Int. No. 1890
By Council Members Ayala, Brannan, Rivera, Rosenthal and Van Bramer
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to community outreach regarding the availability of mental health counseling in response to violent and traumatic incidents
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 14 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 14-119.1 to read as follows:
§ 14-119.1 Notification of violent or traumatic incidents. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Violent or traumatic incident. The term “violent or traumatic incident” means an act or series of acts causing serious physical injury or death, including but not limited to gun violence or suicide.
b. Within 24 hours of a determination that a violent or traumatic incident has occurred, the department shall notify the department of health and mental hygiene of such violent or traumatic incident. The notice required pursuant to this subdivision does not require the disclosure of confidential information or information that could jeopardize the investigation of such violent or traumatic incident by law enforcement.
§ 2. Chapter 1 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-199.13 to read as follows:
§ 17-199.13 Community outreach regarding mental health counseling in response to violent and traumatic incidents. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Service provider. The term “service provider” means any non-government organization, funded in whole or in part by the city, or any agency under the jurisdiction of the mayor, that provides social services, including but not limited to case management, crisis intervention, legal services, restorative justice, emergency or transitional shelter, permanent housing, health care, mental health counseling, drug addiction screening and treatment, language interpretation, public benefits, domestic and family matters safety planning, job training and economic empowerment, immigration advocacy or other services, provided, however, that social services shall not be construed to include the provision of services by first responders in response to public safety incidents.
Violent or traumatic incident. The term “violent or traumatic incident” has the same meaning as is ascribed to such term in section 14-119.1.
b. Upon receiving notice of a violent or traumatic incident from the police department as required pursuant to section 14-119.1, the department shall conduct outreach to affected community members regarding the availability of mental health counseling and other social services from service providers.
§ 3. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.
MHL
LS #12655
01/21/20