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.
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.
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.
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.
Extends confidentiality privileges to certain communications to or from a licensed mental health counselor in the course of such licensed mental health counselor's professional employment, and to certain employees of such licensed mental health counselor; provides exceptions thereto.
Establishes a transgender and non-binary peer support grant program which shall grant awards to eligible entities for the purpose of establishing peer-to-peer mental health programs for transgender and non-binary individuals.
Bill A 6407 establishes a crisis intervention demonstration program in New York City (population over 1 million) to train law enforcement officers to respond to mental health and substance abuse crises. The program creates a dedicated coordinator position within the Office of Mental Health, who will develop partnerships with law enforcement, mental health providers, and community groups to provide specialized training for first responders. It also sets up a $1 million state-funded "Crisis Intervention Team Training Fund" (supported by federal grants and private donations) to cover training and community coordination costs, requiring annual reports on program implementation and funding use. The bill directly affects NYC police, mental health service providers, and individuals experiencing mental health crises, aiming to provide alternatives to incarceration through coordinated community responses.
Establishes an LGBTQ+ youth and young adult suicide prevention task force; provides for the number of members, manner of appointment and the topics to be reviewed.
Prohibits injecting a person with any substance, including, but not limited to, ketamine, by emergency medical personnel, law enforcement or any entity without the specific consent of the person or their guardian who is authorized to make medical decisions on their behalf except as a life saving measure.
Enacts the "minority mental health act" to establish the division of minority mental health within the office of mental health; provides that such division shall be responsible for assuring that mental health programs and services are culturally and linguistically appropriate to meet the needs of racial and ethnic minorities.
