Senate Bill S506

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S506

SPONSOR: PALUMBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to authorizing a
member of the community or a community ambassador to apply for involun-
tary admission of a person alleged to be mentally ill

 
PURPOSE:

To authorize members of the community to submit an application for the
involuntary admission of a person alleged to be mentally ill.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Provides that this act shall be known as "Tony's Law".

Section 2. Adds a new paragraph twelve to subdivision (b) lists the
parties who are eligible to file an application for the involuntary
hospitalization of a person who is alleged to be mentally ill and the
addition of paragraph twelve to subdivision (b) expands this list to
              

include members of the community over the age of 18 or a community
ambassador where one is designated.

Section 3. Provided the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Anthony Mangiarancina, widely known as "Tony" in his community, was
living in a roadside tent in Coram, NY at the time of his passing. He
had no family and repeatedly refused help from social services casework-
ers, medical professionals and members of his community seeking to get
him into addiction treatment. Despite regular interactions with law
enforcement in the years leading up to his death, gaps in current law
left his community with no way to compel him into recovery.

Addiction and other mental illnesses are driving the poverty and home-
lessness that plague our communities. Many of these individuals live a
secluded life and lack meaningful social support. As a result, they have
no one at their side to urge them to get help and assist them as they
navigate the system. Instead, they are often surrounded by individuals
who enable their condition, take advantage of them or discourage their
recovery. Not all those in addiction have the clarity of mind to recog-
nize their need for treatment and some can be so deeply affected that
they are a threat to themselves or those around them, necessitating
urgent treatment.

Current law permits family, medical professionals, cohabitants or social
service providers to file an application for the involuntary hospitali-
zation of an individual suffering from severe mental illness. Many home-
less individuals, however, lack these connections and as a result there
is no one to compel them into treatment and recovery. This legislation
fills a gap which left out many homeless individuals from the current
law, providing another tool for the community to protect their most
vulnerable members.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024 S.8754/A.6514

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately