Establishes a twenty-four hour, toll-free hotline and website for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus (LGBTQ+) individuals who are experiencing emotional distress, suicidal ideation, or crisis-related challenges, which shall provide immediate support, referrals, resource lists, and other information.
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10093
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 30, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus crisis
hotline
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
36.08 to read as follows:
§ 36.08 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER OR QUESTIONING PLUS
CRISIS HOTLINE.
(A) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A TWENTY-FOUR HOUR, TOLL-FREE
HOTLINE AND WEBSITE FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER OR
QUESTIONING PLUS (LGBTQ+) INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING EMOTIONAL
DISTRESS, SUICIDAL IDEATION, OR CRISIS-RELATED CHALLENGES, WHICH SHALL
PROVIDE IMMEDIATE SUPPORT, REFERRALS, RESOURCE LISTS, AND OTHER INFORMA-
TION TO SUCH INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE LOCATION
AND PHONE NUMBER OF RELEVANT SERVICES OR PROGRAMS IN THE AREA OF THE
STATE WHERE THE INDIVIDUAL IS LOCATED, SUCH AS MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS,
SUICIDE-PREVENTION PROGRAMS, GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE PROVIDERS, PEER-SUP-
PORT CENTERS, SHELTERS AND SAFE-HOUSING OPTIONS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION,
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY CENTERS, REPRODUCTIVE AND SEXUAL HEALTH CLINICS, IMMI-
GRATION SUPPORT SERVICES, VETERAN'S ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, DISABILITY
SERVICES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CRIME-VICTIM SERVICES, ADDICTION COUN-
SELING, LEGAL AID OFFICES, AND MEDICAL CLINICS.
(B) THE HOTLINE SHALL ENSURE STRICT CONFIDENTIALITY AND ANONYMITY FOR
ALL CALLERS AND USERS, EXCEPT WHERE DISCLOSURE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. THE
HOTLINE AND WEBSITE SHALL BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISA-
BILITIES, INCLUDING HEARING- AND SPEECH-IMPAIRED USERS, AND SHALL
PROVIDE MULTILINGUAL, LINGUISTICALLY COMPETENT, AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT
SUPPORT, WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR STAFF IN SERVING HIGH-RISK LGBTQ+
POPULATIONS. THE HOTLINE SHALL INCLUDE TEXT-MESSAGING, WEB-CHAT, AND
OTHER DIGITAL COMMUNICATION OPTIONS TO ENSURE BROAD ACCESSIBILITY.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14428-01-6
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