What's happening
This bill requires New York to establish a toll-free helpline and crisis line for veterans, service members, and their families.
Why it matters
Expands support access. by ensuring veterans, active service members (including National Guard), and their families have a dedicated, single point of contact to get information and referrals about benefits and services—helping them navigate what is often a confusing system.
Addresses urgent needs. by establishing a crisis line specifically modeled after the federal veterans’ crisis line, which can provide immediate support for mental health or other emergencies, potentially preventing crises from escalating.
Improves service availability. by mandating that the helpline be staffed during both regular business hours and on weekends/holidays, increasing the chances that someone in need can reach a knowledgeable person when they need help most.
Leverages trained personnel. by requiring that those answering calls are either employees or trained volunteers from the Division of Veterans’ Services, raising the likelihood that callers receive accurate and relevant assistance.
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Who cares
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Veterans Crisis Hotline Established
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to veterans' affairs
- Referred to veterans' affairs
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.
Veterans Crisis Hotline Established
In Senate Committee · Veterans, Homeland Security And Military Affairs · Sponsor James Sanders Jr.
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8390
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
June 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to providing a help line/crisis line to assist veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 2 of section 3803 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 743 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
(b) establishment of a toll-free telephone hotline to provide information regarding health care providers and treatment centers with expertise in illnesses associated with military duty and a toll-free telephone number for use as (i) a clearinghouse by veterans, active members of the armed forces in this state, including the national guard, and their families to obtain, in response to their requests about benefits or services that may be available to such veterans, members or their families, referrals to entities that provide such benefits or services, and (ii) a crisis line to respond to requests for assistance from veterans that is modeled on the federal veterans' crisis line. The toll-free telephone number shall be staffed by employees of or trained volunteers working at the division of veterans' services on weekdays during regular business hours, and on weekends and holidays from nine o'clock a.m. to five o'clock p.m.; and
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07103-03-9
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.