What's happening
This bill requires specialized autism training for firefighters, police officers, and EMS personnel to improve emergency response for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Why it matters
Ensures that all first responders—including firefighters, police officers, and EMS personnel—are educated on recognizing and appropriately responding to individuals with autism spectrum disorder, which can increase safety and reduce misunderstandings during emergencies.
Requires state agencies to coordinate and implement this training, meaning there will be a standardized curriculum and consistent knowledge base across different emergency services, rather than relying on voluntary or inconsistent local efforts.
Acknowledges the unique behavioral symptoms and communication challenges that people with autism may present, aiming to minimize the risk of escalation or harm in crisis situations by equipping responders with specific, evidence-based strategies.
Could improve trust and relationships between first responders and the autism community, potentially encouraging families and individuals to seek help without fear of miscommunication or inappropriate interventions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Responders for Autism Emergencies
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Reported and committed to finance
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3866
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 27, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, the executive law and the public health law, in relation to a training program for firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel on handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 16.39 to read as follows: § 16.39 Autism spectrum disorder training; first responders.
The commissioner, in consultation with other appropriate agency representatives, shall develop a training program to provide instruction and information to firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel on appropriate recognition and response techniques for handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and on recognizing the behavioral symptoms and characteristics of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Such training shall also include any other information deemed necessary and appropriate by the commissioner.
§ 2. Section 156 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 22 to read as follows:
22. Coordinate and provide the training program relating to handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder developed by the commissioner of developmental disabilities pursuant to section 16.39 of the mental hygiene law to all firefighters, both paid and volunteer.
§ 3. Section 837-a of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05252-01-7
S. 3866 2
10. Coordinate and provide the training program relating to handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder developed by the commissioner of developmental disabilities pursuant to section 16.39 of the mental hygiene law to all police officers.
§ 4. Section 3011 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 12 to read as follows:
12. The department shall coordinate and provide the training program relating to handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder developed by the commissioner of developmental disabilities pursuant to section 16.39 of the mental hygiene law to all emergency medical services personnel including, but not limited to, first responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians and emergency vehicle operators.
§ 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, the executive law and the public health law, in relation to a training program for firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel on handling emergency situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder
Purpose
Authorizes the Commissioner of developmental disabilities (OPWDD) and other appropriate agency representatives to develop a training program to provide instruction and information to first responders and response techniques for handling emergency situations involving individuals with ASD.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Authorizes the Commissioner of developmental disabilities (OPWDD) and other appropriate agency representatives to develop a training program to provide instruction and information to first responders and response techniques for handling emergency situations involving individuals with ASD
Section 2: Amends the executive law to coordinate and provide training to all firefighters, both paid and volunteer.
Section 3: Amends the executive law to coordinate and provide training to all law enforcement officers.
Section 4: Amends the public health law to coordinate and provide training to all emergency medical services personnel, including but not limited to, first responders, emergency medical technicians, advanced emergency medical technicians and emergency vehicle operators.
Section 5: Effective Date
Justification
On a daily basis, law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders encounter a multitude of individuals in emergency situations. Just as each emergency differs from the next, so does the individual involved, especially in regards to individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). First responders are trained to respond to a crisis situation with a certain protocol, but this protocol may not always be the best way to interact with individuals with ASD. Because law enforcement officers are usually the first to respond to an emergency, it is critical that these officers have a working knowledge of ASD, and the wide variety of behaviors individuals with ASD can exhibit in emergency situations.
This legislation will create a statewide training program for law enforcement officers, firefighters and other first responders so that there is a uniform policy that will be used in every corner of the state.
Legislative history
2015-16: A9656 - referred to governmental operations
Fiscal implications
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.