N.Y. SOS Law § 446

§ 446. Statewide automated child welfare information system. (1) The\ndepartment shall promulgate regulations required to implement federal\nrequirements for the establishment and administration of a statewide\nautomated child welfare information system as required by applicable\nfederal statute and regulation. The regulations shall set forth\nstandards for the timely submission of data elements relating to child\nwelfare services, including foster care, adoption assistance, preventive\nservices, child protective services and other family preservation and\nfamily support services.\n (2) The statewide automated child welfare information system shall be\ndesigned to improve convenience to consumers of services and reduce the\nadministrative burden of child welfare workers of social services\ndistricts and their contracted agencies which provide direct services.\nThe statewide automated child welfare information system shall be\ndesigned to provide computers to the majority of individual child\nwelfare workers of social services districts and their contracted\nagencies which provide direct child welfare services, allow such workers\nand agencies to communicate with and enter information directly into the\nstatewide automated child welfare information system while preparing\nrequired documents and eliminate duplicate entry of information and\npreparation of documents, and allow for direct determination of claims\nand sanctions. The department shall immediately expand the existing\nadvisory group of consumers, social services districts and their\ncontracted agencies and other persons with expertise in child welfare.\nThe statewide automated child welfare information system shall be\ndesigned to permit communication with the family courts and to protect\nthe confidentiality of individuals as prescribed by this chapter.\n