Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 506: Authorizes a community member or community ambassador to apply for involuntary admission of a person alleged to be mentally ill

Authorizes a community member who resides in the community, or a community ambassador, to apply for involuntary admission of a person alleged to be mentally ill.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes community members to initiate involuntary mental health admissions, enabling access to care for individuals in crisis, supporting mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5563: Relates to the development of a public anti-stigma mental health education program

This bill requires New York's mental health commissioner to create a public anti-stigma education program targeting the general public and specific underserved groups, including Black, Latina/Latino adolescents, LGBTQ+ individuals, Asian descent communities, veterans, and rural residents. The program must reduce stigma about mental health and substance use disorders, improve understanding of symptoms and treatments, and provide clear information on accessing resources through social media, radio, print, and community forums. It mandates collaboration with community stakeholders and consumer advocates to ensure culturally appropriate materials. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates anti-stigma mental health education program to improve access and reduce barriers for underserved groups, directly advancing mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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passed both · New York · Assembly Jun 2, 2026

A 5894: Defines mental health practitioners with diagnostic authority

Defines mental health practitioners with diagnostic authority for the purposes of providing services under the workers' compensation law; includes such practitioners as providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands mental health provider access under workers' comp, enabling more practitioners to provide covered services, thus supporting patient access to mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 3897: Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans

Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans in New York state and to deliver a finding of the results of such study to the governor and the legislative leaders.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates study on police violence's mental health impact on Black communities, supporting accountability and reform efforts in criminal justice.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health study on police violence impacts, directly advancing mental health services research and policy development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3364: Relates to setting minimum reimbursement for mobile crisis intervention services

Sets the reimbursement for mobile crisis intervention services to be a rate that is not less than the rate that would be paid for such services pursuant to the medical assistance program under title eleven of article five of the social services law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures minimum reimbursement for mental health crisis services aligns with medical assistance rates, protecting funding and access to critical mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6177: Relates to establishing emergency mental health units

Relates to establishing emergency mental health units; provides for certification of all emergency mental health units, the creation of regional emergency mental health unit councils, and a New York state emergency mental health unit council to develop minimum training standards for certified emergency mental health units and minimum equipment and communication standards for emergency mental health units.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates emergency mental health units with certification standards, directly expanding access to mental health services under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 3627: Requires training for teachers and administrators in the area of mental health response training

Requires training for teachers and administrators in the area of mental health response; requires office of mental health to assist in development of curriculum for training.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires mental health training for educators, supporting teacher capacity and student well-being in schools per bill summary.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health response training for school staff, directly supporting mental health services in educational settings per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4869: Relates to judicial diversion programs; repealer

This bill significantly expands eligibility for judicial diversion programs, allowing individuals charged with a broader range of offenses to participate if they have a "qualifying diagnosis." This diagnosis includes serious mental disorders, other mental health disorders causing severe functional impairment, or substance use disorders. While most Class A felonies and Class B sexual offenses are generally excluded, the bill establishes a new "diversion part" in each county. It also redefines "treatment" within these programs to include evidence-based interventions outside of carceral settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands judicial diversion eligibility for mental health/substance use disorders, reducing incarceration and promoting rehabilitation through expanded program access.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands diversion eligibility for mental health/substance use disorders, directing offenders toward treatment instead of incarceration, supporting mental health services access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 1216: Relates to crisis intervention training for police officers

S 1216 requires police departments in cities with populations of one million or more to implement crisis intervention training for all officers. The bill mandates that city councils develop written protocols - created with input from mental health and addiction officials - for responding to situations involving people experiencing mental illness or substance abuse. These protocols must include mandatory training for both new and veteran officers, along with recommendations for ongoing retraining programs. The law applies to large cities and takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates crisis intervention training for police handling mental health crises, promoting de-escalation and reducing unnecessary force - key criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates police training with mental health officials, improving crisis response for mental illness per bill's protocol requirements, directly supporting mental health services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 4826: Provides for mental home health care services for the aging

Directs the commissioner of the office of mental health and the director of the state office for the aging shall establish a mental home health services program for the aging to facilitate access to mental home health services to respond to identified mental health needs, including those needs that may have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the aging or families that may not have access to mental health professionals in-person; makes related provisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes mental home health services program for aging population to improve access to mental health care, directly expanding patient access and addressing pandemic-related needs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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