New York S 10476: Relates to certain crisis responders using a green light

Bill Text

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S10476 Summary:

BILL NOS10476 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A09327

&nbsp

SPONSORCANZONERI-FITZPATRICK

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §375, V & T L

&nbsp

Authorizes crisis responders assisting veterans and first responders in mental health emergencies to display a green flashing light.

Go to top S10476 Actions:

BILL NOS10476 

&nbsp

05/15/2026REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

Go to topS10476 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS10476 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS10476 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 10476

 IN SENATE

 May 15, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK -- read twice and ordered
 printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Trans-
 portation

 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
 crisis responders assisting veterans and first responders in mental
 health emergencies to display a green flashing light

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that veterans,
 2 first responders, and emergency personnel experiencing acute mental
 3 health crises, including suicidal ideation and substance-related emer-
 4 gencies, require rapid intervention by trained crisis responders. Timely
 5 response can be the difference between life and death. The legislature
 6 further finds that permitting authorized crisis responders to display a
 7 green flashing light--similar to volunteer firefighters and volunteer
 8 ambulance personnel--will enhance roadway visibility, promote public
 9 awareness, and support safer and more efficient crisis response.
 10 § 2. Subparagraph (b) of paragraph 5 of subdivision 41 of section 375
 11 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 71 of the laws of
 12 2024, is amended to read as follows:
 13 (b) As used in this paragraph the following terms shall have the
 14 following meanings:
 15 (i) "volunteer ambulance service" means: (A) a non-profit membership
 16 corporation (other than a fire corporation) incorporated under or
 17 subject to the provisions of the [membership corporations] not-for-pro-
 18 fit corporation law, or any other law, operating its ambulance or ambu-
 19 lances on a non-profit basis for the convenience of the members thereof
 20 and their families or of the community or under a contract with a coun-
 21 ty, city, town or village pursuant to section one hundred twenty-two-b
 22 of the general municipal law; or
 23 (B) an unincorporated association of persons operating its ambulance
 24 or ambulances on a non-profit basis for the convenience of the members
 25 and their families or of the community; [and]

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14155-01-5

 S. 10476 2

 1 (ii) "mobile crisis team" shall have the same meaning as mobile crisis
 2 teams as defined by paragraph eleven of subdivision (a) of section 36.03
 3 of the mental hygiene law[.]; and
 4 (iii) "crisis responder" shall mean an individual: (A) who is a
 5 veteran, first responder, or trained peer crisis specialist; and
 6 (B) who is affiliated with, or volunteering for, a recognized crisis-
 7 response program serving veterans and/or first responders, including
 8 programs addressing PTSD, substance-use emergencies, and suicide
 9 prevention; and
 10 (C) who has completed crisis-intervention training approved by the New
 11 York state division of veterans' services, the office of mental health,
 12 or the office of addiction services and supports.
 13 (I) An authorized crisis responder may equip one motor vehicle with a
 14 green light as prescribed by the commissioner, which may be displayed
 15 while responding to an active mental health or suicide-prevention emer-
 16 gency involving a veteran or first responder.
 17 (II) The display of such green light shall not confer any special
 18 right-of-way privileges and shall be used solely to request the courtesy
 19 of other motorists to yield.
 20 (III) Crisis responders displaying a green light under this subdivi-
 21 sion shall be subject to all applicable rules and regulations governing
 22 volunte