File #: Int 0376-2018    Version: Name: Establishing a bullying hotline for youth.
Type: Introduction Status: Laid Over in Committee
File created: 1/31/2018 In control: Committee on Youth Services
On agenda: 1/31/2018 Final action:
Title: A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an anti-bullying hotline and additional resources for youth
Sponsors: Ritchie J. Torres, Rafael Salamanca, Jr., Justin L. Brannan, Fernando Cabrera
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 376-A, 2. Summary of Int. No. 376, 3. Int. No. 376, 4. January 31, 2018 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 5. Proposed Int. No. 376-A - 3/28/18, 6. Committee Report 4/26/18, 7. Hearing Testimony 4/26/18, 8. Hearing Transcript 4/26/18

Proposed Int. No. 376-A

 

By Council Members Torres, Salamanca, Brannan and Cabrera

 

A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an anti-bullying hotline and additional resources for youth

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 30 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 737 to read as follows:

§ 737. Anti-bullying hotline and resources. a. Hotline. The commissioner, or such other entity as determined by such commissioner, shall establish an anti-bullying hotline. Such hotline shall assist callers by:

1. Providing general information about bullying prevention and other available resources;

2. Providing counseling to each individual caller, as necessary;

3. Referring callers to relevant offices, agencies or approved organizations for further assistance, as necessary; and

4. Receiving complaints or information regarding bullying in real time for expedited notification to relevant entities for further assistance or intervention, as necessary.

b. Mobile device application. The commissioner, or such other entity as determined by such commissioner, shall develop an anti-bullying mobile device application that provides users with the same information, counseling, referrals and complaint functionality as provided to hotline callers under subdivision a of this section but tailored to the communications format of a mobile device.

c. Educational outreach. The commissioner, or such other entity as determined by such commissioner, shall engage in educational outreach to inform youth about the availability of the hotline and mobile device application created pursuant to subdivisions a and b of this section. Such outreach shall include, but is not limited to, posting information about the hotline on the department’s website and on the mobile device application.

d. Confidentiality. Information received by the hotline and mobile device application created pursuant to subdivisions a and b of this section may be submitted anonymously and confidentially except to the extent required otherwise by any federal, state or other local law.

                                          § 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law.

SMD/PLS

LS #4824

3/27/18