What's happening
This bill requires police officers in New York City to undergo psychological evaluations for PTSD and anger issues every three years.
Why it matters
Aims to identify and address mental health issues. by mandating recurring psychological evaluations for PTSD and anger, the bill seeks to catch problems that may develop during an officer’s career, not just at hiring, potentially reducing risks of inappropriate or harmful conduct.
Targets frontline officers. the requirements specifically apply to those on active patrol or supervising patrol officers in large cities, focusing on positions most exposed to trauma and public interaction, where mental health challenges could have the greatest impact.
Could impact police accountability and public trust. regular screenings may help both prevent incidents related to untreated psychological issues and reassure the public that officers’ fitness for duty is being monitored, possibly improving community relations.
May affect officer retention and workplace culture. mandatory exams could identify officers in need of support or removal from duty, while also signaling institutional acknowledgment of the mental toll of policing; however, it could also raise concerns about privacy, stigma, or job security among officers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Psych Evals for City Police
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Mandate Police Mental Health Checks
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Gustavo Rivera
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5895
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PICHARDO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring the municipal police training council to promulgate regulations regarding psychological evaluations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 840 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 66 and such section as renumbered by chapter 603 of the laws of 1973, is amended to read as follows:
2. a. The council shall promulgate, and may from time to time amend, such rules and regulations prescribing height, weight and physical fitness requirements for eligibility of persons for provisional or permanent appointment in the competitive class of the civil service as police officers of any county, city, town, village or police district as it deems necessary and proper for the efficient performance of police duties.
b. The council, in addition to the rules and regulations set forth in paragraph a of this subdivision, shall promulgate, and may from time to time amend, such rules and regulations, requiring every police officer, appointed in the competitive class of the service, for any city with a population of one million or more, to undergo a psychological evaluation upon entry into such service, and upon every third year thereafter, to determine whether such officer has post-traumatic stress disorder or anger management issues, which may affect his or her ability to serve as a police officer, provided, however, the provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to police officers who are not assigned to precincts, who are not assigned to active duty on patrol or who supervise police personnel who are assigned to active duty on patrol.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02114-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.