5. length of time spent in any shelter; and

6. placement or housing status.

§2.  Section 21-311 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision f to read as follows:

f. the number of victims of domestic violence using homeless shelters and a summary of the data compiled pursuant to section 21-310.1.

§3.  Effective date. This local law shall take effect thirty days after its enactment into law.

LS# 565

10/4/05

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