Provides for the establishment and implementation on an ongoing basis of a mental health first aid training program for all current and new police officers and peace officers.
Summary
This bill would amend the New York Executive Law to require the establishment and ongoing implementation of a mental health first aid training program for all current and new police officers and peace officers. The training program would be a continuing requirement rather than a one-time course, and it would apply statewide to both existing personnel and future hires.
The bill takes effect one year after it becomes law, giving agencies time to develop or adopt the training program and incorporate it into officer training schedules. The text does not specify the curriculum, administering agency, funding source, or enforcement mechanism, leaving those details to implementation by the relevant state authorities.
Impact
The bill would add a new mandate to section 840 of the Executive Law, expanding the responsibilities of the state framework governing police and peace officer training. Its practical effect would be to require law enforcement agencies and training systems to provide mental health first aid instruction on an ongoing basis for all current and incoming officers, potentially affecting academy training, in-service training, and statewide standards for officer preparedness when interacting with individuals experiencing mental health crises.
Sentiment
Based on the bill title and text, the measure appears to be framed as a public safety and crisis-response initiative, with an emphasis on improving officer response to mental health situations. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislative debate; however, the bill’s purpose suggests a generally reform-oriented, preventive approach rather than a punitive one.
Contention
Because no discussion transcripts or votes are available, specific points of contention are not documented. Potential areas of debate could include the cost of training, who would pay for and administer the program, whether the mandate should apply to all peace officers as well as police officers, and whether the state should prescribe a standardized curriculum or leave implementation to agencies and training providers.
Requires the inclusion of cultural competency training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians.
Establishes the New York state school resource officer program; provides for grants for school resource officers (Part A); relates to peace officers who are retired police officers employed by a school district as a school resource officer (Part B); allows retired police officers to be employed by a school district as a school safety officer, school security officer or any other substantially similar position for an annual salary of $50,000 or less to continue to receive their full retirement benefit (Part C).
Establishes the New York state school resource officer program; provides for grants for school resource officers (Part A); relates to peace officers who are retired police officers employed by a school district as a school resource officer (Part B); allows retired police officers to be employed by a school district as a school safety officer, school security officer or any other substantially similar position for an annual salary of $50,000 or less to continue to receive their full retirement benefit (Part C).
Requires the inclusion of cultural competency training in the basic training and pre-employment course curricula for state police officers and municipal police officers and sheriffs, members of fire departments and companies, corrections officers, first responders, emergency medical technicians and advanced emergency medical technicians.
Grants security officers serving at the village of Ardsley village court peace officer status; provides that such officers shall complete training if they are not otherwise police officers or peace officers.