Senator Golden And Assemblymember Millman Introduce Legislation To Outlaw State Funding For Electroshock Treatment

Albany N.Y. - This past week Senator Marty Golden (R-C-I, 22nd District) and Assemblymember Joan Millman (D-WFP, 52nd District) introduced legislation that would prohibit using State funds to place children in facilities that use electroshock therapy and other aversive interventions.

The bill builds upon “Billy’s Law” that Senator Marty Golden and Assemblymember Joan Millman passed last year, which requires the inspection and approval of all out-of-state residential facilities housing New York State children.

The new legislation comes at a time when a teenager from Freeport, NY recently experienced emotional and physical trauma as a result of being repeatedly shocked at the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, Massachusetts.

“This bill is the latest in our efforts to protect the children of New York State,” said Millman. “No child should ever be subjected to electroshock therapy, and especially not children that the State has placed far from their homes. With our legislation I hope that we can prevent the tragic
mistreatment of children,” she added.

Senator Marty Golden stated, “We must do everything in our power to protect our children and therefore, I am proud to work with my colleague, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, in developing from Billy’s Law a new law that will ensure that every protection is available to our most precious
children. New York’s children should not be subjected to such horrific treatment now or ever.”

Due to a lack of facilities in New York, nearly 14,000 children are sent to out-of-state treatment centers every year. Each child costs the State as much as $250,000. As a result of Billy’s Law, the Office of Children and Family services is currently inspecting all out-of-state facilities to
ensure the safety of New York children.

Senator Golden and Assemblywoman Joan Millman are also planning on introducing legislation to build more in-state treatment facilities.