Establishes four mental health coordinators to provide mental health support and education for members of law enforcement; establishes that coordinators shall provide training, assistance, reporting and set standards for continuing mental health education.
Summary
This bill would create a mental health coordinator program within the Division of State Police to provide mental health support and education for law enforcement in New York. It would establish four coordinators, appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation, each assigned to a specific region of the state, including New York City and three groupings of state troop regions. The coordinators must be active-duty state troopers with law enforcement experience, a background in evidence-based mental health and resilience training, and experience working with police administrations and unions.
The coordinators would work with police training academies, agencies, the Office of Mental Health, the State University system, and private training providers to develop and improve mental health and resilience training for officers and their families. Their duties would include helping establish peer support programs, updating mental health and wellness resource analyses for first responders, ensuring outside training programs are scientifically sound, and setting continuing education standards for officers at different career stages. The bill would also require reporting to the Office of Mental Health on program development and training needs, and it would take effect immediately if enacted.
Impact
The bill would amend the Executive Law by adding a new section establishing a state-level mental health coordinator program for law enforcement. It would create new appointed positions, define their qualifications and regional responsibilities, and assign ongoing duties related to training, peer support, research, and coordination with the Office of Mental Health and other entities. The measure would affect state police operations, law enforcement training practices, and the development of mental health and wellness resources for officers and their families.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a supportive public-safety and officer-wellness initiative, with an emphasis on evidence-based training and coordination rather than regulation or discipline. The overall tone of the proposal is constructive and administrative.
Contention
The bill text itself suggests a few possible points of contention, though none are documented in the available record. One potential issue is the creation of four new appointed coordinator positions and the associated salary and administrative costs. Another possible concern is the requirement that coordinators be active-duty state troopers, which could narrow the pool of eligible candidates and raise questions about independence or workload. There may also be scrutiny over the bill’s reliance on coordination with private training companies and the state university system, particularly around standards, oversight, and implementation.
Establishes four mental health coordinators to provide mental health support and education for members of law enforcement; establishes that coordinators shall provide training, assistance, reporting and set standards for continuing mental health education.