S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7285--B
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BURDICK, EACHUS, SHIMSKY, BEEPHAN, BENDETT,
SEAWRIGHT, SANTABARBARA, LEVENBERG, OTIS, SIMPSON, ANGELINO, BLUMEN-
CRANZ, DE LOS SANTOS, KAY, STERN, STECK, MAHER, CONRAD, KELLES, BRABE-
NEC, CASHMAN, O'PHARROW, McMAHON, WRIGHT, GRAY, SLATER, SHRESTHA,
TAPIA, GALLAHAN, JENSEN, CUNNINGHAM, SOLAGES, PALMESANO, DURSO -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee -- recommitted to the Committee on Mental Health in
accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- reported and referred to
the Committee on Ways and Means -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the "First
Responder Peer Support Program Act"
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "First
Responder Peer Support Program Act".
§ 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 19.47
to read as follows:
§ 19.47 FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM.
(A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE
THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
1. "THE PROGRAM" SHALL MEAN THE "FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM"
ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION.
2. "ELIGIBLE ENTITIES" SHALL MEAN AN ENTITY OR COUNTY FIRST RESPONDER
PEER PROGRAM WHICH SUBMITS TO THE COMMISSIONER AN APPLICATION, IN A FORM
PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, CONTAINING SUCH INFORMATION AND ASSUR-
ANCES AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUIRE TO PROVIDE INITIAL AND CONTINUED
TRAINING IN MENTAL ILLNESS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, HELPING INDI-
VIDUALS GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, REPETI-
TIVE EXPOSURE, SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA, TRIGGERS OF A TRAUMATIC
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10098-12-6
A. 7285--B 2
EVENT, COPING MECHANISMS, SUICIDE OR SELF-HARM PREVENTION, AS WELL AS
AVAILABLE TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FIRST
RESPONDER PEER VOLUNTEERS, VOLUNTEER AND PAID INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
TRAINED TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND PROVIDE IMMEDIATE ASSIST-
ANCE AND CARE TO THOSE IN NEED. THIS WOULD INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO, INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK AS FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, PROBATION
OFFICERS, PAROLE OFFICERS, WARRANT OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION, CONSTABLES OR POLICE CONSTABLES
OF A TOWN OR VILLAGE, UNIFORM COURT OFFICERS OF THE UNIFIED COURT
SYSTEM, PARKS AND RECREATION FOREST RANGERS EMPLOYED BY THE OFFICE OF
PARKS, RECREATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION, 9-1-1 OPERATORS, 9-8-8
OPERATORS, EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL,
CORONERS, MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND PEACE OFFICERS DESIGNATED PURSUANT TO
SUBDIVISION TWENTY-SIX OF SECTION 2.10 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE LAW.
3. "PEER SUPPORT COMMUNICATION" INCLUDES: (A) AN ORAL OR WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION MADE IN THE COURSE OF A PEER SUPPORT SESSION; (B) A NOTE
OR REPORT ARISING OUT OF A PEER SUPPORT SESSION; AND (C) A RECORD OF A
PEER SUPPORT SESSION.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH,
THE DIRECTOR OF THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, THE OFFICE OF
FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL, THE MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COUNCIL, AND
THE SUPERINTENDENT OF STATE POLICE, SHALL ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE GRANT
PROGRAM TO BE KNOWN AS THE "FIRST RESPONDER PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM". THE
PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE GRANTS, WITHIN APPROPRIATIONS MADE THEREFOR, TO
ELIGIBLE ENTITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING PEER-TO-PEER MENTAL
HEALTH SUPPORT AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. LOCAL GOVERN-
MENTAL UNITS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIVE SUCH GRANTS.
(C) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH UNIFORM STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO
THE PROGRAM, IN CONSULTATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES ACROSS FIRST RESPONDER
DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING BOTH PAID AND VOLUNTEER PERSONNEL, RELEVANT STATE
AND LOCAL AGENCIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN MENTAL HEALTH,
SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION, PEER SUPPORT, AND FIRST RESPONDER WELLNESS.
