S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6649
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 6, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. GIBBS, CUNNINGHAM -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Correction
 
 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation  to  enacting  the  PTSD
   awareness and rehabilitation act
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
 the "PTSD awareness and rehabilitation act".
   § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that post-
 traumatic  stress  disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among incarcerated indi-
 viduals, often stemming from prior trauma,  systemic  inequalities,  and
 the  conditions  of incarceration itself. Without adequate mental health
 support, individuals with untreated PTSD are more likely  to  experience
 recidivism,  difficulty  reintegrating into society, and worsened mental
 and physical health outcomes.
   The intent of this act is to mandate PTSD screening,  provide  trauma-
 informed education, and implement evidence-based rehabilitation programs
 to  ensure  incarcerated  individuals  receive proper support for mental
 health challenges. By addressing PTSD within  the  correctional  system,
 New  York  state  aims  to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and
 foster successful reentry into society.
   § 3. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 12 to  read
 as follows:
   §  12.  PTSD  SCREENING  AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS. 1. AS USED IN THIS
 SECTION, THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (A) "POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER" OR "PTSD" MEANS A  MENTAL  HEALTH
 CONDITION  TRIGGERED  BY  EXPOSURE TO TRAUMATIC EVENTS, CHARACTERIZED BY
 SYMPTOMS SUCH AS FLASHBACKS, NIGHTMARES, SEVERE ANXIETY,  AND  EMOTIONAL
 DISTRESS.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09756-01-5
 A. 6649                             2
 
              

   (B) "TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE" MEANS AN APPROACH THAT RECOGNIZES THE WIDE-
 SPREAD IMPACT OF TRAUMA AND INTEGRATES KNOWLEDGE ABOUT TRAUMA INTO POLI-
 CIES, PROCEDURES, AND PRACTICES TO PROMOTE HEALING.
   2.  (A)  THE  DEPARTMENT SHALL IMPLEMENT MANDATORY PTSD SCREENINGS FOR
 ALL INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS UPON INTAKE TO A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY  AND
 PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THEIR INCARCERATION.
   (B)  SCREENINGS  SHALL  BE CONDUCTED BY LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH PROFES-
 SIONALS TRAINED IN TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.
   (C) INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED AS EXPERIENCING PTSD SHALL  RECEIVE  APPRO-
 PRIATE CLINICAL TREATMENT, INCLUDING THERAPY AND COUNSELING SERVICES.
   3.  (A)  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A MANDATORY PTSD
 EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR ALL INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, COVERING:
   (I) UNDERSTANDING PTSD AND ITS SYMPTOMS;
   (II) COPING STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING PTSD;
   (III) THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH; AND
   (IV) AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT.
   (B) THE EDUCATION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SUBDIVISION
 SHALL  BE  PROVIDED TO AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL WITHIN THE FIRST SIXTY
 DAYS OF INCARCERATION AND REPEATED PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT THE  SENTENCE
 AT A FREQUENCY TO BE DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
   4.  (A)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL INTEGRATE TRAUMA-INFORMED REHABILITATION
 PROGRAMS INTO EXISTING CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
   (B) PROGRAMS INTEGRATED PURSUANT TO THIS  SUBDIVISION  SHALL  INCLUDE,
 BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED TO, EVIDENCE-BASED THERAPY SUCH AS COGNITIVE-BEHA-
 VIORAL THERAPY (CBT), MINDFULNESS-BASED  STRESS  REDUCTION  (MBSR),  AND
 PEER SUPPORT GROUPS.
   (C)  SPECIAL  CONSIDERATION  SHALL  BE GIVEN TO PROGRAMS FOR VETERANS,
 SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
   5. (A) ALL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS  WORKING
 IN  CORRECTIONAL  FACILITIES,  AND  ADMINISTRATORS  SHALL RECEIVE ANNUAL
 TRAINING ON:
   (I) RECOGNIZING PTSD SYMPTOMS IN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS;
   (II) DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CRISIS INTERVENTION;
 AND
   (III) REFERRAL PROCEDURES FOR  MENTAL  HEALTH  TREATMENT  AND  SUPPORT
 SERVICES.
   (B)  TRAINING PROGRAMS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION
 SHALL BE DEVELOPED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH MENTAL HEALTH
 EXPERTS, ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND  FORMERLY  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUALS
 WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE.
   6.  (A)  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL MAINTAIN DATA ON PTSD SCREENINGS, EDUCA-
 TION PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OUTCOMES.
   (B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE  GOVERNOR  AND
 THE LEGISLATURE SUMMARIZING:
   (I) THE NUMBER OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS SCREENED FOR PTSD;
   (II) THE NUMBER RECEIVING PTSD-RELATED TREATMENT AND SERVICES; AND
   (III) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.
   7.  IN  ADDITION  TO  ANY STATE FUNDS APPROPRIATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF
 THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SECURE AND UTILIZE FUNDING WHICH  MAY
 BE  AVAILABLE  THROUGH FEDERAL GRANTS OR PARTNERSHIPS WITH MENTAL HEALTH
 ORGANIZATIONS.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth 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.