STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1250
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 7, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Mental Health
AN ACT to direct the commissioner of mental health to create a workgroup
and report regarding frontline worker trauma informed care; to repeal
section 7.48 of the mental hygiene law relating thereto; 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. Section 7.48 of the mental hygiene law, as added by a chap-
2 ter of the laws of 2020, amending the mental hygiene law relating to
3 establishing the frontline workers trauma informed care advisory coun-
4 cil, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.8608-A and A.10629-A, is
5 REPEALED.
6 § 2. The commissioner of mental health shall convene a workgroup and
7 report on frontline workers trauma informed care, which may include but
8 not be limited to representatives of the state conference of local
9 mental hygiene service directors under article forty-one of the mental
10 hygiene law; behavioral health advocacy organizations; health care
11 provider organizations; employee organizations representing nurses,
12 doctors, and other frontline workers; human service providers as defined
13 under section four hundred sixty-four-b of the social services law; law
14 enforcement agencies; and individuals with expertise in fields of disci-
15 pline related to trauma informed care. The workgroup shall meet regular-
16 ly and as often as is necessary to carry out the responsibilities
17 required by this section and a link to information regarding the work-
18 group and their activities shall be made available on the office of
19 mental health's website. Such report shall (1) identify evidence-based
20 tools to track the impact of COVID-19 associated collective trauma and
21 the needs of frontline workers; (2) identify or develop training oppor-
22 tunities for organizations that employ frontline workers on how to
23 support the mental health and wellness of their impacted employees; (3)
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07140-01-1
A. 1250 2
1 identify evidenced-based trauma-informed support resources and learning
2 opportunities for frontline workers; (4) identify or develop a mechanism
3 to inform and refer impacted frontline workers experiencing symptoms
4 associated with COVID-19 to behavioral health services and supports; (5)
5 consult with any organization, government entity, agency, or person that
6 the workgroup determines may be able to provide information and exper-
7 tise on the development and implementation of trauma informed care for
8 frontline workers; and (6) provide recommendations for how available
9 funding may be utilized to support the frontline workforce. Such commis-
10 sioner shall issue an interim report, on or before March 1, 2021 in
11 relation to the immediate trauma informed care needs of frontline work-
12 ers; and a final report, on or before December 1, 2021, which shall
13 include findings and recommendations identified or developed by the
14 workgroup on the long term trauma informed care needs of frontline work-
15 ers. Such reports shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary
16 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.
17 § 3. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
18 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2020 amending the mental hygiene law
19 relating to establishing the frontline workers trauma informed care
20 advisory council, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.8608-A and
21 A.10629-A, takes effect and section two of this act shall expire and be
22 deemed repealed December 1, 2021.
