Relates to enacting the "empire state of mind act" relating to the treatment of mentally ill persons; repealer
Summary
Enacts the "empire state of mind act" relating to the treatment of mentally ill persons in the realm of treatment in mental health and addiction services facilities, the penal system and social services.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 22, 2025
Last action Jan 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
A2719A
→
A2719B
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill was amended and reprinted with additional committee review. The main substantive change adds a new definition for 'behavioral health worker' and modifies the definition of 'likelihood to result in serious harm' to include behavioral health workers and homeless outreach workers in the list of professionals whose instructions noncompliance with does not constitute reasonable fear of serious physical harm.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on mental health law definitions, but the amendment expands the protection for individuals who do not comply with instructions from behavioral health workers or homeless outreach workers when determining whether someone poses a serious physical harm risk.
DEFINITION
Added a new definition for 'behavioral health worker' as someone with expertise in behavioral health services.
Modified the definition of 'likelihood to result in serious harm' to explicitly include behavioral health workers and homeless outreach workers alongside police officers and peace officers, clarifying that noncompliance with their instructions alone does not constitute reasonable fear of serious physical harm.
TECHNICAL
Added a new subdivision 58-a to section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law to formally define 'behavioral health worker'.
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
4
Committee
2
Amendments
4
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 2719B
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 2719A
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
Jan 22, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jenifer Rajkumar
DDemocratic
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