Int. No. 1021
By Council Members Powers, Lee, Bottcher, Schulman, Rivera, Riley, Louis, Restler, Hudson, Ayala, Holden, Ung, Joseph and Abreu (in conjunction with the Manhattan and Brooklyn Borough Presidents)
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to crisis respite centers
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-199.21 to read as follows:
§ 17-199.21 Crisis respite center. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the term “crisis respite center” means a community-based facility that is designed as an alternative to emergency hospitalization for individuals with severe mental illness in times of psychiatric crisis that offers voluntary stays for up to 1 week, and provides access to behavioral health professionals, peer support groups, psychoeducation, self-advocacy education, and self-help training.
b. The department, in consultation with the mayor’s office of community mental health, and other relevant agencies, shall ensure the creation of at least 2 crisis respite centers in each borough. In determining locations for crisis respite centers, the department shall prioritize communities that have a heightened need for crisis respite centers, as determined by the mayor’s office of community mental health.
c. Crisis respite centers must be open to individuals by appointment, walk-in, or through referrals from medical professionals.
§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.
APM
LS #11719+12100+12100
4/13/23