NY S07885

Amends Correction Law Section 401-a to clarify that the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs monitors mental health care under Article Twenty of the Executive Law rather than Article Forty-five of the Mental Hygiene Law.

Updates Education Law Sections 4212, 4314, 4358, and 4403 to replace references to "reportable incidents" with "abuse or neglect" and changes the evidentiary standard from "some credible" evidence to "a preponderance of the evidence" for substantiated allegations.

Adds requirements in Education Law to prevent hiring or use of individuals with Category One offenses on the Vulnerable Persons' Central Register in positions involving regular and substantial contact with service recipients.

Adds employees and volunteers in licensed, certified, or operated residential care facilities for children to the list of mandated reporters under Social Services Law Section 413.

Extends whistleblower protections in Social Services Law Section 491 to include vendors and contractors, preventing retaliation for reporting or cooperating in investigations of reportable incidents involving vulnerable persons.