Directs the commissioner of mental health to conduct a study of child- and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach teams in New York state, the official text

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4276
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 31, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CUNNINGHAM -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
   SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred  to  the  Committee  on  Mental
   Health
 
 AN ACT to direct the commissioner of mental health to conduct a study of
   child- and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach teams

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this  act,  the  following
 terms shall have the following meanings:
   (a)  "Child-  and  youth-targeted" shall mean services targeted toward
 persons under the age of eighteen.
   (b) "Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of mental health.
   (c) "Crisis intervention services" shall have the same meaning as  set
 forth  in  paragraph  five  of  subdivision  (a) of section 36.03 of the
 mental hygiene law.
   (d) "Mobile crisis outreach team" shall mean a team  approved  by  the
 commissioner  pursuant  to  section 9.58 of the mental hygiene law, that
 is:
   (i) comprised of one or  more  of  the  following:  behavioral  health
 professionals, as defined by paragraph six of subdivision (a) of section
 36.03  of the mental hygiene law, certified peer specialists, as defined
 by paragraph seven of subdivision (a) of section  36.03  of  the  mental
 hygiene  law, certified recovery peer advocates, as defined by paragraph
 eight of subdivision (a) of section 36.03 of  the  mental  hygiene  law,
 credentialed  family  peer  advocates,  as  defined by paragraph nine of
 subdivision (a) of section 36.03  of  the  mental  hygiene  law,  and/or
 credentialed youth peer advocates, as defined by paragraph ten of subdi-
 vision (a) of section 36.03 of the mental hygiene law; and
   (ii)  deployed  in  the  community  to assist individuals experiencing
 emotional and behavioral crisis situations and their families by provid-
 ing face-to-face  crisis  intervention  services,  clinical  assessment,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06529-01-5
 A. 4276                             2
 
 supportive  counseling,  and information and referrals, including refer-
 rals to crisis stabilization centers pursuant to section  36.02  of  the
 mental hygiene law and/or community-based mental health resources.
   §  2. Child- and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach team study. The
 commissioner shall conduct a study on child- and  youth-targeted  mobile
 crisis outreach teams. Such study shall:
   (a)  Review  current  child- and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach
 teams in New York state;
   (b) Identify regional and demographic gaps in child- and youth-target-
 ed crisis intervention services in New York state;
   (c) Identify and analyze current challenges in implementing child- and
 youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach teams, including financial, staff-
 ing, geographic, and other challenges that  the  commissioner  may  deem
 relevant, and identify solutions to address such challenges; and
   (d)  Make  recommendations  regarding  best  practices, implementation
 strategies, and practical guidance  to  promote  the  implementation  of
 child-  and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach teams, and improve the
 services provided by such mobile crisis outreach teams.
   § 3. Report. No later than one year after the effective date  of  this
 act,  the  commissioner shall submit a report including the findings and
 recommendations of the study conducted pursuant to section two  of  this
 act  to  the  governor,  the  temporary president of the senate, and the
 speaker of the assembly.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.