Healthcare (Mental Health)

signed · New York · Assembly Dec 18, 2025

A 6721: Enacts the "Lieutenant Joseph Banish mental health act"

Enacts the "Lieutenant Joseph Banish mental health act" which establishes a law enforcement peer support program to provide confidentiality for communications arising out of law enforcement peer support counseling; defines terms; provides exceptions for when a peer support communication may be disclosed.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes confidential peer support for law enforcement officers, promoting mental health and accountability within criminal justice system.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes confidential peer support for law enforcement mental health, protecting access to services per mental health care indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4921: Authorizes the creation of a 9-8-8 license plate

This bill allows New York residents to request a special 9-8-8 license plate supporting the suicide prevention hotline. The plate would be issued upon payment of a $25 annual fee (in addition to standard registration), with $5,000 allocated to offset production costs after one year. It directly affects vehicle owners who choose to display this plate to raise awareness for mental health crisis support. The bill creates no new requirements but provides a voluntary option for residents to contribute to the 9-8-8 system through their vehicle registration.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes a 9-8-8 license plate to support suicide prevention hotline, directly promoting mental health crisis awareness and services. The plate's purpose explicitly aligns with mental health advocacy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6960: Establishes the commission on public safety, emergency preparedness, and mental health

S 6960 creates a new state commission to coordinate public safety, emergency response, and mental health efforts. The commission, composed of agency heads (including police, emergency services, education, health, and mental health officials), must meet quarterly to work with three divisions focused on school safety, emergency preparedness, and mental health services. Key provisions require the commission to provide schools with safety resources and mental health support, improve community disaster response, reduce mental health stigma, and hold public hearings twice yearly. The commission must report annually to the governor and legislature. This bill establishes new coordination structures for state agencies but does not directly change laws affecting residents.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates commission to provide schools with safety resources and mental health support, directly advancing school safety and student well-being within education context.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes commission with mental health services as a core division, requiring schools to receive mental health support and improving community mental health resources.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Mental Health Tags Public Safety

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7548: Relates to requiring mental health first aid training for licensed cosmetologists and barbers

This bill requires licensed cosmetologists and barbers to complete an 8-hour mental health first aid training course before obtaining or renewing their licenses. The training teaches professionals to recognize symptoms of mental health crises (like anxiety or depression), safely de-escalate situations, and refer clients to community resources. It directly affects all beauty professionals who interact with the public daily, mandating certification valid for the duration of their license. The law aims to promote public safety by equipping these frontline workers with skills to address mental health needs and reduce related risks.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health first aid training for beauty professionals, expanding community mental health service access points through frontline worker education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requires mental health training including de-escalation techniques, directly improving workplace safety for cosmetologists/barbers by preventing client crises from escalating to harm workers.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Professional Licensing

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6687: Relates to witnesses to a health care proxy and the crime of forgery in the second degree

Relates to witnesses to a health care proxy; changes the witness requirement for the health care proxy from two adult witnesses to one adult witness; makes an exception for persons who reside in mental health facilities by requiring such persons to have two adult witnesses; includes falsely making or altering a health care proxy within the crime of forgery in the second degree.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSimplifies health care proxy creation (1 witness vs 2), facilitating patient decision-making rights; includes forgery protection to prevent fraud in proxy documents.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5385: Enacts the mental health shelter placement accuracy and support act

Authorizes information in OMH's PSYCKES database and similar mental health databases to be disclosed to certain personnel engaged in shelter placement and support services; directs OTDA to establish certain protocols and to facilitate implementation of such provisions; directs OTDA and OMH to establish an oversight committee for such provisions; directs an annual report to be submitted by OTDA and OMH; directs OMH and OTDA to conduct a review of the effectiveness of such provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes mental health data sharing for shelter placement, establishes oversight protocols to improve service effectiveness and coordination in mental health care.92% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAddresses homelessness through improved shelter placement protocols for mental health services, aligning with housing topic indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Homelessness

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5135: Relates to mental health services and resources for child protective services employees

This bill requires all child protective services (CPS) employees in New York to receive mandatory mental health services and resources. It specifically mandates access to therapies like EMDR, secondary trauma treatment, counseling, and informational support to address workplace stress. The law, added to the social services law, directly affects CPS workers by ensuring they have structured mental health support. The policy takes effect immediately upon enactment, aiming to improve employee well-being through concrete, accessible resources.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mandatory mental health services (EMDR, counseling, trauma treatment) for CPS employees, directly advancing mental health support for a workforce, aligning with healthcare support indicators.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates mental health services for CPS workers to address workplace stress, enhancing workplace well-being and safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5941: Relates to the removal of incarcerated individuals diagnosed with mental illness to a residential mental health treatment unit

This bill requires New York's Department of Corrections to move incarcerated individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness out of segregated confinement or long-term residential rehab units (where confinement might exceed 30 days) into specialized mental health treatment units. It directly affects people in state prisons diagnosed with serious mental illness under specific legal definitions. The key provision mandates this transfer after consultation with mental health clinicians, while still allowing disciplinary hearings to proceed under existing rules. The law does not alter disciplinary processes but changes where certain mentally ill inmates are housed during their incarceration.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates transfer of mentally ill inmates from segregated confinement to mental health treatment units, promoting rehabilitation and aligning with criminal justice reform by prioritizing treatment over punitive confinement.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transfer to specialized mental health units for incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness, improving access to appropriate treatment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 7293: Relates to the rights of former outpatients of mental health facilities to have files sealed after ten years

Authorizes former outpatients of mental health facilities to request a court of competent jurisdiction to render an order to have their files sealed when more than ten years have elapsed since the last treatment in such facility, they are not currently being treated for mental illness and it would be in the best interests of the petitioner and society to seal such record without the requirement of a special proceeding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSealing mental health records aids reintegration, reducing barriers to employment and housing - aligning with criminal justice reform goals to lower recidivism and protect civil rights.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects mental health patient rights by enabling record sealing after 10 years, aligning with patient privacy safeguards in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3713: Establishes a support team assisted response pilot program

Establishes a support team assisted response pilot program in any city with a population of one million or more for the purpose of providing emergency response services for mental health, substance use and other non-criminal public health emergencies.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRedirects mental health/substance use emergencies from police response to specialized teams, reducing unnecessary criminal justice involvement - aligns with reform goals of diverting non-criminal crises from law enforcement.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes emergency response for mental health/substance use crises, directly advancing mental health services as a core purpose per topic description.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health

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