As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
CERTIFICATION
A certification of a congregate emergency shelter issued or applied for pursuant to Suffolk County Code Chapter
438, Article
I.
CERTIFICATION APPLICANT
The owner, manager, executive director or operator of a sponsoring agency who is required to apply for certification pursuant to Suffolk County Code Chapter
438, Article
I, or to apply for renewal of such certification.
CES STAFF OR STAFF PERSONS
Includes any existing personnel or new personnel of a congregate
emergency shelter, whether paid or unpaid. CES staff or staff persons
shall include all persons who come into direct, unsupervised resident
contact.
COMMISSIONER
The Commissioner of the County Department of Social Services.
CONGREGATE EMERGENCY SHELTER (CES)
A residential facility providing temporary (nondomicile)
housing to at least four individuals or families who or which are
homeless, for which such temporary use and occupancy of the housing
facilities the owner or primary tenant of the property receives compensation,
either directly from the temporary occupant or through reimbursement
from a third party on behalf of such temporary occupant, or both.
The facility may also provide ancillary services such as counseling,
treatment or other support services.
DIVISION
The Housing and Adult Services Division within the County
Department of Social Services, or any successor division.
SPONSORING AGENCY
An agency or unit of government, a voluntary agency or any
other person or organization which intends to construct, establish,
expand, modify or operate a congregate emergency shelter with the
use of government funds, assistance, sponsorship, property or approval.
In order to be eligible for certification or certification renewal
by the Division, the certification applicant shall undertake the following
actions for himself or herself, if he or she is an individual, and
also require any CES staff to:
A. Make a written statement concerning whether he/she has been convicted
of any criminal offense in any jurisdiction and whether he/she has
been the subject of any referral to the New York State Central Register
of Child Abuse and Maltreatment or to a comparable register in other
jurisdictions. If he/she has been convicted of an offense or has been
the subject of a referral, he/she shall state the jurisdiction where
the incident was alleged to have occurred. This statement shall be
signed under penalties of perjury.
B. Report, on a continuing basis, any convictions for criminal offenses
in any jurisdiction or referrals to the New York State Central Register
of Child Abuse and Maltreatment or comparable referrals in other jurisdictions
which occur after the date of the initial statement.
C. Be fingerprinted by the Division, for purposes of identification
and criminal history review through the New York State Division of
Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).
Fingerprinting of certification applicants and CES staff shall
be conducted by the Division, upon written request signed by each
certification applicant and, where applicable, the CES staff person.
Such request to the Division shall also include a copy of the certification
applicant's or CES staff person's statement submitted pursuant
to the previous section.
The Division shall forward all fingerprint cards to the Division
of Criminal Justice Services, together with any required fees, for
a criminal history record check.
The Division shall follow all confidentiality procedures/guidelines
established by DCJS.
The Suffolk County Executive is hereby authorized to execute
and implement any necessary contracts with the New York State Division
of Criminal Justice Services, approved as to legality by the Suffolk
County Attorney, in order to implement this article.