STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6342--D
IN SENATE
January 30, 2012
___________
Introduced by Sens. HUNTLEY, AVELLA, ESPAILLAT, PARKER, RIVERA -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee --
committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to developing plans
to adequately address military sexual trauma experienced by female
veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 7.09 of the mental hygiene law is amended by
2 adding two new subdivisions (k) and (l) to read as follows:
3 (k) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations to dissem-
4 inate information to female veterans, when applicable, regarding which
5 veterans' affairs centers and other organizations such female veterans
6 can seek treatment, counseling and resources for military sexual trauma.
7 Such information shall be posted on the office's website with a link to
8 the website of the United States department of veterans affairs and a
9 link to the website of the state division of veterans' affairs. For the
10 purposes of this article, military sexual trauma shall mean psycholog-
11 ical trauma, which in the judgment of a mental health professional,
12 resulted from a physical attack of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual
13 nature or sexual harassment which occurred while the veteran was serving
14 on active duty or on active duty for training.
15 (l) The commissioner shall establish peer counseling and support
16 services regarding military sexual trauma for female veterans at one or
17 more facilities operated or certified by the office if the commissioner
18 deems it appropriate and necessary.
19 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14203-07-2
