NY Soc Serv L § 371-B (2021)
2021 New York Laws SOS - Social Services Article 6 - Children Title 1 - Care and Protection of Children 371-B - Citizen Review Panels.

§ 371-b. Citizen review panels. 1. There shall be established at least   three citizen review panels. At least one panel shall be established for   the  city  of  New York and at least two panels shall be established for   social services districts or combinations of districts  outside  of  the   city  of  New  York.  The panel in the city of New York shall create one   subcommittee for each borough for the purposes of evaluating the  extent   to  which  the  state  and  the social services district are discharging   their child protection responsibilities within that particular  borough,   in  accordance  with  subsection  three of this section.   The office of   children and family services shall make available resources  to  support   the needs of each citizen review panel.2.  Each citizen review panel shall consist of thirteen members, seven   of whom shall be appointed by   the governor, three  of  whom  shall  be   appointed  by  the  temporary president of the senate, and three of whom   shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly. Each panel shall duly   elect a chairperson of such panel.  Each  panel  shall  be  composed  of   volunteer  members  who  are  broadly representative of the community in   which such panel is established, including members who have expertise in   the prevention and treatment of  child  abuse  and  neglect.  No  person   employed  by federal, state, county or municipal agencies which directly   deliver child welfare services may be appointed to a panel.3. Each citizen review panel shall,  by  examining  the  policies  and   procedures  of  the  state  and  social  services  districts  and, where   appropriate, specific cases, evaluate the extent to which  the  agencies   are  effectively  discharging their child protection responsibilities in   accordance with: (a) the state plan established pursuant to 42 U.S.C.  §   5106a(b);  (b)  the  child protection standards set forth in 42 U.S.C. §   5106a(b); and (c) any other criteria that the panel considers  important   to  ensure  the  protection of children.  Each panel shall meet not less   than once every three months. Each panel may  hold  public  hearings  on   issues within the panel's jurisdiction.4.  Each  citizen  review  panel  shall  have access to information on   specific cases in accordance with paragraph (A) of subdivision  four  of   section  four  hundred twenty-two of this chapter. Each panel shall also   have reasonable access to public and private  facilities  which  are  in   receipt  of public funds and are providing child welfare services within   the panel's jurisdiction. Where necessary, the  office  shall  assist  a   panel  in obtaining access to information or facilities as authorized in   accordance with this section. Each panel shall also have access  to  the   report prepared by the state pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 5106a(d).5.  Each  citizen review panel shall prepare and make available to the   public, on an annual basis, a report containing: (a) a  summary  of  the   activities of the panel; and (b) the findings and recommendations of the   panel.  Each  report shall be submitted by February first and shall omit   all confidential information used to prepare the report.6. The members of each citizen review panel shall not disclose to  any   person  or  government  official  any  identifying information about any   specific child protection case. A member  who  knowingly  violates  this   duty  of confidentiality may be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed   one thousand dollars and removal from the panel.7. The legal defense of a member of a citizen review  panel  shall  be   governed by the terms of section seventeen of the public officers law.