Senate Mental Health Chair Brouk, Assemblymember Bronson Re-Introduce Transformational Bill Named for Daniel Prude

ALBANY, NY - Senator Samra Brouk, Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, has reintroduced Daniel’s Law, a comprehensive piece of legislation that outlines how New Yorkers experiencing a mental health breakdown and/or substance abuse crisis can better be served by a public health response that maximizes consent-based care and minimizes the role of law enforcement and the use of force against an individual (S2398 BROUK). Watch Senator Brouk speak about Daniel's Law.

Daniel’s Law would establish a statewide emergency and crisis response council to encourage local governments to develop preventive, rehabilitative, crisis response and treatment services. This approach offers a comprehensive and secure way to answer the mental health and substance abuse crises in our communities with safety, care and compassion. The emphasis on local governments also ensures regions have the power to structure resources to meet community needs, empowering urban communities, rural communities and every community in between.

The legislation is named after Daniel Prude, who died after his encounter with police in Rochester while he was experiencing a mental health crisis. Senator Brouk and Assemblymember Harry Bronson have reintroduced the bill in their respective houses with the full support of the Monroe County Democratic state delegation to ensure that all people who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis are treated with the care and respect they deserve.

The purpose of this legislation is:

• To promote the public health, safety, and welfare of all citizens by broadly ensuring a public health-based response to anyone in New York experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis
• To offer and ensure the most appropriate response to, treatment of, and transport of individuals experiencing crisis due to mental health conditions or substance use, and
• To de-escalate crisis situations so that as few New Yorkers as possible experience nonconsensual transport, use of force, or criminal consequences as a result of mental health or substance abuse crisis.

Senator Samra Brouk, Mental Health Committee Chair: “We need to pass Daniel’s Law to transform our mental health and substance use crisis system by empowering localities to provide crisis services in a way that makes sense for the region. Named for Daniel Prude, who was killed at the hands of law enforcement during a mental health crisis, Daniel’s Law would ensure that every New Yorker receives the treatment and compassion they are seeking—not deadly force.”

Assemblymember Harry Bronson: “Members of our community, including those from Black Lives Matter, Free the People Roc, and the Rochester Clergy, were letting their voices be heard to all that would listen and calling for change. I am committed to justice, equality, and change with the belief that if we work together, we can make a difference. Daniel’s Law will promote the public health, safety and welfare of all families by broadly ensuring a public health-based response to anyone in New York experiencing a mental health or alcohol use or substance abuse crisis; to offer and ensure the most appropriate response to, treatment of, and transport of individuals experiencing crisis due to mental health conditions or substance use; and to deescalate crisis situations so that as few New Yorkers as possible experience nonconsensual transport, use of force, or criminal consequences as a result of mental health or substance abuse crisis. Together we can ensure this kind of tragedy does not repeat itself in our community, in our state or nation.”