SUCH STANDARDS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, INITIAL AND CONTIN-
UED EVIDENCE-BASED, TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDER PEER
VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING SUICIDE PREVENTION, GENERAL MENTAL HEALTH LITERA-
CY, SCIENCE OF ADDICTION AND RECOVERY, AND TRAINING THAT FOCUSES ON
RESILIENCE OF THE FIRST RESPONDER. SUCH STANDARDS SHALL ALSO ADDRESS
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFING NEEDS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR ADDRESSING THE
NEEDS OF EACH FIRST RESPONDER SERVED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A
WARM HANDOFF TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED AS
BEING IN DURESS.
(D) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE RECIPIENT OF ANY GRANT
UNDER THIS SECTION TO MAINTAIN RECORDS ON FIRST RESPONDERS SEEKING
SUPPORT OR REPORT ANY PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION DIRECTLY OR INDI-
RECTLY TO THE COMMISSIONER, A FIRST RESPONDER'S EMPLOYER, OR A FIRST
RESPONDER'S ORGANIZATION.
(E) EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED UNDER APPLICABLE STATE OR FEDERAL LAW,
ALL PEER SUPPORT COMMUNICATIONS UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONFIDENTIAL
AND SHALL NOT BE REDISCLOSED TO OTHERS, UNLESS:
1. IT CONTAINS OR REVEALS A SPECIFIC THREAT OF SUICIDE, AN EXPRESSION
OF SUICIDAL IDEATION, OR ENGAGEMENT IN SELF-HARM OR A THREAT OF BODILY
HARM OR DEATH, PROVIDED DISCLOSURE OF SUCH COMMUNICATION SHALL ONLY BE
PERMITTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PREVENTING OR MITIGATING SUCH HARM AND IS
MADE TO A PERSON OR PERSONS REASONABLY IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE ASSIST-
ANCE IN PREVENTING OR MITIGATING SUCH HARM;
A. 7285--B 3
2. IT CONTAINS AN ADMISSION OF CRIMINAL CONDUCT; OR
3. THE PEER SUPPORT PARTICIPANT HAS PROVIDED CONSENT FOR SUCH DISCLO-
SURE, WHICH MAY BE PROVIDED AT ANY TIME, AND THE DISCLOSURE IS CONSIST-
ENT WITH SUCH CONSENT.
(F) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PREVENT OR LIMIT
DISCLOSURE OF THE CONTENTS OF A PEER SUPPORT COMMUNICATION WHERE SUCH
DISCLOSURE IS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
1. MANDATORY REPORTING OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR MALTREATMENT, IN
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION FOUR HUNDRED THIRTEEN OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES
LAW;
2. MANDATORY FILING UNDER ARTICLE SIXTY-THREE-A OF THE CIVIL PRACTICE
LAW AND RULES RELATING TO EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS; AND
3. AS ORDERED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION.
(G) BEFORE THE INITIAL PEER SUPPORT SESSION OF A PEER SUPPORT PARTIC-
IPANT, A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST SHALL INFORM THE PEER SUPPORT PARTIC-
IPANT IN WRITING OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS SECTION.
(H) 1. EACH GRANT RECIPIENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL
REPORT TO THE COMMISSIONER, CONSISTENT WITH STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE
COMMISSIONER, DESCRIBING THE TRAINING AND SERVICES FUNDED BY THE GRANTS,
HOW SUCH FUNDS WERE ALLOCATED, A LIST OF ENTITIES THAT RECEIVED GRANT
FUNDS, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS SERVED BY EACH GRANT RECIPIENT, AND RECOM-
MENDATIONS FOR FUTURE GRANT ALLOCATIONS. SUCH REPORTS SHALL CONTAIN NO
PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION.
2. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL AGGREGATE THE DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS
RECEIVED FROM GRANT RECIPIENT ANNUAL REPORTS AND DEVELOP AN AGGREGATE
ANNUAL SUMMARY OF SUCH DATA AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN AN ANNUAL REPORT,
INCLUDING ANY APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR FUTURE
FUNDING NEEDS OR PROGRAM CHANGES TO ENSURE THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF
PROVIDING PEER SUPPORT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. THE ANNUAL REPORT SHALL BE
SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWEN-
TY-EIGHT, AND ANNUALLY THEREAFTER.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth 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 effective date.