Expands the definition of mental health care provider for purposes of certain sex offenses committed during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination
Summary
Expands the definition of mental health care provider to include licensed psychoanalysts, creative arts therapists and behavior analysts for purposes of certain sex offenses committed during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 10, 2025
Last action Jan 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
S1543
→
S1543A
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends the definition of 'mental health care provider' in New York's penal law to include additional licensed professionals. The change expands who can provide mental health care in the context of certain sex offenses, broadening the scope of eligible providers beyond the previous list.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of eligible mental health care providers from a limited list to include licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed psychoanalysts, and licensed creative arts therapists.
DEFINITION
The definition of 'mental health care provider' was modified to add licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed psychoanalysts, and licensed creative arts therapists to the list of eligible professionals.
The phrase 'licensed mental health practitioner' was removed from the definition, likely to avoid redundancy with the newly added specific licensed professions.
ELIGIBILITY
Eligibility criteria for mental health care providers in sex offense cases were expanded to include more types of licensed mental health professionals, increasing the range of qualified providers.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Amendments
2
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO CODES
upper
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 1543A
upper
May 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO CODES
upper
Jan 10, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO CODES
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
NF
Nathalia Fernández
DDemocratic
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