S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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4402
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 30, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. AUBRY, CUSICK, SKARTADOS -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, the state finance law and the
general municipal law, in relation to establishing a crisis inter-
vention team program
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 three new
sections 7.47, 7.48 and 7.49 to read as follows:
S 7.47 CRISIS INTERVENTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
(A) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A CRISIS INTERVENTION DEMON-
STRATION PROGRAM IN ANY CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN RESPONDING TO
CRISIS SITUATIONS INVOLVING PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUBSTANCE
ABUSE PROBLEMS.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH WITHIN THE OFFICE THE POSITION OF
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM COORDINATOR WHO WILL SERVE AT
THE PLEASURE OF THE COMMISSIONER AND WHO SHALL WORK WITH THE NEW YORK
POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ANY OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN THE STATE THAT
REQUESTS ASSISTANCE TO COORDINATE THE PROVISION OF CRISIS INTERVENTION
TEAM TRAINING TO ITS FIRST RESPONDERS AS A PART OF A SPECIALIZED
RESPONSE TEAM OR AS PART OF THE TRAINING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS.
(C) THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM COORDINATOR SHALL:
(I) WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS, COORDINATE ACTIV-
ITIES AND PROMOTE COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE OFFICE,
OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN-
CIES, DISABILITY SERVICE PROVIDERS AND PEOPLE WITH PSYCHIATRIC OR OTHER
DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM
TRAINING;
(II) PROVIDE COORDINATION ACTIVITIES AND FUNDING SUPPORT FOR CRISIS
INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07000-02-5
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(III) PROVIDE SUPPORT, TRAINING AND COMMUNITY COORDINATION TO ENSURE
THAT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE COMMUNITY PROVIDE ALTERNA-
TIVES TO INCARCERATION;
(IV) THROUGH FEDERAL AND PRIVATE GRANTS, GIFTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS,
PROVIDE FUNDING TO SUPPORT TRAINING AND COMMUNITY COORDINATION COSTS AS
NECESSARY. ALL MONEYS SHALL BE DEPOSITED IN THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM
TRAINING FUND ESTABLISHED BY SECTION NINETY-NINE-W OF THE STATE FINANCE
LAW;
(V) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CRISIS INTERVENTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
ESTABLISHED BY THIS ARTICLE, DISTRIBUTE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAIN-
ING FUND MONEYS AS NEEDED FOR SUPPORT, TRAINING AND COMMUNITY COORDI-
NATION COSTS; AND
(VI) SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
SENATE, SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE CRISIS INTERVENTION ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER FIFTEENTH OF EACH YEAR THAT CONTAINS THE
FOLLOWING:
(A) A REVIEW OF ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT HAVE PROVIDED CRISIS
INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING TO THEIR OFFICERS AND THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS
THAT HAVE COMPLETED THE TRAINING;
(B) A LIST OF COMMUNITIES IN THIS STATE THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM THROUGH TRAINING AND COORDI-
NATION, INCLUDING THE LENGTH OF IMPLEMENTATION AND CURRENT STATUS OF THE
PROGRAM;
(C) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY BASED PARTNER-
SHIPS THAT SUPPORT CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM RESPONSES;
(D) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC
SAFETY AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM RESPONSES; AND
(E) A REVIEW OF ALL FUNDING RESOURCES THAT THE CRISIS INTERVENTION
TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM COORDINATOR HAS APPLIED FOR TO INCREASE AVAILABLE
FUNDING, INCLUDING THE STATUS OF ALL FUNDING REQUESTS AND THE TOTAL OF
MONEYS RECEIVED YEAR TO DATE.
(D) THE CRISIS INTERVENTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM SHALL END FIVE YEARS
AFTER ITS ENACTMENT DATE.
S 7.48 CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(A) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED A CRISIS INTERVENTION DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(B) THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF:
(1) THE COMMISSIONER, WHO SHALL SERVE AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE
AND WHO IS A NONVOTING MEMBER;
(2) THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM COORDINATOR, WHO IS
A NONVOTING MEMBER;
(3) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER WHO IS A CONSUMER OF
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES;
(4) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER WHO IS AN IMMEDIATE FAMI-
LY MEMBER OF A CONSUMER OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES;
(5) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER WHO REPRESENTS A STATE-
WIDE ADVOCACY AGENCY THAT SERVES PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES AND
THEIR FAMILIES;
(6) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER WHO IS A PSYCHIATRIST OR
PSYCHOLOGIST LICENSED IN THE STATE;
(7) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF ALCOHOLISM AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES;
(8) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF ALCOHOLISM AND
SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES WHO REPRESENTS A STATEWIDE BEHAVIOR ADVOCACY
GROUP, AGENCY OR ASSOCIATION;
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(9) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO IS EITHER A FAMILY MEMBER OR GUARDI-
AN OF A PERSON WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY;
(10) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES WHO IS A PERSON WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITY;
(11) ONE MEMBER RECOMMENDED BY THE NEW YORK CITY PEACE OFFICER BENEVO-
LENT ASSOCIATION WHO IS A CERTIFIED PEACE OFFICER;
(12) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DIVISION OF CRIM-
INAL JUSTICE SERVICES WHO IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER; AND
(13) ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO
REPRESENTS LAW ENFORCEMENT.
