Assembly Bill A9327

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9327
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             December 10, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. E. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
   crisis responders assisting veterans and first  responders  in  mental
   health emergencies to display a green flashing light

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature  finds  that  veterans,
 first  responders,  and  emergency  personnel  experiencing acute mental
 health crises, including suicidal ideation and  substance-related  emer-
 gencies, require rapid intervention by trained crisis responders. Timely
 response  can  be the difference between life and death. The legislature
 further finds that permitting authorized crisis responders to display  a
 green  flashing  light--similar  to volunteer firefighters and volunteer
 ambulance personnel--will enhance  roadway  visibility,  promote  public
 awareness, and support safer and more efficient crisis response.
   §  2. Subparagraph (b) of paragraph 5 of subdivision 41 of section 375
 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 71 of the laws  of
 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   (b)  As  used  in  this  paragraph  the following terms shall have the
 following meanings:
   (i) "volunteer ambulance service" means: (A) a  non-profit  membership
 corporation  (other  than  a  fire  corporation)  incorporated  under or
 subject to the provisions of the [membership corporations]  NOT-FOR-PRO-
 FIT  CORPORATION law, or any other law, operating its ambulance or ambu-
 lances on a non-profit basis for the convenience of the members  thereof
 and  their families or of the community or under a contract with a coun-
 ty, city, town or village pursuant to section one  hundred  twenty-two-b
 of the general municipal law; or
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14155-01-5
 A. 9327                             2
 
              

   (B)  an  unincorporated association of persons operating its ambulance
 or ambulances on a non-profit basis for the convenience of  the  members
 and their families or of the community; [and]
   (ii) "mobile crisis team" shall have the same meaning as mobile crisis
 teams as defined by paragraph eleven of subdivision (a) of section 36.03
 of the mental hygiene law[.]; AND
    (III)  "CRISIS  RESPONDER"  SHALL  MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL:   (A) WHO IS A
 VETERAN, FIRST RESPONDER, OR TRAINED PEER CRISIS SPECIALIST; AND
   (B) WHO IS AFFILIATED WITH, OR VOLUNTEERING FOR, A RECOGNIZED  CRISIS-
 RESPONSE  PROGRAM  SERVING  VETERANS  AND/OR FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING
 PROGRAMS  ADDRESSING  PTSD,  SUBSTANCE-USE  EMERGENCIES,   AND   SUICIDE
 PREVENTION; AND
   (C) WHO HAS COMPLETED CRISIS-INTERVENTION TRAINING APPROVED BY THE NEW
 YORK  STATE DIVISION OF VETERANS' SERVICES, THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH,
 OR THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
   (I) AN AUTHORIZED CRISIS RESPONDER MAY EQUIP ONE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH  A
 GREEN  LIGHT  AS  PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, WHICH MAY BE DISPLAYED
 WHILE RESPONDING TO AN ACTIVE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUICIDE-PREVENTION  EMER-
 GENCY INVOLVING A VETERAN OR FIRST RESPONDER.
   (II)  THE  DISPLAY  OF  SUCH  GREEN LIGHT SHALL NOT CONFER ANY SPECIAL
 RIGHT-OF-WAY PRIVILEGES AND SHALL BE USED SOLELY TO REQUEST THE COURTESY
 OF OTHER MOTORISTS TO YIELD.
   (III) CRISIS RESPONDERS DISPLAYING A GREEN LIGHT UNDER  THIS  SUBDIVI-
 SION  SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING
 VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY VEHICLE LIGHTING.
   § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.