Healthcare (Mental Health)

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 6179: Requires the development of guidelines to help avert retraumatization of victims of sexual offenses in a behavioral health outpatient setting

Requires the development of guidelines and procedures by the office of mental health to help avert retraumatization of victims of sexual offenses in a behavioral health outpatient setting.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates guidelines to prevent retraumatization in mental health settings, directly protecting patient rights and improving care quality in mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 3627: Relates to excused absence of a public employee for mental health purposes

New York State bill A 3627 would allow public employees to take paid leave for mental health treatment without using their accrued sick leave. It applies to state workers, county employees, school staff, and retirement system employees across multiple public sectors. The law creates a specific leave category for mental or behavioral health needs, ensuring such absences don’t reduce an employee’s sick time allowance. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates paid leave for mental health treatment without reducing sick time, directly expanding access to mental health services for public employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates paid mental health leave for public employees without depleting sick days, expanding worker benefits and protecting rights to seek treatment without penalty.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Paid Leave Public Employees

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 4345: Directs the commissioner of mental health to issue a review and report regarding certain facilities

Directs the commissioner of mental health to review all proposals by an agency to provide new services at a new facility, expand the size of existing facilities or change the type of services that are provided at facilities within a city of one million or more; provides a definition for the types of facilities subject to such review; directs the commissioner of mental health to issue a report regarding such review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health facility review process to ensure service planning and quality, supporting oversight of mental health services.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Jan 7, 2026

A 5538: Enhances the assisted outpatient treatment program and eliminates the expiration and repeal of Kendra's Law

This bill strengthens New York's Kendra's Law (assisted outpatient treatment program) by making it permanent and adding specific oversight requirements. It requires program coordinators to monitor treatment compliance, ensures timely service delivery, and mandates an educational pamphlet explaining the petition process in plain language. The law directly affects individuals court-ordered into outpatient treatment for serious mental illness, community mental health providers, and court staff handling petitions. Key changes include eliminating the program's automatic expiration and clarifying duties for directors of community services to investigate reports and coordinate care.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens Kendra's Law (assisted outpatient treatment) to improve mental health care for court-ordered individuals, reducing recidivism and supporting rehabilitation within criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens Kendra's Law (mental health assisted outpatient treatment program) by making it permanent, adding oversight, and ensuring timely service delivery, directly supporting mental health services under healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

passed · New York · Assembly Jun 3, 2026

A 8477: Establishes a women veteran's peer to peer program

Bill A 8477 establishes a peer-to-peer support service program specifically for women veterans. It amends the veterans' services law to mandate coordination with various state agencies, including the office of mental health and the department of labor, for the development and implementation of this program. The bill also adds the establishment of this program as a new, specific function under the veterans' services law. This initiative aims to provide targeted support services tailored to the unique experiences of women who have served in the military.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCoordinates with mental health office to provide peer support for women veterans, directly supporting mental health services per bill summary.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill establishes a new peer-to-peer program for women veterans, amends veterans' services law to mandate agency coordination, and creates targeted support services under veterans' law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 7071: Relates to domestic violence training for health and mental health professionals

Relates to domestic violence training for health and mental health professionals; requires such trainings to be updated annually by the commissioner of health in consultation with the office for the prevention of domestic violence; requires the commissioner of health to collect data on participation of such trainings by health professionals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates domestic violence training for health/mental health professionals, enhancing service capacity and public health response to a critical healthcare issue.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · New York · Senate Jun 10, 2025

S 6244: 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, enhancing mental health resources and accountability - aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates law enforcement peer support program with confidentiality for mental health counseling, directly advancing mental health services as a healthcare component.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Mental Health

Track

passed · New York · Assembly Feb 24, 2026

A 5546: Provides for the release of patient records by the office of mental health

This bill requires New York's Office of Mental Health to create rules for releasing patient records after a person's death. It allows family members, legal representatives, or healthcare providers involved in the person's care to access these records upon written request, while respecting any prior expressed wishes of the deceased. The rules must follow federal privacy laws (HIPAA) and define "family member" for treatment-related requests. It applies directly to families of deceased residents in mental health facilities and the Office of Mental Health, overriding some existing privacy restrictions. The bill does not change current rules for living patients' records.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables family/healthcare access to mental health records post-death while respecting privacy, aligning with patient rights protection in healthcare access.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill requires HIPAA-compliant release of patient records, reinforcing data privacy protections for health information.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

passed · New York · Senate Jun 12, 2025

R 1244: Establishes a plan setting forth an itemized list of grantees for a certain appropriation for the 2025-2026 state fiscal year for community adult and youth mental health programs and services

Senate Resolution 1244 establishes the allocation plan for state funds supporting community adult and youth mental health programs during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The plan must be approved by the temporary president of the Senate and the budget director, then passed by a majority vote in the Senate, and must either list specific grantees with their funding amounts or detail the allocation method. It directs funds to local agencies and non-profits providing services like crisis intervention, behavioral care, and outpatient support, including specific allocations such as $150,000 to JCCA EDENWALD INC and $50,000 to Aisling Irish Community Center. The resolution also allows suballocations to state offices, such as $95,000 to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of Westchester.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for essential mental health programs via specified grantee list, directly funding public services per Budget & Taxes topic indicators.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds for community mental health programs, directly advancing mental health services under healthcare topic as per bill's funding purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jan 7, 2026

S 8562: 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 mandates protocols for suicide prevention hotlines to improve mental health crisis service accessibility, directly supporting mental health services through enhanced caller retention strategies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track