NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7285
SPONSOR: Burdick TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the "First
Responder Peer Support Program Act"
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Enacts the first responder peer support program act.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 titles the bill "First Responder Peer Support Program Act".
Section 2 amends the mental hygiene law by adding new section 7.51 which
defines the terms "the program" and "eligible entities".
(B) provides that the commissioner, subject to appropriation, shall
establish a statewide grant program that provides grants to eligible
entities for the purpose of establishing peer-topeer mental health
programs for first responders.
(c) provides that the commissioner shall establish standards applicable
to the program. Such standards shall include, but not limited to,
initial and continued training for first responder peer volunteers,
administrative staffing needs, and best practices for addressing the
needs of each first responder served, including, but not limited to, a
warm handoff to mental health services for individuals identified as
being in duress.
(d) provides that the commissioner shall not require the recipient of
any grant under this section to maintain records on first responders
seeking support or report any personal identifying information directly
or indirectly to the commissioner.
Section 3 states the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
First responders are frequently exposed to distressing situations. To
help address the emotional toll on these individuals it is vital that
the state provides accessible resources such as peer support programs.
The FBI has acknowledged that peer support programs are a unique service
as they allow individuals with personal experience to assist others
dealing with similar experiences through increased awareness, vigilance,
empathic responses and emotional validation. These Peer support services
have been proven effective in identifying risk factors for behavioral
and mental health problems, reducing stigma, creating a welcoming envi-
ronment and connecting individuals with outside professional resources
for additional care when necessary.
Modeled after the highly successful Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer to
Peer Support Program, which was launched in 2012, this bill would estab-
lish a First Responder Peer Support Program. This program would focus on
prioritizing the mental well-being of the state's volunteer and paid
first responders, including firefighters, law enforcement, emergency
medical personnel, emergency dispatchers and other personnel as desig-
nated by the Governor.
By enacting this bill we can ensure that first responders have access to
the necessary systems to address some of the challenges they face.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-2020: S8610;
2021-2022: S6955;
2023-2024: A7552A/S7079
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7285
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BURDICK, EACHUS, SHIMSKY, BEEPHAN, BENDETT,
SEAWRIGHT, SANTABARBARA, LEVENBERG, OTIS, SIMPSON, ANGELINO, BLUMEN-
CRANZ, DE LOS SANTOS -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the "First
Responder Peer Support Program Act"
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 "First
2 Responder Peer Support Program Act".
3 § 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 7.51 to
4 read as follows:
5 § 7.51 First responder peer support program.
6 (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
7 the following meanings:
8 1. "The program" shall mean the "first responder peer support program"
9 established by this section.
10 2. "Eligible entities" shall mean an entity or county first responder
11 peer program which submits to the commissioner an application, in a form
12 prescribed by the commissioner, containing such information and assur-
13 ances as the commissioner may require to provide initial and continued
14 training in mental illness, including but not limited to, helping indi-
15 viduals gain a better understanding about the effects of trauma, repeti-
16 tive exposure, signs and symptoms of trauma, triggers of a traumatic
17 event, coping mechanisms, suicide prevention, as well as available
18 tools, resources, and local mental health services for first responder
19 peer volunteers, volunteer and paid individuals who are trained to
20 respond to emergency situations and provide immediate assistance and
21 care to those in need. This would include individuals who work as fire-
22 fighters, police officers, 9-1-1 operators, emergency dispatchers and
23 emergency medical services personnel.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10098-01-5
A. 7285 2
1 (b) The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of the
2 department of health, the office of fire prevention and control, the
3 municipal police training council, and the superintendent of state
4 police, shall, subject to appropriation, establish a statewide grant
5 program to be known as the "first responder peer support program". The
6 program shall provide grants, with appropriations therefor, to eligible
7 entities for the purpose of establishing peer-to-peer mental health
8 programs for first responders.
9 (c) The commissioner shall establish standards applicable to the
10 program. Such standards shall include, but not be limited to, initial
11 and continued training for first responder peer volunteers, administra-
12 tive staffing needs, and best practices for addressing the needs of each
13 first responder served, including, but not limited to, a warm handoff to
14 mental health services for individuals identified as being in duress.
15 (d) The commissioner shall not require the recipient of any grant
16 under this section to maintain records on first responders seeking
17 support or report any personal identifying information directly or indi-
18 rectly to the commissioner, a first responder's employer, or a first
19 responder's organization.
20 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
21 it shall have become a law.
