Bill aims to prevent another tragedy
By TANIQUE WILLIAMS
Two state lawmakers are hoping to close what they say is a "dangerous" loophole in New York state child safety law.
Sen. Jose Serrano, D-Bronx, and Assemblywomen Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, will introduce a bill this session called Myls Law. The bill would require police officers to notify local child welfare agencies whenever a person who is the primary caregiver of a child is arrested or taken into custody.
Under the current law, police officers are not mandated to report to child welfare agencies when they have a primary caregiver in custody. According to information from Serrano's office, police officers are only required to notify government agencies of a caregiver's arrest if a child is present during the arrest.
The bill is named after four-year-old Myls Dobson who, after days of abuse and torture, was found unconscious in Janaie Jones' Manhattan apartment. Myls' father, who had custody of the toddler, had been arrested and asked Jones to care for the child. Unfortunately, the decision was a deadly one.
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-01-21-86475.113122-Bill-aims-to-prevent-another-tragedy.html