Requires the office of mental health, office of addiction services and supports and the department of education to create a behavioral health website which shall provide information on various behavioral health issues such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A5991
SPONSOR: Reilly TITLE OF BILL:
An act in relation to requiring the office of mental health, the office
of addiction services and supports and the department of education to
create a behavioral health website
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To requiring the office of mental health, the office of addiction
services and supports and the department of education to create a behav-
ioral health website
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Calls upon the Office of Mental Health, Office of Alcoholism
and Substance Abuse Services, and the Department of Education to create
and maintain a website providing information on•a number of behavioral
health issues. This section also states that the website contains an
extensive list of contact information and other resources for treatment
facilities. This information should be organized by county.
JUSTIFICATION:
Symptoms present themselves by the age of 14 in half of all cases
related to serious mental illness. Serious mental illness often leads to
substance abuse, criminal conduct, and homelessness. Early detection is
paramount in combating mental illness. There currently exists no website
for individuals suffering from mental health disorders, and families
with loved ones suffering from mental health disorders to learn of signs
and symptoms and obtain treatment information. A website for parents and
children aimed at awareness and treatment will serve as a useful tool in
combating these 3 epidemics that plague New York State.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
01/05/22 referred to mental health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Not determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirteenth day after it shall have
become law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5991
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 25, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. REILLY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Mental Health
AN ACT in relation to requiring the office of mental health, the office
of addiction services and supports and the department of education to
create a behavioral health website
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Behavioral health website. 1. The office of mental health,
2 in conjunction with the office of addiction services and supports and
3 the department of education shall create and maintain a website which
4 shall provide information on behavioral health issues. Such issues shall
5 include, but shall not be limited to, depression, eating disorders,
6 anxiety, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar
7 disorder.
8 2. Such behavioral health information, as required by subdivision one
9 of this section shall include, but shall not be limited to, signs and
10 symptoms of the behavioral health issues and coping mechanisms to assist
11 individuals dealing with such behavioral health issues.
12 3. The behavioral health website shall maintain a resource guide list-
13 ing contact information of local behavioral health resources and shall
14 be organized by county. Such contact information shall include the name,
15 address, telephone number, e-mail address and website, if any, of the
16 behavioral health resources.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
18 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03314-01-5
