As the New York legislative session concluded on June 7th, several bills and initiatives critical to enhancing mental health services and support in New York made significant progress. This legislative period saw numerous successes, including state-level investments in the crisis continuum, with funding for 988 Lifeline crisis contact centers.
We thank the New York State Assembly and Senate for prioritizing mental health this legislative period. These bills are now headed to Governor Hochul's desk, and Vibrant urges her to sign them into law, ensuring these vital measures are enacted to support the mental health of all New Yorkers.
Legislative Successes:
Step Therapy Protocol (S.1267-A/A.901-A)
- Status: Passed in the Senate and Assembly
- Summary: This legislation requires utilization review agents to follow specific rules when establishing a step therapy protocol, ensuring better access to necessary medications
Rural Suicide Prevention Council (S.3587-A/A.7188)
- Status: Passed in the Senate and Assembly
- Summary: Establishes a council to identify barriers to mental health and substance use treatment and prevention services and other policies, practices, resources, and services and acknowledge the demographic and cultural differences in rural communities.
988 Student Identification Cards and Education Campaign (S.1865-B/A.6563-A)
- Status: Passed in the Senate and Assembly
- Summary: This bill requires institutes of higher education to establish an education campaign to educate students, faculty, and staff about the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and print contact information for such services on student identification cards or distribute contact information for such services annually at institutions that do not issue student identification cards.
Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act (S.7694-A/A.8148-A)
- Status: Passed in the Senate and Assembly
- Summary: This act prohibits social media platforms from serving certain content to users under 18, aiming to protect children from addictive algorithms and feeds.
New York Child Data Protection Act (S.7695-B/A.8149-A)
- Status: Passed in the Senate and Assembly
- Summary: This act prohibits tech firms from selling or profiting from minors' data.
NYS Budget Appropriations:
- Status: Enacted
- Summary: $209,071 for services and expenses of Suicide Prevention and Crisis Service Inc. $60,000,000 for the payment of administration, design, installation, construction, operation, or maintenance of a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. $10,000,000 is allocated to support increased capacity and expansion of mental health and substance use treatment services, including intensive crisis stabilization centers and mobile treatment.
Unmet Needs and Looking Ahead
We are disappointed that bill S. 8660/A. 6839A, which aimed to establish a study group on optimal pension and retirement plan alternatives for non-profit organizations, saw little progress. Similarly, A. 8020, a bill proposing a small surcharge on monthly phone bills to help fund the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, did not advance. To ensure people have access to these lifesaving resources, we call on states to continue to establish permanent, sustainable state funding for the 988 Lifeline and the crisis continuum.
Additionally, budget allocations for older adults fell short. We fought for over $50 million to eliminate essential home and community-based service waitlists. Despite the pressing need, the final budget allocated only an additional $700,000 to address a $40 million deficit facing waitlists for aging services.
While this session brought some victories, our work is far from over. We will continue to advocate for policies that support mental health services, expand access to care, and ensure the well-being of all New Yorkers.