New NY Law Supports Families of Abused Disabled

New York can no longer prohibit families from using reports that their disabled relatives were abused in state facilities under a new law that one parent said will end intimidation of suffering families.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed the law that seeks to correct what stressed and grieving families have long complained about when attempting to deal with abuse and neglect of their disabled children and other relatives in state facilities.

Since 2007, under the reform act known as Jonathan’s Law, state reports of abuse and neglect were provided to families. But they were stamped “confidential — do not disclose.” That hindered families from pursuing abuse cases involving their loved ones through legal action or even to refer the case to law enforcement. Families saw that as an obstacle to removing repeat offenders.

“This type of secrecy is never good public policy,” said Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, a Long Island Democrat who recently settled a federal lawsuit alleging his disabled son Ricky, now 55, was abused at a group home. “It became personal,” he said.

The new law was prompted in part by a series of New York Times articles that exposed allegations of widespread abuse in state facilities and what the state acknowledges was an unacceptable lack of referrals to law enforcement.

“This bill is extremely important in ending attempts by New York state and private providers from intimidating parents and legal guardians from even going to the police or an attorney with documents and that abuse or a crime was committed against their disabled loved ones,” said Michael Carey. His son, Jonathan, died in state care and Jonathan’s Law is named for him.

The bill’s many sponsors, including Sen. David Carlucci, who represents parts of Rockland county, stated the law “will best protect the individual and provide for swift justice of crimes against this vulnerable population,” according to the bill’s memo.

The law states the confidentiality provision was “interpreted inconsistently” and was “at odds with the legislative intent” of Jonathan’s Law.

In 2012, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders said they agreed on a sweeping reform to care for the estimated 1 million disabled in state care. Cuomo said there were more than 10,000 allegations of abuse.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the October 24th, 2013 edition of Hamodia.