S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5563
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 14, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, SANTABARBARA, TAPIA -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the development
of a public anti-stigma mental health education program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision (l) of section 7.09 of the mental hygiene law,
as separately amended by section 15 of part PP of chapter 56 and chapter
363 of the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
(l) [Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the]
(1) THE commissioner, in conjunction with the commissioner of the office
of addiction services and supports [and], the director of the department
of veterans' services AND THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS
shall develop a public education [initiative designed to eliminate stig-
ma and misinformation about mental illness and substance use among
service members, veterans, and their families,] ANTI-STIGMA PROGRAM
TARGETING THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WHICH SHALL
INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: BLACK, LATINA AND LATINO ADOLESCENTS;
MEMBERS OF THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY,
PERSONS OF ASIAN DESCENT; SERVICE MEMBERS, VETERANS; AND INDIVIDUALS WHO
RESIDE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND ANY OTHER GROUP DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY
THE COMMISSIONER.
(2) THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE STIGMA AND MISINFORMATION
AMONG THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH
ONE OF THIS SUBDIVISION ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS, improve their understand-
ing of SYMPTOMS FOR mental HEALTH and substance use disorders [and], the
existence AND BENEFITS of effective treatment, and provide information
regarding available resources and how to access them. These public
education [initiatives] PROGRAMS may [include the use of the internet,
including the use of social networking sites] UTILIZE PUBLIC FORUMS,
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MASS MEDIA, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INTERNET,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08460-01-5
A. 5563 2
RADIO, AND PRINT ADVERTISING AND SHALL INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
AND INFORMATION ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE.
(3) THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY PROGRAM UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN
CONSULTATION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS; CONSUMER ADVOCATES;
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS, TO ENSURE THE PROGRAMS ARE
CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE AND MEET THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF
EACH UNDERSERVED POPULATION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.