S 8903 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relates to former patients interred at present and former state mental health hospital cemeteries

This bill requires New York State to make burial records for former patients interred at state mental health hospital cemeteries available to the public within 30 days of a patient's death. It specifies that records must include name, birth/death dates, burial location, military service details, and family relationships, with no fees charged for access. The bill mandates permanent retention of all burial records and cemetery maps, and requires signs with contact information at each cemetery site. It directly affects families seeking to identify or memorialize deceased relatives buried in these historic facilities, such as Willard Asylum or Kings Park Psychiatric Center. The law also clarifies that burial records are separate from clinical medical records.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action May 20, 2026
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What changed between versions

S8903 S8903A · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill expands the list of sponsors and updates the legislative status of a bill regarding burial records at former state mental health hospitals. The most significant policy change is the introduction of a 50-year rule: burial records for patients deceased for fifty years or more will be treated as historical records, removing privacy protections and clinical record restrictions. Additionally, the definition of 'state mental health hospital' was updated to use more modern terminology regarding mental illness and developmental disabilities.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include the Office of Mental Health alongside the Department of Mental Health as responsible parties, and the definition of covered institutions was updated to reflect current medical terminology.
REQUIREMENT

Burial records for patients deceased for fifty years or more are now classified as historical records, exempting them from privacy protections and clinical record confidentiality.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'state mental health hospital' was updated to use modern language referring to institutions that care for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities.

ELIGIBILITY

Access to burial records is now restricted to 'qualified persons' as defined by a specific section of the law, rather than being available to anyone.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was changed from a delayed date (120 days after passage) to immediate effect.

SCOPE

The Office of Mental Health was added as a co-sponsor and responsible entity alongside the Department of Mental Health.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
2
Committee
1
Amendments
2
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
PRINT NUMBER 8903A
upper
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH
upper
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
upper
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors

Sponsors