NY State Senate Bill 2017-S7598

Senate Bill S7598

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Relates to establishing a training program for first responders for handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 29, 2018	referred to mental health and developmental disabilities

co-Sponsors

2017-S7598 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9634
Current Committee:: Senate Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene Law
Laws Affected:: Add §13.43, Ment Hyg L; add §3054, Pub Health L; amd §§156 & 840, add §214-f, Exec L

2017-S7598 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to establishing a training program for first responders for handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.

2017-S7598 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S7598

SPONSOR: AMEDORE
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the mental hygiene law, the public
health law and the executive law, in relation to establishing a training
program for first responders for handling emergency situations involving
individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disa-
bilities

 
PURPOSE:

Authorizes the Commissioner of developmental disabilities (OPWDD) and
other appropriate agency representatives to develop a training program
to provide instruction and information to first responders and response
techniques for handling emergency situations involving individuals with
Autism Spectrum and related disorders.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of
health, The office of fire prevention and control, the municipal police

training council, and the superintendent of state police, shall develop
a training program and associated training materials, to provide
instruction and information to firefighters, police officers and emer-
gency medical services personnel on appropriate recognition and response
techniques for handling emergency situations involving individuals with
autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. Such
training program may be developed as an online program.

Section 2: In coordination with the commissioner of developmental disa-
bilities, the commissioner shall provide the training program relating
to handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spec-
trum disorder and other developmental disabilities and associated train-
ing materials to all emergency medical services personnel including, but
not limited to, first responders, emergency medical technicians,
advanced emergency medical technicians and emergency vehicle operators.

Section 3: In coordination with the commissioner of developmental disa-
bilities, the commissioner shall provide the training program relating
to handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spec-
trum disorder and other developmental disabilities and associated train-
ing materials to all firefighters, both paid and volunteer. The office
shall adopt all necessary rules and regulations relating to such train-
ing, including the process by which training hours are allocated to
counties as well as a uniform procedure for requesting and providing
additional training hours.

Section 4: The superintendent shall, for all members of the state
police: develop, maintain and disseminate, in consultation with the
commissioner of developmental disabilities, written policies and proce-
dures, regarding the handling of emergency situations involving individ-
uals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
Such policies and procedures shall make provisions for the education and
training of new and veteran police officers on the handling of emergency
situations involving individuals with developmental disabilities; and
recommend to the governor, rules and regulations with respect to estab-
lishment and implementation on an ongoing basis of a training program
for all current and new police officers regarding the policies and

procedures established pursuant to this subdivision, along with recom-
mendations for periodic retraining of police officers.

Section 5: Effective Date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

It is essential that our first responders have the proper training when
emergency situations arise involving those in our community with an
Autism Spectrum or related disorder.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in
68 children are born with autism each year in the United States and more
than 3.5 million Americans are living with an autism spectrum disorder.
The prevalence is even higher in boys where 1 in 47 has been diagnosed
with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As more children, teens, and adults
are impacted by ASD, police and other first responders could have more
interactions.

Individuals with autism often struggle to communicate, making eye
contact, responding to questions, even if it's asking for their name,
especially during certain stressful situations. Autism is a spectrum
disorder, meaning it can affect people in a great variety of ways, each
person with different symptoms and challenges. A person's diagnosis
could include trouble following directions and an aversion to physical
contact or shared space. Those challenges often become greater for teens
as they become adults. Parents and first responders agree that safety is
a big concern for those living with ASD.

This bill can give officers and first responders the tools and the know-
ledge they need to appropriately respond to emergency situations involv-
ing those with Autism Spectrum and related disorders. The training
provided in this bill will also be a valuable resource in bringing
attention to areas that need specialized training so officers can be
prepared to provide a level of service to the public that they not only
expect, but also deserve.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New legislation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day

2017-S7598 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
     S. 7598                                                  A. 9634
 
                       S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 29, 2018
                                ___________
 
 IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. AMEDORE -- read twice and ordered print-
   ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
   and Developmental Disabilities
 
