New York A 6649: Enacts the PTSD awareness and rehabilitation act

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A06649 Summary:

BILL NOA06649A

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SAME ASSAME AS S06896-A

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SPONSORGibbs

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COSPNSRCunningham, Colton, Epstein, Gonzalez-Rojas, Hevesi, Burroughs, Reyes, Glick

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §12, Cor L

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Enacts the PTSD awareness and rehabilitation act to require PTSD screening, provide trauma-informed education, and implement evidence-based rehabilitation programs to ensure incarcerated individuals receive proper support for mental health challenges.

Go to top A06649 Actions:

BILL NOA06649A

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03/06/2025referred to correction

06/09/2025amend and recommit to correction

06/09/2025print number 6649a

01/07/2026referred to correction

Go to topA06649 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA06649 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA06649 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 6649--A

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 March 6, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. GIBBS, CUNNINGHAM, COLTON, EPSTEIN, GONZALEZ-RO-
 JAS, O'PHARROW, HEVESI, BURROUGHS, REYES, GLICK -- read once and
 referred to the Committee on Correction -- committee discharged, bill
 amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
 tee

 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to enacting the PTSD
 awareness and rehabilitation act

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

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "PTSD awareness and rehabilitation act".
 3 § 2. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature finds that post-
 4 traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is prevalent among incarcerated indi-
 5 viduals, often stemming from prior trauma, systemic inequalities, and
 6 the conditions of incarceration itself. Without adequate mental health
 7 support, individuals with untreated PTSD are more likely to experience
 8 recidivism, difficulty reintegrating into society, and worsened mental
 9 and physical health outcomes.
 10 The intent of this act is to mandate PTSD screening, provide trauma-
 11 informed education, and implement evidence-based rehabilitation programs
 12 to ensure incarcerated individuals receive proper support for mental
 13 health challenges. By addressing PTSD within the correctional system,
 14 New York state aims to reduce recidivism, improve public safety, and
 15 foster successful reentry into society.
 16 § 3. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 12 to read
 17 as follows:
 18 § 12. PTSD screening and training requirements. 1. As used in this
 19 section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
 20 (a) "Post-traumatic stress disorder" or "PTSD" means a mental health
 21 condition triggered by exposure to traumatic events, characterized by

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD09756-02-5

 A. 6649--A 2

 1 symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and emotional
 2 distress.
 3 (b) "Trauma-informed care" means an approach that recognizes the wide-
 4 spread impact of trauma and integrates knowledge about trauma into poli-
 5 cies, procedures, and practices to promote healing.
 6 2. (a) The department shall implement PTSD screenings for all incar-
 7 cerated individuals upon intake to a correctional facility and annually
 8 throughout their incarceration.
 9 (b) Screenings shall be conducted by licensed mental health profes-
 10 sionals trained in trauma-informed care.
 11 (c) Individuals identified as experiencing PTSD shall receive appro-
 12 priate clinical treatment, including therapy and counseling services.
 13 (d) Any incarcerated individual may decline to participate in a PTSD
 14 screening pursuant to this section, provided that:
 15 (i) the individual is provided information about PTSD in writing;
 16 (ii) such written information shall include, but not be limited to, a
 17 description of the symptoms of PTSD, and the types of treatments avail-
 18 able for PTSD; and
 19 (iii) a written record of such declination is maintained by the chief
 20 administrative officer of the facility.
 21 3. (a) The department shall develop and implement a mandatory PTSD
 22 education program f