Provides for the addition of the superintendent of the division of state police to the advisory council and the addition of the office of victim services to the domestic violence fatality review team.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7714A
SPONSOR: Hyndman TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the
advisory council and the domestic violence fatality review team
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would add new members to the Office for the Prevention of
Domestic Violence's (OPDV) Advisory Council and the Domestic Violence
Fatality Review team.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 would amend subdivision four of section 575 of the Executive
Law to add the Superintendent of the Division of State Police as an
ex-officio member of the Advisory Council.
Section 2 would amend subdivision ten of section 575 of the Executive
Law to add the Office of Victim Services to the Domestic Violence Fatal-
ity Review team.
Section 3 would make it effective immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
OPDV's Advisory Council was established to make recommendations on
domestic violence-related issues and effective strategies for the
prevention of domestic violence, to assist in the development of poli-
cies for effective intervention, public education and advocacy, and to
facilitate and assure communication and coordination of efforts among
state agencies and between state, federal and local levels of govern-
ment. Law enforcement must be an essential part of coordinating and
responding effectively to domestic violence. In addition to policing
duties statewide, the New York State Police are the primary, or only,
law enforcement presence in a significant portion of the state.
The Domestic Violence Fatality Review team was created in 2012 to
analyze domestic violence-related deaths or near deaths of individuals,
examine trends and patterns of domestic violence-related fatalities in
New York state, educate the public, service providers, and policymakers
about domestic violence fatalities and strategies for intervention and
prevention, and recommend policies and services to reduce domestic
violence fatalities. The Office of Victim Services (OVS) plays a vital
role in funding services for crime victims, and providing financial
compensation to victims. Since victim interface with local service
networks is an issue that the fatality review team examines, OVS would
gain important insight into victim needs through participation in case
reviews, and offer valuable information to the team.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The bill would take effect immediately.
