Directs the office of mental health to establish the urban youth gun violence reduction pilot program and appropriates $12,000,000 therefor

Section 3. Describes the amendment of section 305 of education law by adding a new subdivision describing the commissioner's assistance in implementation.

Section 4. Appropriates twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) out of moneys in the state treasury account. This section also indicates that the moneys shall be paid out by vouchers certified or approve by the commissioner of mental health.

Section 5. Establishes when the act shall take effect on the first of next July.

Justification

Currently many of our schools are dealing with mental health incidents that are materializing themselves through gun violence. A major reason why the encounters persist is the lack of preventative care and identification of the mental health illnesses. Instead of address the illnesses schools have resorted to militarizing their teaching environments with more school security and metal detectors. Creating a safe school environment is important however we must simultaneously attempt to address the root of many of the gun violence problems in our communities, mental health issues.

This bill would bring in additional personnel and mental health resources to schools in need in order to have round the clock support for students who may be dealing with circumstances that require professional care. By placing social workers on full time basis and for on-site during after school programs and with the incorporation of mental health first aid training for teachers and staff, the required age-appropriate mental health curriculum will address the destructive

behavior which has been well documented in communities with high levels of youth gun related homicides and injuries.

High gun violence communities in Brooklyn and the Bronx have shouldered the burden of gun related homicides and injuries. Data compiled the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has identified high rates of mental health problems facing youth in the highest gun related violence neighborhoods. While this problem is not exclusive to these two boroughs, the data provided by the New York City DOHMH calls for immediate action on all fronts to combat this violence:

The study found that youth in high gun violence communities are suffering from depression, have suicidal tendencies, abuse alcohol and drugs, display signs of paranoia and depression. Addressing the mental health component of youth engaged in gun violence is clearly a need that has not been met and needs serious focus by the New York State Legislature.

*In Crown Heights, Brooklyn the rate of firearm homicides is four times that of the rest of New York City or 41.9 deaths per 100,000 youth ages 15-24.

*In Fordham/Bronx Park in the Bronx, the rate of firearm homicides is over two ties the rest of New York City or 22.5 deaths per 100,000 youth ages 15-24.

*The firearm assault hospitalization rate in Crown Heights, Brooklyn for the same age group is 123.8 per 100,000 youth or 3.5 times higher than the rest of New York City.

*The firearm assault hospitalization rate in Fordham/Bronx Park, the Bronx for the same age groups is 88.4 per 100,000 youth or over 2 times higher than the rest of New York City.

*Besides the loss of life, gun violence has other associated costs to our society and is traumatizing entire communities. For our health care system the costs are also very tangible: In New York, between the period of 2010-13, almost $13 million were spent by our Medicaid program to cover public hospital costs for the treatment of over 1,840 gun-shot victims. The impact on the mental health of families and communities impacted by gun violence is exponentially larger.

We must seize this opportunity and address the causes of minority youth violence. To highlight the devastation of this violence, a review of data compiled by the Children's Defense Fund is necessary. It documented that between 1979 and 2009, 116,385 children have died due to gun violence. Extrapolated to 2015 numbers, Americans have stood by and allowed over 134,000 children to die due to gun violence, 47% of these children were African American.

More recent data tells us that there were more than 28,000 children and teens killed by guns between 2003 and 2014. Today, one teen per hour is hospitalized due to gun violence in the United States.

There is a tremendous need for successful youth programs and mental health services in African American and Latino communities where youth unemployment rates are as high as 50%; where schools fail to provide a nurturing educational setting; and where violence at home is as common as on the streets. We have in place an existing web of government-funded programs to address these ills. To stop the gun violence, we must now expand and improve on these mechanisms that are focused on building minds and building communities.

Prior legislative history

New Legislation

Fiscal implications

There is a $12 million dollar appropriation needed to implement a 24 school pilot program in high risk communities.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of next July.