2012 New York Consolidated Laws
SOS - Social Services
Article 6-A - (459-A - 459-H) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT
459-G - Cooperation of an abuser not required as a condition of eligibility for benefits or services.

 
    §  459-g.  Cooperation  of  an  abuser  not required as a condition of
  eligibility for benefits or services. 1. Neither the state, a  political
  subdivision  of the state, a public authority, nor any employee or agent
  thereof shall, in any way, condition eligibility or receipt of  services
  or  benefits  by  a  victim  of  domestic  violence,  as defined in this
  article, by requiring the victim to contact the person  who  perpetrated
  such  domestic  violence or by requiring the person who perpetrated such
  domestic violence to complete any forms, provide any information, appear
  in person, or cooperate in any other manner as a part of  such  victim's
  application for or process of certification for continued receipt of any
  services or benefits in this state.
    2. Although such information or cooperation shall not be required as a
  condition of eligibility for or receipt of such services or benefits, in
  the  event  the  governmental  entity,  employee or agent seeks any such
  information or cooperation, such entity, employee  or  agent  shall,  if
  informed  consent  is  given  in  writing  by  such  victim  of domestic
  violence, provide an intermediary to make such contact in a manner  that
  protects  the  privacy,  confidentiality  and  current  location  of the
  victim. In the event the governmental entity, employee  or  agent  seeks
  any  such  information  or  cooperation  to comply with any federal law,
  regulation or mandate, such entity, employee or agent  shall  so  advise
  the victim of domestic violence and provide an intermediary to make such
  contact  on  behalf  of  the  victim  in  a manner that will protect the
  privacy, confidentiality and current location of the victim.