Establishes a twenty-four hour, toll-free hotline and website for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus (LGBTQ+) individuals who are experiencing emotional distress, suicidal ideation, or crisis-related challenges, which shall provide immediate support, referrals, resource lists, and other information.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10093
SPONSOR: Woerner TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus crisis
hotline
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill will provide for a state LGBTQ+ crisis hotline.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one adds a new section 36.08 to the mental hygiene law, estab-
lishing a state LGBTQ+ crisis hotline.
JUSTIFICATION:
As of July 17, 2025, the Trump administration discontinued the dedicated
"press 3" option for specialized LGBTQ+ youth crisis services on the 988
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The specialized service, which had been a
pilot program since 2022 and expanded in 2023, routed callers to counse-
lors with 'specific training in LGBTQ+ issues. The federal Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stated the decision was
made to "no longer silo LGB+ youth services" and instead "focus on serv-
ing all help seekers." An LGBTQ+ person calling the federal hotline for
help will no longer be directed to an LGBTQ+ specialist but to a general
crisis counselor who may or may not understand the needs of this popu-
lation.
New York needs to step in to fill the gap in services to our LGBTQ+
community. LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide
than their heterosexual peers. Less than 5 % of the general US adult
population has attempted suicide in their lifetime, but 40% of transgen-
der adults have attempted suicide. This disparity is attributed to
factors like discrimination, family rejection, and lack of affirming
environments. We need to take care of our fellow New Yorkers by offering
support and help in times of crisis. A hotline is a positive step the
state can make.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
TBD
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the
date in which it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10093
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus crisis
hotline
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
2 36.08 to read as follows:
3 § 36.08 Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning plus
4 crisis hotline.
5 (a) The commissioner shall establish a twenty-four hour, toll-free
6 hotline and website for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or
7 questioning plus (LGBTQ+) individuals who are experiencing emotional
8 distress, suicidal ideation, or crisis-related challenges, which shall
9 provide immediate support, referrals, resource lists, and other informa-
10 tion to such individuals, including, but not limited to, the location
11 and phone number of relevant services or programs in the area of the
12 state where the individual is located, such as mental health clinics,
13 suicide-prevention programs, gender-affirming care providers, peer-sup-
14 port centers, shelters and safe-housing options, public transportation,
15 LGBTQ+ community centers, reproductive and sexual health clinics, immi-
16 gration support services, veteran's assistance programs, disability
17 services, domestic violence and crime-victim services, addiction coun-
18 seling, legal aid offices, and medical clinics.
19 (b) The hotline shall ensure strict confidentiality and anonymity for
20 all callers and users, except where disclosure is required by law. The
21 hotline and website shall be fully accessible to individuals with disa-
22 bilities, including hearing- and speech-impaired users, and shall
23 provide multilingual, linguistically competent, and culturally competent
24 support, with specialized training for staff in serving high-risk LGBTQ+
25 populations. The hotline shall include text-messaging, web-chat, and
26 other digital communication options to ensure broad accessibility.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14428-01-6
A. 10093 2
1 (c) The department shall coordinate with local crisis-intervention
2 organizations, LGBTQ+ community centers, mental health providers, and
3 relevant state and local agencies to maintain an accurate and up-to-date
4 statewide referral network.
5 (d) The department shall compile and publish on its website an annual
6 disaggregated data report, including call volume, issues presented,
7 referrals made, and other service access metrics, for the purpose of
8 evaluating program effectiveness and identifying gaps in service deliv-
9 ery.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
11 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
