What's happening
This bill requires police officers in New York City to undergo psychological evaluations for PTSD and anger management every three years.
Why it matters
Targets officer wellness and public safety. Regular psychological evaluations could help identify police officers struggling with PTSD or anger management, potentially reducing the risk of harmful interactions with the public and improving overall officer performance.
Focuses on NYC’s unique challenges. The requirement applies only to cities with populations over one million, effectively targeting New York City, where police face especially high-stress environments and public scrutiny.
Excludes certain officers. Officers not assigned to precincts, active patrol, or those only in supervisory roles over patrol personnel are exempt, meaning the policy zeroes in on those most likely to encounter traumatic or high-conflict situations.
Institutionalizes ongoing mental health oversight. By mandating re-evaluation every three years, the bill aims to create a sustained system of support and accountability rather than a one-time check, potentially fostering a healthier police culture over time.
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Who cares
Municipal Police Training Council
The bill would require the council to issue rules mandating psychological evaluations for covered police officers upon entry into service and every third year thereafter.
Competitive-class police officers in cities of one million or more
Covered officers would undergo evaluations for post-traumatic stress disorder or anger management issues that may affect their ability to serve.
Police departments in cities of one million or more
The evaluation requirement would exclude officers not assigned to precincts, officers not assigned to active patrol duty and supervisors of active-duty patrol personnel.
Headline styles
Require Police Psych Evaluations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
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.
Require 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
2152
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
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.
LBD06445-01-9
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.