Amd §7.17, Ment Hyg L; amd §2, Chap of 2023 (as proposed in S.7274 & A.793)
Requires the office of mental health to identify information and training programs relating to the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder for military veterans; requires the office of mental health to publish on their website information and links to the identified relevant training programs.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8485
SPONSOR: Hunter TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to identifying
information and training programs relating to the diagnosis and treat-
ment of post-traumatic stress disorder for military veterans, and to
amend a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the mental hygiene law
relating to a program for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic
stress disorder, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7274 and A.
793, in relation to the effectiveness thereof
PURPOSE:
To improve the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) for military veterans.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation amends subdivision (g) of section 7.17 of the mental
hygiene law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2023 relating to a
program for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disor-
der, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7274 and A. 793, in
the following manner:
*Removes language that would require the Commissioner of the Office of
Mental Health (OMH) to develop a training program for mental health
providers and clinicians on the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumat-
ic stress disorder in military veterans.
*Removes language that would authorize the OMH Commissioner to provide
certification of completion to a participant of a training program.
*Adds language that would require the Commissioner of OMH to identify
existing information and training programs relating to the diagnosis and
treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans,
including trainings that were developed using funds provided by New York
State.
*The effective date of this legislation would be 90 days after it has
become law.
JUSTIFICATION:
It is estimated that 11-20% of Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
and about 30% of Vietnam Veterans have PTSD. Many veterans' experience
situations which most civilians have never experienced. These situations
can be unfamiliar to mental health providers who may be tasked with
diagnosing and treating a veteran who has PTSD. dsk 1 When veterans
return home with symptoms of PTSD, they are often referred to mental
health professionals who may have no military experience and therefore
little to no knowledge of military culture. Mental health providers in
rural areas have the additional challenge of, at times, being a great
distance away from any training programs that may be able to help them
regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD. dsk 1 This bill would
help to improve the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD for military veter-
ans by requiring the Commissioner of OMH to identify existing informa-
tion and training programs relating to the diagnosis and treatment of
post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, including trainings
that were developed using funds provided by New York State, and post
these resources on the agencies website.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:
None noted.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that section
one of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same
manner as a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the mental hygiene law
relating to a program for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic
stress disorder, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7274 and A.
793, takes effect.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8485
IN ASSEMBLY
January 4, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. HUNTER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to identifying
information and training programs relating to the diagnosis and treat-
ment of post-traumatic stress disorder for military veterans, and to
amend a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the mental hygiene law
relating to a program for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumat-
ic stress disorder, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7274
and A. 793, in relation to the effectiveness thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision (g) of section 7.17 of the mental hygiene law,
2 as added by a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the mental hygiene
3 law relating to a program for the diagnosis and treatment of post-trau-
4 matic stress disorder, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7274
5 and A. 793, is amended to read as follows:
6 (g) The commissioner, in cooperation with any other state agency or
7 relevant stakeholder, shall [develop a] identify information and train-
8 ing [program to be posted on the office's website for] programs relating
9 to the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder for
10 military veterans[. The program], including but not limited to, train-
11 ings developed using funds received from the state of New York, and
12 publish such information and links to relevant training programs on the
13 office's website. The identified information and training programs
14 shall include a component on military culture competency and shall be
15 intended for [the training of] use by mental health providers and mental
16 health clinicians. [Certification of the completion of the program may
17 be provided to participants through the office.]
18 § 2. Section 2 of a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the mental
19 hygiene law relating to a program for the diagnosis and treatment of
20 post-traumatic stress disorder, as proposed in legislative bills numbers
21 S. 7274 and A. 793, is amended to read as follows:
22 § 2. This act shall take effect [immediately] on the ninetieth day
23 after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02599-02-4
A. 8485 2
1 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
2 section one of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the
3 same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2023 amending the mental hygiene
4 law relating to a program for the diagnosis and treatment of post-trau-
5 matic stress disorder, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7274
6 and A. 793, takes effect.
