What's happening
This bill requires specialized training for firefighters, police, and EMS personnel on handling emergencies involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
Why it matters
Improves emergency outcomes for autistic individuals. By training first responders to recognize and appropriately respond to the behaviors and needs of people with autism, the bill aims to reduce misunderstandings or escalation during emergencies, potentially preventing harm and ensuring better care.
Standardizes knowledge and practices across agencies. The legislation ensures that firefighters, police, and EMS personnel across New York receive consistent, evidence-based training, helping to minimize disparities in emergency responses involving autistic individuals.
Addresses a significant gap in current first responder education. Autism-specific information is often missing from standard emergency training curricula; this bill explicitly mandates such content, highlighting the growing recognition of neurodiversity in public safety and healthcare.
Signals a broader commitment to inclusivity and safety. By embedding autism awareness into emergency protocols, the state demonstrates its commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and fostering trust between first responders and communities affected by autism.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train First Responders on Autism
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 8
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1647
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
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 23 to read as follows:
23. 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.
LBD06818-01-9
S. 1647 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
The purpose of this bill is to provide policer officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services personnel with specialized training for handling emergency situations that involve individuals with autism spec- trum disorder.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. amends the mental hygiene law by creating a new section 16.39 which provides for the development and implementation of a training program for police officers, firefighters, and emergency services personnel concerning situations involving individuals with autism spec- trum disorder.
Section 2. amends section 156 of the executive law by creating new subdivision 22 which provides that the office of fire prevention and control shall provide the training program that is set forth in section one to all paid and volunteer firefighters.
Section 3. amends section 837-a of the executive law by adding a new subdivision 10 which provides that the division of criminal justice services shall provide the training program that is set forth in section one to all police officers.
Section 4. amends section 3011 of the public health law by creating a new subdivision 12 which provides that the department of health shall provide the training program that is set forth in section one to all emergency services personnel including technicians, advances emergency technicians, and emergency vehicle operators.
Section 5. is the enacting clause.
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 chlit situation with a certain protocol, but current protocol may not always be appropriate when handling an emergency situation with an individual who has ASD. Because law enforcement officers are usually the first to respond to an emergency, it is critical that these officers have a work- ing knowledge of ASD, and the wide variety of behaviors individuals with ASD can exhibit in emergency situations. This legislation creates a statewide standard for first responders who encounter individuals with ASD.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
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.