S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1250
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 7, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Mental Health
 
 AN ACT to direct the commissioner of mental health to create a workgroup
   and report regarding frontline worker trauma informed care; to  repeal
   section 7.48 of the mental hygiene law relating thereto; and providing
   for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 7.48 of the mental hygiene law, as added by a chap-
 ter of the laws of 2020, amending the mental  hygiene  law  relating  to
 establishing  the  frontline workers trauma informed care advisory coun-
 cil, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.8608-A and A.10629-A, is
 REPEALED.
   § 2. The commissioner of mental health shall convene a  workgroup  and
 report  on frontline workers trauma informed care, which may include but
 not be limited to representatives  of  the  state  conference  of  local
 mental  hygiene  service directors under article forty-one of the mental
 hygiene law;  behavioral  health  advocacy  organizations;  health  care
 provider  organizations;  employee  organizations  representing  nurses,
 doctors, and other frontline workers; human service providers as defined
 under section four hundred sixty-four-b of the social services law;  law
 enforcement agencies; and individuals with expertise in fields of disci-
 pline related to trauma informed care. The workgroup shall meet regular-
 ly  and  as  often  as  is  necessary  to carry out the responsibilities
 required by this section and a link to information regarding  the  work-
 group  and  their  activities  shall  be made available on the office of
 mental health's website.  Such report shall (1) identify  evidence-based
 tools  to  track the impact of COVID-19 associated collective trauma and
 the needs of frontline workers; (2) identify or develop training  oppor-
 tunities  for  organizations  that  employ  frontline  workers on how to
 support the mental health and wellness of their impacted employees;  (3)
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07140-01-1

 A. 1250                             2
 
 identify  evidenced-based trauma-informed support resources and learning
 opportunities for frontline workers; (4) identify or develop a mechanism
 to inform and refer impacted  frontline  workers  experiencing  symptoms
 associated with COVID-19 to behavioral health services and supports; (5)
 consult with any organization, government entity, agency, or person that
 the  workgroup  determines may be able to provide information and exper-
 tise on the development and implementation of trauma informed  care  for
 frontline  workers;  and  (6)  provide recommendations for how available
 funding may be utilized to support the frontline workforce. Such commis-
 sioner shall issue an interim report, on or  before  March  1,  2021  in
 relation  to the immediate trauma informed care needs of frontline work-
 ers; and a final report, on or before  December  1,  2021,  which  shall
 include  findings  and  recommendations  identified  or developed by the
 workgroup on the long term trauma informed care needs of frontline work-
 ers. Such reports shall be submitted  to  the  governor,  the  temporary
 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.
   §  3.  This  act  shall  take  effect on the same date and in the same
 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2020 amending the mental hygiene  law
 relating  to  establishing  the  frontline  workers trauma informed care
 advisory council, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.8608-A  and
 A.10629-A,  takes effect and section two of this act shall expire and be
 deemed repealed December 1, 2021.