N.Y. Laws » CHAPTER Executive / ARTICLE Protection of People With Special Needs
New York Consolidated Laws

N.Y. Executive Law § 550 (2026)

Definitions

✓ text as retrieved May 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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§ 550. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
  1. "Executive director" shall mean the executive director of the
justice center for the protection of people with special needs.
  2. "Mental hygiene facility" shall mean a facility as defined in
subdivision six of section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law and facilities
for the operation of which an operating certificate is required pursuant
to article sixteen or thirty-one of the mental hygiene law and including
family care homes. "Mental hygiene facility" also means a secure
treatment facility as defined by article ten of the mental hygiene law.
This term shall not include services defined in subparagraph four of
subdivision (a) of section 16.03 of the mental hygiene law.
  3. "Reportable incident" shall have the same meaning as defined in
subdivision one of section four hundred eighty-eight of the social
services law.
  4. "State oversight agency" shall mean the state agency that operates,
licenses or certifies an applicable facility or provider agency as
defined in subdivision four of section four hundred eighty-eight of the
social services law; provided however that such term shall only include
the following entities: the office of mental health, the office for
people with developmental disabilities, the office of alcoholism and
substance abuse services, the office of children and family services,
the department of health and the state education department. "State
oversight agency" does not include agencies that are certification
agencies pursuant to federal law or regulation. For purposes of this
article, "state oversight agency" shall include the justice center for
the protection of people with special needs.
  5. "Vulnerable person" shall mean a person who, due to physical or
cognitive disabilities, or the need for services or placement, is
receiving services from a facility or provider agency as defined in
subdivision four of section four hundred eighty-eight of the social
services law.
  6. "Individual with a disability," except as used in subdivision (b)
of section five hundred fifty-eight of this article, shall mean a person
with a disability as defined in subdivision twenty-one of section two
hundred ninety-two of this chapter.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2016–2023 · leading case: People v. Martesha Davidson, 55 N.E.3d 1027 (N.Y. 2016).
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People v. Martesha Davidson, 55 N.E.3d 1027 (N.Y. 2016). · cites it 2× “Specifically, the enactment calls for the creation of a "justice center" -- the primary purpose of which is to protect "vulnerable persons" as defined in Executive Law § 550 (5). The center was granted "concurrent authority with district attorneys to prosecute abuse and neglect…”
Matter of Williams v. New York State Just. Ctr. for The Prot. of People With Special Needs, 151 A.D.3d 1355 (N.Y. App. Div. 3d Dep't 2017). “As discussed in greater detail in this Court’s decision in Matter of Anonymous v Molik ( 141 AD3d 162, 164-165 [2016], lv granted 29 NY3d 902 [2017]), the Legislature enacted the Protection of People with Special Needs Act (Executive Law § 550 et seq.) in 2012, which, in turn,…”
The People v. Marina Y. Viviani , The People v. Justin Hope , The People v. Nicole Hodgdon, 169 N.E.3d 224 (N.Y. 2021). “1 A “vulnerable person” is defined as “a person who, due to physical or cognitive disabilities, or the need for services or placement, is receiving services from a facility or provider agency as defined in [Social Services Law § 488 (4)]” (Executive Law § 550 [5]). -3- -4- Nos.…”
Coley v. Mountain Lake Servs. Found., No. 8:20-cv-00675 (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 5, 2021). “See N.Y. Exec. Law § 550 et seq.; N.Y. Soc. Serv.”
Walker v. Greystone Programs Inc., No. 7:18-cv-07757 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 8, 2020). “See N.Y. Exec. Law § 550 et seq.; N.Y. Soc. Serv.”
People v. Hodgdon, 175 A.D.3d 65 (N.Y. App. Div. 3d Dep't 2019). “In 2012, the Legislature enacted the Protection of People with Special Needs Act (Executive Law § 550 et seq. ) to protect individuals "who are vulnerable because of their reliance on professional caregivers to help them overcome physical, cognitive and other challenges" (L…”
People v. Rice, 214 A.D.3d 1075 (N.Y. App. Div. 3d Dep't 2023). “In Hodgdon , this Court determined that the Protection of People with Special Needs Act ( see Executive Law § 550 et seq. ) was unconstitutional insofar as it conferred " 'concurrent authority with district attorneys' to prosecute individuals accused of crimes against vulnerable…”
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