Senate Mental Health Committee reports 10 bills covering telehealth, suicide prevention, crisis services and housing

The New York State Senate Mental Health Committee on May 21, 2025 considered and reported ten bills addressing telehealth services for youth, suicide-prevention hotlines, suicide-prevention policy, developmental disability definitions, community housing waiting lists, discharge procedures from community residences, parity for stabilization services, integrated community clinics, mental health clubhouses and guardianship visitation.

All ten bills were moved and seconded and were carried out of the committee to the committees shown below. Several members voiced concerns about potential fiscal impacts and asked that the measures be reviewed by Finance or the relevant fiscal committee before final action.

Votes at a glance (bill —ter summary — referral):

- S.1005 (sponsor: Senator Brooke): "Amend the Mental Hygiene Law in relation to providing mental telehealth services to children, adolescents, and young adults." Reported to Finance.

- S.1366 (sponsor: Senator Serrano): "Amend the Mental Hygiene Law in relation to prohibiting certain suicide prevention and mental health services hotlines from being automated." Reported to Finance.

- S.3610 (sponsor: Senator Helming): "Amend the Mental Hygiene Law in relation to creating the New York State Suicide Prevention Council." Reported to First Reading.

- S.3996 (sponsor: Senator Parker): "Amend the Mental Hygiene Law in relation to the definition of developmental disability." Reported to the Disabilities Committee. Committee members expressed concern this change could expand eligibility and have a significant fiscal impact.

- S.4102 (sponsor: Senator Parker): "Establish community housing waiting lists for adults within the Office of Mental Health system." Reported to First Reading.

- S.4291 (sponsor: Senator Parker): "Amend the Mental Hygiene Law and Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law in relation to discharge of residents of a community residence." Reported to First Reading.

- S.4990 (sponsor: Senator Hartung): "Establish parity and reimbursement rates for supportive stabilization services substantially equivalent to crisis stabilization service centers." Reported to Finance. Members again asked for fiscal analysis before final action.

- S.6730 (sponsor: Senator Jackson): "Amend the Mental Hygiene Law in relation to establishing integrated community mental health clinics." Reported to First Reading. A member described the bill as "very vague" and said it lacked clear linkage to services for people with substance use disorders.

- S.7377A (sponsor: Senator Bruck): "Amend the Public Health Law in relation to the establishment of mental health clubhouses." Reported to Finance. Committee members noted the model's program costs and said funding had been reduced in the final state budget, though sponsors said they will seek future funding and standardization.

- S.7819 (sponsor listed in the committee as Senator Cleare; discussed and advocated by Senator Palumbo): "Amend the Mental Hygiene Law in relation to proceedings for appointment of a guardian or other caretaker for personal needs or property management." Reported to Judiciary; proposal would allow a family member to file an order to show cause and require a hearing within 10 days to address visitation disputes.

Fiscal concerns and committee notes: multiple members repeatedly requested fiscal analyses for items they said could expand eligibility or require higher reimbursement rates. Senator Cantonari Fitzpatrick noted for several bills: "I think it might be a significant fiscal impact. Mhmm. So, I'm... without rec for those purposes because I think there might be more significant fiscal impact than we think." The committee referred several measures to Finance or to first reading to allow further review.

What comes next: each bill will proceed to the committee listed above for detailed policy or fiscal review.