(C) THE COMMITTEE SHALL:
(1) MEET AT LEAST TWO TIMES IN EACH FULL CALENDAR YEAR. THE COMMITTEE
SHALL MEET AT THE REQUEST OF ITS CHAIRPERSON; AND
(2) REVIEW THE REPORT REQUIRED BY SECTION 7.47 OF THIS ARTICLE AND
BASED ON THAT REPORT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF MENTAL
HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, THE OFFICE
OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, THE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SERVICES, THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE GOVERNOR, THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
(D) COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL NOT BE COMPENSATED BUT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
REIMBURSEMENT OF REASONABLE EXPENSES.
S 7.49 CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING FUND GRANT PROGRAM.
(A) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM
TRAINING FUND GRANT PROGRAM WHICH SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHEN NECESSARY AND AS AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING
AND COMMUNITY COORDINATION COSTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW YORK
CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING PROGRAM TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AS
REQUESTED.
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE FUND SHALL CONSIST OF
UP TO ONE MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE STATE FISCAL YEAR TWO THOUSAND
SIXTEEN--SEVENTEEN APPROPRIATIONS.
S 2. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 99-w to
read as follows:
S 99-W. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY
ESTABLISHED IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMMISSIONER
OF THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE CRISIS INTER-
VENTION TEAM TRAINING FUND.
2. THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM TRAINING FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL
MONEYS RECEIVED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, PRIVATE GRANTS, GIFTS,
CONTRIBUTIONS AND DEVISES.
3. ANY CONTRACTORS THAT RECEIVE MONEYS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL
SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL
HEALTH REGARDING THE USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DISTRIBUTED MONEYS.
THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH SHALL INCLUDE A
SUMMARY OF THE FUND ANALYSIS IN THE ANNUAL REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 7.47 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW.
S 3. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new section
204-ff to read as follows:
S 204-FF. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS. 1. THE COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW
YORK STATE DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES, IN CONSULTATION WITH
THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE
SERVICES, SHALL, FOR ALL LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITS
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OF A CITY HAVING A POPULATION OF ONE MILLION OR MORE AND ANY OTHER
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT CHOOSES TO PARTICIPATE:
(A) ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRISIS INTERVENTION
TEAMS; AND
(B) ESTABLISH, AND IMPLEMENT ON AN ONGOING BASIS, A TRAINING PROGRAM
FOR ALL CURRENT AND NEW EMPLOYEES REGARDING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. THE CURRICULUM SHALL INCLUDE A
MINIMUM OF FORTY HOURS OF MANDATORY TRAINING IN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
2. THE GOALS OF THE CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAM PROGRAM SHALL BE TO:
(A) PROVIDE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE BY SPECIFICALLY TRAINED LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS;
(B) REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME POLICE OFFICERS SPEND OUT OF SERVICE
AWAITING ASSESSMENT AND DISPOSITION;
(C) AFFORD PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS
A SENSE OF DIGNITY IN CRISIS SITUATIONS;
(D) REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION;
(E) IDENTIFY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND/OR
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS AND REFER THEM TO APPROPRIATE CARE;
(F) DECREASE THE USE OF ARREST AND DETENTION OF PERSONS EXPERIENCING
MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE CRISES BY PROVIDING BETTER ACCESS
TO TIMELY TREATMENT;
(G) PROVIDE THERAPEUTIC LOCATIONS OR PROTOCOL FOR OFFICERS TO BRING
INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS FOR ASSESSMENT THAT IS NOT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OR
JAIL FACILITY; AND
(H) DECREASE INJURIES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DURING CRISIS
EVENTS.
3. OTHER STATE AGENCIES SHALL PROVIDE COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE TO
THE PROGRAM TO ASSIST IN THE EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF ITS DUTIES.
S 4. Section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a
new subdivision (l) to read as follows:
(L) THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES SHALL, IN
COLLABORATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH
ESTABLISH CRITERIA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS THAT
SHALL INCLUDE ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN FOR COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT, TRAINING AND THERAPEUTIC RESPONSE ALTERNATIVES AND A DETER-
MINATION OF WHETHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE EFFECTIVE AGREEMENTS
WITH MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND ALL OTHER COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS.
S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.