STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5332
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 22, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. HAMILTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the education law, in
relation to establishing the urban youth gun violence reduction pilot
program; making an appropriation therefor; 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:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "urban
2 youth gun violence reduction pilot program".
3 § 2. Title B of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new
4 article 11 to read as follows:
5 ARTICLE 11
6 URBAN YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE
7 REDUCTION PILOT PROGRAM
8 Section 11.01 Definitions.
9 11.03 Establishment.
10 11.05 Social worker services.
11 11.07 Youth mental health first aid training.
12 11.09 Mental health curriculums.
13 § 11.01 Definitions.
14 As used in this article:
15 (a) "Gun violence" means physical injuries and deaths caused by the
16 use of firearms.
17 (b) "Mental health first aid" means the recognition of the symptoms of
18 common mental illnesses and chemical dependency; the safe de-escalation
19 of crisis situations; and the initiation of timely referral of appropri-
20 ate students to mental health and chemical dependency resources within
21 the community.
22 (c) "Program" means the urban youth gun violence reduction pilot
23 program established in section 11.03 of this article.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00687-01-7
S. 5332 2
1 § 11.03 Establishment.
2 The office, in consultation and cooperation with the education depart-
3 ment, shall establish and operate, within five school districts in the
4 state, the urban youth gun violence reduction pilot program. Such
5 program shall provide for the implementation of urban youth gun violence
6 reduction programs in twenty-four schools within communities which have
7 high rates of gun violence.
8 § 11.05 Social worker services.
9 The program shall provide for the employment of one additional social
10 worker at and in each of the twenty-four participating schools.
11 § 11.07 Youth mental health first aid training.
12 (a) The office and education department shall jointly establish and
13 provide for the provision of youth mental health first aid training to
14 all teachers and professionals working in participating schools having
15 grades seven through twelve.
16 (b) All staff members of after school programs in participating
17 schools shall complete such youth mental health first aid training as
18 shall be determined by the office. In addition each such after school
19 program shall have a social worker present during its hours of opera-
20 tion.
21 § 11.09 Mental health curriculums.
22 The office shall enter into a contract with a responsible and quali-
23 fied party for the establishment of three mental health curriculums for
24 students in participating schools in grades kindergarten through five,
25 grades six through eight, and grades nine through twelve. Such responsi-
26 ble and qualified party shall maintain a working advisory council and
27 provide technical assistance to the office, education department and
28 participating schools during the implementation of its curriculums.
29 § 3. Section 305 of the education law is amended by adding a new
30 subdivision 56 to read as follows:
31 56. The commissioner shall provide for and assist in the implementa-
32 tion of the urban youth gun violence reduction pilot program, pursuant
33 to article eleven of the mental hygiene law.
34 § 4. The sum of twelve million dollars ($12,000,000), or so much ther-
35 eof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the office of mental
36 health out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to
37 the credit of the state purposes account, not otherwise appropriated,
38 and made immediately available, for the purpose of carrying out the
39 provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and
40 warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the
41 commissioner of mental health in the manner prescribed by law.
42 § 5. This act shall take effect on the first of July next succeeding
43 the date on which it shall have become a law, and sections two and three
44 of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed three years after they
45 shall have become a law. Provided that, effective immediately, any rules
46 and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its
47 effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before
48 such date.