Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 6681: Requires mental health facilities to have a staff member specifically trained in filing assisted outpatient treatment petitions

Requires mental health facilities to have a staff member specifically trained in filing assisted outpatient treatment petitions and to have patients with mental illness not released from such facilities until they have been registered for available services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health facilities to ensure patients receive follow-up care via trained staff, strengthening outpatient treatment access and continuity of mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6081: Establishes the child psychiatry access project within the office of mental health; establishes a gift for such purpose on personal income tax forms

Establishes the child psychiatry access project; provides that the office of mental hygiene shall establish regional child psychiatry access projects across the state to provide primary care providers with timely access to child psychiatry consultations in order to assist such primary care providers in meeting the mental health needs of the children and adolescents and their families; establishes a gift for the child psychiatry access project on state personal income tax forms, the proceeds from which shall be deposited into a child psychiatry access fund for the funding of such projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates voluntary tax donation option on personal income tax forms to fund child psychiatry access project, directly advancing public service funding through tax mechanism.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes child psychiatry access project with tax-funded grants to improve pediatric mental health services and provider access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Mental Health Primary Care

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6054: Relates to establishing the New York state council on mental health emergency and crisis response

Relates to establishing the New York state council on mental health emergency and crisis response to make recommendations on topics including but not limited to: identifying best practices for response to mental health crises; initiatives to increase training opportunities and participation of mental health professionals, and other qualified individuals as members of mobile crisis outreach teams; identify training needs and methods to improve diversion from hospitalization after response from a mobile crisis outreach team; identify the need for establishing mobile crisis outreach teams in each region of the state and accessing alternatives to hospitalization; public education and outreach on the benefit of mobile crisis outreach teams and how to access their services; and any other recommendation deemed appropriate by the council.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates council to improve mental health crisis response, training for professionals, and reduce hospitalization - directly advancing mental health services under healthcare policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 5884: Relates to establishing a crisis intervention team program

S 5884 establishes a crisis intervention demonstration program in New York City and other cities with populations of one million or more. It requires the state mental health commissioner to create a coordinator position to train law enforcement officers on responding to mental health and substance abuse crises, while partnering with community mental health providers to offer alternatives to jail. The program will be funded through a new state fund (initially up to $1 million from the state general fund) and federal/private grants, with annual reporting on training participation and program effectiveness. This bill directly affects law enforcement agencies in large cities that choose to participate, as well as mental health service providers and individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $1M from state general fund for crisis intervention program, directly funding a new initiative under budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes crisis intervention teams to train officers on mental health crises, offering alternatives to jail instead of incarceration, promoting criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes mental health crisis program with law enforcement training and community partnerships, funded to improve access to alternatives to jail for mental health crises.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Corrections Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3610: Requires two qualified psychiatrists to be employed by each school district

Requires two qualified psychiatrists to be employed by each school district to perform and coordinate the provision of mental health services in the public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health staffing in schools, enhancing student support services directly tied to educational access and student well-being in K-12 settings.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school districts to employ psychiatrists for mental health services, directly expanding access to mental healthcare in schools per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4918: Creates interagency placement committees to recommend treatment and rehabilitation programs or strategies for youths with co-existing mental disabilities

Creates 10 interagency placement committees throughout the state to recommend treatment and rehabilitation programs or strategies for youths with co-existing mental disabilities; directs such committees to establish a process by which youths can be referred to such committees; directs such committees to submit a report annually to the governor and legislature identifying gaps in treatment and rehabilitation options, and any plans or recommendations to increase such options.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFocuses on youth rehabilitation programs for mental disabilities, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing recidivism through treatment.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates committees to address mental health treatment gaps for youths, aiming to improve services and expand rehabilitation options through annual reporting and recommendations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Mental Health

Track

passed · New York · Senate May 19, 2026

S 7007: Relates to requiring mental health first aid training for licensed cosmetologists and barbers

This bill requires licensed cosmetologists and barbers to complete an eight-hour mental health first aid training program. The training teaches participants to recognize symptoms of mental health crises (like anxiety or depression), safely de-escalate situations, and refer clients to appropriate community resources. All current licensees and new applicants must complete this certified training to maintain or obtain their licenses. The law aims to enhance community safety by equipping beauty professionals - who interact closely with the public - with skills to support individuals in mental health distress.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health first aid training for cosmetologists/barbers to recognize crises and refer to resources, directly supporting mental health service access and community safety.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates mental health first aid training for cosmetologists/barbers, directly improving workplace safety by teaching crisis recognition and de-escalation skills.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · New York · Senate Jun 3, 2026

S 8363: Enacts the individual counseling rate enhancement act

Requires a rate enhancement for reimbursement of individual psychotherapy services provided by a mental health counselor, a clinical social worker, or a psychologist where such services are provided in an outpatient substance use disorder clinic.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires higher reimbursement rates for mental health counseling in substance use clinics, directly supporting access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Primary Care Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 905: Relates to the removal of incarcerated individuals diagnosed with mental illness to a residential mental health treatment unit

This bill requires New York State correctional facilities to move incarcerated individuals diagnosed with specific serious mental illnesses (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression) out of segregated confinement or long-term rehabilitation units into specialized residential mental health treatment units. It mandates this diversion after consultation with mental health clinicians, applying to anyone diagnosed at any time with one of the listed conditions, unless the move relates to a disciplinary hearing. The policy aims to replace prolonged solitary confinement with appropriate mental health treatment for affected individuals. This change directly impacts incarcerated people with qualifying mental health diagnoses currently held in restrictive settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates diversion of mentally ill incarcerated individuals from segregated units to specialized mental health treatment, advancing rehabilitation and civil rights within corrections.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates transfer of mentally ill inmates to specialized mental health units, advancing access to appropriate care and supporting mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5583: Establishes the "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law" which aids designated hotline centers in developing protocols for terminating calls to the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline

Develops protocols that designated hotline centers play calming music while callers are on hold, regular "comfort" messages, and if necessary, the hotline center shall provide additional messaging to encourage the caller to stay on the line.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes protocols for suicide prevention/behavioral health crisis hotlines, directly supporting mental health services through improved caller retention and comfort measures.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track