Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans in New York state and to deliver a finding of the results of such study to the governor and the legislative leaders.
Summary
This bill directs the New York State Office of Mental Health to conduct a study on the mental health effects of awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans on African Americans in New York State. The study must identify mental health risks and harms, compare self-reported mental health outcomes across racial and ethnic groups, and use data from sources including the CDC, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, and the Mapping Police Violence database.
The bill also requires the Office of Mental Health to include recommendations in the study on improving access to and affordability of mental health professionals for racial and ethnic minorities, and on reducing stigma around mental health and treatment in those communities. A report with findings and recommendations must be submitted to the governor and legislative leaders by January 1, 2026, and the act would take effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
The bill does not directly change substantive mental health or policing law; instead, it creates a state agency study mandate and reporting requirement for the Office of Mental Health. Its practical impact would be to generate data and policy recommendations that could inform future legislation, administrative action, or funding decisions related to racial trauma, mental health access, and community-based services for African Americans and other minority groups.
Sentiment
Because no committee transcript or vote history is provided, there is no recorded legislative debate or roll-call evidence of support or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears framed as a research and public health initiative focused on documenting harms and identifying responses, which suggests an intent to address a serious social and mental health concern rather than to impose enforcement or regulatory changes.
Contention
The bill’s main area of potential contention is its focus on police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans and the use of racial comparisons in assessing mental health impacts. Supporters would likely view the study as necessary to understand racial trauma and improve services, while critics might question the study’s scope, methodology, data sources, or whether the state should prioritize a study over direct programmatic action. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.
Same As
Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans in New York state and to deliver a finding of the results of such study to the governor and the legislative leaders.
Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans in New York state and to deliver a finding of the results of such study to the governor and the legislative leaders.
Requires the New York State Office of Mental Health to study the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African Americans in New York state and to deliver a finding of the results of such study to the governor and the legislative leaders.
Directs the office of mental health to conduct a study on the mental health and prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among corrections officers and other prison workers and to submit a report of the findings of such study to the governor and the legislature.