Safety law passes in State Senate

Legislation to improve the operations of the state's Child and Adult Protective Services systems in order to prevent tragedies like the murder of 23-year-old North Collins resident Laura Cummings unanimously passed in the New York State Senate on Tuesday. It was sponsored by State Sen. George Maziarz, R-C, Newfane. The measure has been named "Laura Cummings' Law" in her memory.

Laura Cummings, a mentally and physically challenged young adult, was smothered to death by her mother on Jan. 21, 2010.

Maziarz' legislation was co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of a dozen senators, including every member of the Western New York delegation. Assemblyman John Ceretto, R-I-Lewiston, will sponsor a same-as measure in the Assembly.

There are three major components to the law:

•After the second report of abuse of a child or an impaired adult, Child or Adult Protective Services will be empowered and required to seek a court order to enter the premises and investigate the inside of a home when access has been denied by the homeowner.

•Child Protective Services will be allowed to share information about prior abuse reports with Adult Protective Services once a complaint of abuse of an impaired adult has been made.

•It shall be a Class A misdemeanor to deny or attempt to deny any investigation of Child or Adult Protective Services when they are trying to access to an alleged victim for an interview.