2023 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.