Requires the development of guidelines and procedures by the office of mental health to help avert retraumatization of victims of sexual offenses in a behavioral health outpatient setting.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6179
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 6, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to averting retrau-
matization of victims of sexual offenses in a behavioral health outpa-
tient setting
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 7.50 to read as follows:
3 § 7.50 Victims of sexual offenses; outpatient group setting.
4 The office shall develop guidelines regarding victims of sexual
5 offenses receiving services in an outpatient group setting. Such guide-
6 lines shall outline best practices providers may use when providing
7 services to victims of sexual abuse in an effort to avert retraumatiza-
8 tion by known sex offenders. Such best practices shall, to the greatest
9 extent possible, be based on evidence based practices. In creating such
10 guidelines, the office shall consult with stakeholders. Such stakehold-
11 ers shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of consumer
12 advocates, providers and victim rights groups.
13 § 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 19.44
14 to read as follows:
15 § 19.44 Victims of sexual offenses; outpatient group setting.
16 The office shall develop guidelines regarding victims of sexual
17 offenses receiving services in an outpatient group setting. Such guide-
18 lines shall outline best practices providers may use when providing
19 services to victims of sexual abuse in an effort to avert retraumatiza-
20 tion by known sex offenders. Such best practices shall, to the greatest
21 extent possible, be based on evidence based practices. In creating such
22 guidelines, the office shall consult with stakeholders. Such stakehold-
23 ers shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of consumer
24 advocates, providers and victim rights groups.
25 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10659-01-5
