Source: http://docs.dos.ny.gov/coog/ftext/f16738.htm
Timestamp: 2014-12-22 12:01:48
Document Index: 739720485

Matched Legal Cases: ['§89', '§87', '§87', '§372', '§372', '§422', '§422', '§422']

FOIL-AO-16738
I have received your letter concerning your request for a copy of a report of an investigation initiated by Child Protective Services.
For purposes of clarification, I point out that the functions of the Committee on Open Government involve providing advice and opinions concerning public access to government records, primarily in relation to the state’s Freedom of Information Law. This office does not maintain custody or control of records generally. To seek records under the Freedom of Information Law, a request should be made to the “records access officer” at the agency that you believe would possess the records of your interest. The records access officer has the duty of coordinating an agency’s response to requests to requests. When a proper request is made, the Freedom of Information Law provides direction concerning the time and manner in which agencies must respond to requests. Specifically, §89(3) of the Freedom of Information Law states in part that:
Next, in general, the Freedom of Information Law is based upon a presumption of access. Stated differently, all records of an agency are available, except to the extent that records or portions thereof fall within one or more grounds for denial appearing in §87(2)(a) through (j) of the Law.
Since you referred to Child Protective Services, of possible relevance is the initial ground for denial, §87(2)(a), which pertains to records that "are specifically exempted from disclosure by state or federal statute." One such statute is §372 of the Social Services Law, which requires that various records be kept by "every court, and every public board, commission, institution, or officer having powers or charged with duties in relation to abandoned, delinquent, destitute, neglected or dependent children who shall receive, accept or commit any child..." Subdivision (4) of §372 states in relevant part that such records:
Also potentially relevant is §422 of the Social Services Law, which pertains to the statewide central register utilized by an agency having responsibility regarding such matters. Subdivision (4)(A) of section 422 states that reports as well as information concerning those reports are confidential, and may be disclosed only under specified circumstances listed in that statute. One of those circumstances involves disclosures to “ any person who is the subject of the report or other persons named in the report” [§422 (A)(d)]. In addition, subdivision (7) of section 422 states:
“At any time, a subject of a report and other persons named in the report may receive, upon request, a copy of all information contained in the central register; provided, however, that the commissioner is authorized to prohibit the release of date that would identify the person who made the report or who cooperated in a subsequent investigation or the agency, institution, organization, program or other entity where such person is employed or with which he is associated, which he reasonably finds will be detrimental to the safety or interests of such person.”
Based on the foregoing, although a report may generally be available to a parent, those portions that would, if disclosed, identify the source of the report may be withheld to protect that person’s privacy and safety. Lastly, I note that subdivision (5) of §422 of the Social Services Law generally prohibits the disclosure of reports that have been determined to be unfounded. I hope that I have been of assistance.