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Abusive deaths prompt state legislation

Legislation has been approved in Albany that should help better protect children from abuse. 

Following the deaths of several local children, State Senator Timothy Kennedy pushed for a bill to improve New York's child abuse hotline.

Kennedy says calls will no longer be viewed as isolated incidents and the Office of Children and Family Services is required to send all records about the child or alleged abuser to local investigators.

"One of the most alarming findings through the statewide review of Erie County Child and Protective Services was that 72 percent of the reports under review involved families with a history of previous child protective investigations within the past four years," Kennedy said.

Kennedy also pushed legislation to improve state oversight by requiring local agencies to issue caseload reports for Child and Protective Services.

"By lowering the caseloads to the state average of between 12 and 15 cases per worker, rather the 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 caseloads that have been reported, (the legislation) will effectively allow those individuals that are on the ground working with these children and their families to be able to better protect them,"  he added.

Once signed by the governor, Kennedy says the reforms will take effect immediately.