 IN  ASSEMBLY  --  Introduced  by  M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and
   referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, the public health  law  and  the
   executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing a training program for
   first responders for handling emergency situations involving  individ-
   uals  with  autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabili-
   ties
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
 13.43 to read as follows:
 § 13.43 FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING.
   (A) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH,
 THE OFFICE OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, THE MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING
 COUNCIL, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE POLICE, SHALL DEVELOP A  TRAIN-
 ING  PROGRAM  AND  ASSOCIATED TRAINING MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION
 AND INFORMATION TO FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND  EMERGENCY  MEDICAL
 SERVICES  PERSONNEL  ON  APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION AND RESPONSE TECHNIQUES
 FOR HANDLING EMERGENCY  SITUATIONS  INVOLVING  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  AUTISM
 SPECTRUM  DISORDER  AND  OTHER  DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE TRAINING
 PROGRAM AND ASSOCIATED TRAINING MATERIALS SHALL INCLUDE ANY OTHER INFOR-
 MATION DEEMED NECESSARY AND APPROPRIATE BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   (B) SUCH TRAINING SHALL ADDRESS APPROPRIATE  RESPONSE  TECHNIQUES  FOR
 DEALING  WITH  BOTH  ADULTS AND MINORS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND
 OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.
   (C) SUCH TRAINING PROGRAM MAY BE DEVELOPED AS AN ONLINE PROGRAM.
   § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 3054  to
 read as follows:
   §  3054.  EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPEC-
 TRUM DISORDER AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. IN COORDINATION WITH
 THE COMMISSIONER OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL
 PROVIDE  THE  TRAINING PROGRAM RELATING TO HANDLING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

 INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND  OTHER  DEVELOP-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14279-01-8

 S. 7598                             2                            A. 9634
 
 MENTAL  DISABILITIES  AND  ASSOCIATED  TRAINING  MATERIALS  PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION 13.43 OF  THE  MENTAL  HYGIENE  LAW  TO  ALL  EMERGENCY  MEDICAL
 SERVICES  PERSONNEL  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED TO, FIRST RESPONDERS,
 EMERGENCY  MEDICAL  TECHNICIANS,  ADVANCED EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS
 AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATORS.
   § 3. Section 156 of the executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 22 to read as follows:
   22.  IN  COORDINATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILI-
 TIES, PROVIDE THE TRAINING PROGRAM RELATING TO HANDLING EMERGENCY  SITU-
 ATIONS  INVOLVING  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND OTHER
 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND ASSOCIATED TRAINING MATERIALS PURSUANT TO
 SECTION 13.43 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW TO ALL FIREFIGHTERS,  BOTH  PAID
 AND  VOLUNTEER.    THE  OFFICE SHALL ADOPT ALL NECESSARY RULES AND REGU-
 LATIONS RELATING TO SUCH TRAINING, INCLUDING THE PROCESS BY WHICH TRAIN-
 ING HOURS ARE ALLOCATED TO COUNTIES AS WELL AS A UNIFORM  PROCEDURE  FOR
 REQUESTING AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING HOURS.
   §  4.  Section  840  of  the  executive law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 5 to read as follows:
   5. THE COUNCIL SHALL, IN ADDITION:
   (A) DEVELOP,  MAINTAIN  AND  DISSEMINATE,  IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  THE
 COMMISSIONER  OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCE-
 DURES CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 13.43 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW, REGARDING
 THE HANDLING OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS  WITH  AUTISM
 SPECTRUM  DISORDER  AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.  SUCH POLICIES
 AND PROCEDURES SHALL MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE EDUCATION AND  TRAINING  OF
 NEW  AND VETERAN POLICE OFFICERS ON THE HANDLING OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
 INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND  OTHER  DEVELOP-
 MENTAL DISABILITIES; AND
   (B)  RECOMMEND  TO THE GOVERNOR, RULES AND REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO
 THE ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ON AN ONGOING BASIS OF  A  TRAINING
 PROGRAM  FOR  ALL CURRENT AND NEW POLICE OFFICERS REGARDING THE POLICIES
 AND PROCEDURES ESTABLISHED PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  ALONG  WITH
 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PERIODIC RETRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS.
   §  5.  The  executive  law is amended by adding a new section 214-f to
 read as follows:
   § 214-F. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING PEOPLE  WITH  AUTISM  SPECTRUM
 DISORDER AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE SUPERINTENDENT SHALL,
 FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE STATE POLICE:
   1. DEVELOP, MAINTAIN AND DISSEMINATE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMIS-
 SIONER  OF  DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITIES, WRITTEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
 CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 13.43 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW,  REGARDING  THE
 HANDLING OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPEC-
 TRUM  DISORDER  AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES.  SUCH POLICIES AND
 PROCEDURES SHALL MAKE PROVISIONS FOR THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING  OF  NEW
 AND  VETERAN  POLICE  OFFICERS  ON  THE HANDLING OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
 INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; AND
   2. RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR, RULES AND REGULATIONS  WITH  RESPECT  TO
 ESTABLISHMENT  AND  IMPLEMENTATION  ON  AN  ONGOING  BASIS OF A TRAINING
 PROGRAM FOR ALL CURRENT AND NEW POLICE OFFICERS REGARDING  THE  POLICIES
 AND  PROCEDURES  ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS SUBDIVISION, ALONG WITH
 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PERIODIC RETRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS.
   § 6. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the commissioner  of
 developmental  disabilities  may  promulgate  any  rules and regulations
 necessary for the implementation of this act on or before such effective
 date.

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Senate Bill S7598

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Sponsored By

George Amedore