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NY A00279
Bill
Status
1/8/2025
Primary Sponsor
Didi Barrett
Click for details
AI Summary
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Amends the New York State Constitution (Article 17, Sections 3 and 4) to explicitly include "mental health" alongside physical health as a matter of public concern requiring state provision
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Changes the state's obligation for mental health care from permissive ("may") to mandatory ("shall"), requiring state and local authorities to provide care and treatment for persons with mental disorders
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Updates gendered language in the constitution from "his or her" to "the head of the department's" regarding the Department of Mental Hygiene's inspection duties
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Requires the proposed constitutional amendment to be referred to the first regular legislative session after the next general election and published for 3 months prior to that election, per constitutional amendment procedures
Legislative Description
Requires parity in the mental and physical health treatment of the residents of New York state; provides that both mental and physical health "will be matters of public concern and provision therefor shall be made by the state and by such of its subdivisions".
Last Action
opinion referred to judiciary
1/30/2026