Assembly Bill A10619

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10619--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 13, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. BERGER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on  Mental  Health  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended, ordered
   reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation  to  establishing  a
   certified community behavioral health clinic public awareness campaign

   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  CERTIFIED  COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINIC PUBLIC AWARENESS
           CAMPAIGN.
   (A) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH,  IN  CONSULTATION
 WITH  THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS,
 THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF  CHILDREN  AND  FAMILY  SERVICES,  THE
 COMMISSIONER  OF  THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES,
 AND THE COMMISSIONER OF THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH  SHALL  DEVELOP  AND
 IMPLEMENT  A  STATEWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE THE GENERAL
 PUBLIC REGARDING CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL  HEALTH  CLINICS  ESTAB-
 LISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 36.04 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B)  SUCH  CAMPAIGN  MAY UTILIZE PUBLIC FORUMS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND MASS
 MEDIA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INTERNET, RADIO, AND PRINT ADVERTIS-
 ING, AND SHALL INCLUDE POSTING  OF  MATERIALS  AND  INFORMATION  ON  THE
 WEBSITES  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF  MENTAL HEALTH AND THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION
 SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
   (C) THE CAMPAIGN SHALL BE DESIGNED TO:
   1. EDUCATE THE PUBLIC REGARDING THE  SERVICES  PROVIDED  BY  CERTIFIED
 COMMUNITY   BEHAVIORAL  HEALTH  CLINICS,  INCLUDING  MENTAL  HEALTH  AND
 SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND ACCESS TO
 CRISIS SERVICES;
   2. INFORM INDIVIDUALS HOW TO ACCESS SUCH SERVICES PROVIDED  BY  CERTI-
 FIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS; AND
   3. REDUCE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH SEEKING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TREATMENT.
   (D)  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  THE  OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH SHALL REQUIRE
 FACILITIES LICENSED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE THIRTY-ONE OF THIS CHAPTER,  AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD15046-03-6
 A. 10619--A                         2
 
 THE  COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS SHALL
 REQUIRE PROVIDERS CERTIFIED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE THIRTY-TWO OF THIS CHAP-
 TER TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS DEVELOPED PURSU-
 ANT  TO  THIS  SECTION  REGARDING  CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
 CLINICS. THE COMMISSIONER OF THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH  SHALL  REQUIRE
 GENERAL  HOSPITALS  LICENSED  PURSUANT  TO  ARTICLE  TWENTY-EIGHT OF THE
 PUBLIC HEALTH LAW THAT OPERATE  PSYCHIATRIC  INPATIENT,  OUTPATIENT,  OR
 EMERGENCY  SERVICES TO MAKE SUCH MATERIALS AVAILABLE. SUCH MATERIALS MAY
 BE DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONICALLY, PROVIDED IN WRITING, OR POSTED  CONSPICU-
 OUSLY  WITHIN  PROVIDER  FACILITIES,  AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE APPLICABLE
 COMMISSIONER.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such date.