"The final bill before me today is Introductory Number 396-A, sponsored by Council Members Gentile, Jackson, de Blasio, Koppell, Recchia, Weprin, Gonzalez, Gennaro, Dickens, Fidler, Lappin, Palma, Vacca, Foster, Sears, Mark-Viverito, Gerson, Brewer, Reyna, Garodnick, Comrie, James, Mendez, Nelson, Seabrook, Vann, White, Avella, Barron, Liu, Katz, Mitchell, Sanders and the Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. Introductory Number 396-A requires the Department of Education to report on the implementation of Billy's Law, a State law designed to improve monitoring of students placed in out-of-state residential facilities.

"There are some New York City students whose educational needs are so severe that they require a 24-hour continuous program in a residential facility. These students are placed in an out-of-State residential program only as a last resort, when an in-State program cannot be located. This legislation adds an important link to help ensure that parents have information about out-of-State schools, consistent with federal, State and local confidentiality requirements. The Department's reports will provide the Council and parents access to information including details on locations of the facilities, student populations in these schools, the number of City students placed in each facility, information about discharges of City students, information about completed investigations of allegations of abuse and neglect and enforcement actions.

"I would like to thank Chancellor Joel Klein and his staff for their work on this bill. I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."