New York S 4246: Enacts the "minority mental health act" to establish the division of minority mental health within the office of mental health

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S04246 Summary:

BILL NOS04246 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 8 §§8.01 - 8.09, Ment Hyg L

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Enacts the "minority mental health act" to establish the division of minority mental health within the office of mental health; provides that such division shall be responsible for assuring that mental health programs and services are culturally and linguistically appropriate to meet the needs of racial and ethnic minorities.

Go to top S04246 Actions:

BILL NOS04246 

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02/03/2025REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH

01/07/2026REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH

Go to topS04246 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS04246 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS04246 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4246

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 3, 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 establishing the
 division of minority mental health within the office of mental health,
 and providing for its powers and duties

 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 hereby finds that
 2 racial and ethnic minorities in America comprise a substantial and
 3 vibrant segment of the United States population. According to the 2000
 4 United States Census, minorities comprised the majority of the New York
 5 City population. Further, the legislature finds that nearly half of all
 6 New York City households speak a language other than English at home,
 7 and that the "enormous shortage of trained bilingual and bicultural
 8 counselors, therapists, psychiatrists and social workers, make it impos-
 9 sible, for many limited-English-proficient New Yorkers to obtain refer-
 10 rals and timely, appropriate mental health services" (New York State
 11 Assembly Standing Committee on Mental Health report, An Evaluation of
 12 the Delivery of Mental Hygiene Services in New York State, February
 13 2005). Moreover, the legislature finds that the President's New Freedom
 14 Commission on Mental Health also found that the mental health system in
 15 the United States "has not kept pace with the diverse needs of racial
 16 and ethnic minorities. Misunderstanding and misinterpreting behaviors
 17 have led to tragic consequences, including inappropriately placing
 18 minorities in the criminal and juvenile justice systems." Consequently,
 19 the legislature finds that a division of minority mental health should
 20 be created to address the unique mental health needs of the racial and
 21 ethnic minority citizens of the state.
 22 § 2. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
 23 "minority mental health act".

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07935-01-5

 S. 4246 2

 1 § 3. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new article 8 to
 2 read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 8
 4 DIVISION OF MINORITY MENTAL
 5 HEALTH
 6 Section 8.01 Declaration of policy.
 7 8.03 Definitions.
 8 8.05 Division of minority mental health.
 9 8.07 Scope of responsibilities.
 10 8.09 Minority mental health council.
 11 § 8.01 Declaration of policy.
 12 The state of New York and its local governments have a responsibility
 13 to care for and treat all of its citizens suffering from mental disabil-
 14 ities. To address the growing and significant disconnect between the
 15 mental health care needs, and the availability and accessibility of
 16 culturally and linguistically competent care for all New Yorkers, a new
 17 division of minority mental health is created. The division shall focus
 18 on assessing the mental health needs of racial and ethnic minority popu-
 19 lations and strive to best ensure that appropriate care is provided to
 20 these individuals.
 21 § 8.03 Definitions.
 22 As used in this article:
 23 (a) "Council" means the minority mental health council established by
 24 section 8.09 of this article.
 25 (b) "Division" means the division of minority health established