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History
- Print number 6342d
- Amend and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Print number 6342c
- Amend (t) and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Print number 6342b
- Amend (t) and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Print number 6342a
- Amend and recommit to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
- Referred to veterans, homeland security and military affairs
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S6342D
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to developing plans to adequately address military sexual trauma experienced by female veterans
Purpose or general idea of bill
To disseminate information to female veterans and make available at the Office of Mental Health and Department of Veteran Affairs websites where they can seek treatment and counseling for Military Sexual Trauma.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 Amends section 7.09 of the mental hygiene law by adding new subdivision k: The Commissioner of Mental Health shall promulgate rules and regulations to disseminate information to female veterans, when applicable, regarding which veterans affairs centers and other organizations such female veterans can seek treatment, counseling and resources for Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Such information shall be posted on the office/s website with a link to the website of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and a link to the State Division of Veterans' Affairs.
Subdivision 1: The Commissioner shall establish peer counseling and support services regarding Military Sexual Trauma for female veterans at one or more veterans affairs facilities if deemed appropriate and necessary.
Justification
In many instances those veterans who have returned home from combat and/or have completed their tour of duty have had a myriad of experiences that sometimes adversely affect them. The experiences and events they go through can sometimes lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
However, female veterans can also go through traumatic experiences that are not discussed as often as PTSD. One trauma they go through in particular is Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The definition of MST used by the Department of Veteran Affairs is: psychological trauma, which in the judgment of a VA mental health professional, resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the Veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training.
It is imperative that information of where to seek treatment and coun- seling for Military Sexual Trauma is afforded to female veterans and posted on the Department of Veterans Affairs website. Providing these veterans with this information will enable them to know where to go for help and services.
The Department of Veteran Affairs states that in a screening for military personnel seeking VA healthcare 1 in 5 women responded "yes" when screened for MST. However, according to pentagon statistics nearly 1 in 3 women in the military is at risk for sexual assault,
twice as many as in the general population. The Defense Department's 2006 sexual assault report stated that 2,947 incidents were reported an increase of 73% from 2004.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
Unknown.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.