What's happening
Robin's Law requires the development of guidelines to segregate sex offenders in mental health and chemical dependence outpatient group settings for safety.
Why it matters
Mandates the creation of evidence-based guidelines. to separate sex offenders from the general patient population in outpatient mental health and chemical dependency group settings, aiming to enhance safety without compromising clinical care.
Requires broad stakeholder input. including consumer advocates, service providers, and victim rights groups—in developing these segregation procedures, increasing transparency and accounting for diverse perspectives.
Could impact access and treatment dynamics. for sex offenders, potentially reducing risks for other vulnerable patients but also raising questions about how services will be delivered to both groups.
Signals a shift toward more regulated and structured outpatient environments. for high-risk populations, which may lead to changes in facility design, staffing, and oversight across New York’s mental health and addiction treatment systems.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Separate Sex Offender Treatment Groups
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
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.
Separate Sex Offender Treatment Groups
In Assembly Committee · Mental Health · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
619
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
AN ACT to create "Robin's law"; and to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to mental health and chemical dependence outpatient treatment of sex offenders
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Robin's law."
§ 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 7.48 to read as follows: § 7.48 Sex offenders; outpatient group setting.
The commissioner shall develop guidelines and procedures regarding sex offenders, as defined in section one hundred sixty-eight-a of the correction law, and detained sex offenders, as defined in section 10.03 of this title, receiving services in an outpatient group setting. Such guidelines and procedures shall outline best practices to ensure a protected, safe and clinically sound treatment environment for all patients and shall, to the greatest extent possible, be based on evidence-based clinical treatment standards regarding the segregation of sex offenders from the general patient population. In developing such guidelines and procedures, the commissioner shall consult with a panel of stakeholders who shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of consumer advocates, providers and victim rights groups. Such panel shall consist of nine members, of whom: five shall be appointed by the governor, two shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate and two shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
§ 3. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 19.45 to read as follows: § 19.45 Sex offenders; outpatient group setting.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04333-01-9
S. 619 2
The commissioner shall develop guidelines and procedures regarding sex offenders, as defined in section one hundred sixty-eight-a of the correction law, and detained sex offenders, as defined in section 10.03 of this chapter, receiving services in an outpatient group setting. Such guidelines and procedures shall outline best practices to ensure a protected, safe and clinically sound treatment environment for all patients and shall, to the greatest extent possible, be based on evidence-based clinical treatment standards regarding the segregation of sex offenders from the general patient population. In developing such guidelines and procedures, the commissioner shall consult with a panel of stakeholders who shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of consumer advocates, providers and victim rights groups. Such panel shall consist of nine members, of whom: five shall be appointed by the governor, two shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate and two shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
§ 4. 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 create "Robin's law"; and to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to mental health and chemical dependence outpatient treatment of sex offenders
Purpose
To require the development of guidelines for the outpatient mental health and chemical dependence treatment of sex offenders in group settings.
Summary of provisions
Section 2 the bill adds a new section 7.47 to the mental hygiene law to require that the Office of Mental Health develop guidelines and proce- dures regarding the treatment of sex offenders (as defined) and detained sex offenders (as defined) in outpatient group settings. Such guide- lines and procedures shall outline best practices to ensure a protected, safe and clinically sound treatment environment for all patients and shall, to the greatest extent possible, be based on evidence-based clin- ical treatment standards regarding the segregation of sex offenders from the general patient population. In developing such guidelines and proce- dures, the commissioner shall consult with a panel of stakeholders who shall include, but not be limited to, representatives of consumer advo- cates, providers and victim rights groups. Such panel shall consist of nine members, of whom: five shall be appointed by the Governor, two by the Temporary President of the Senate, and two by the Speaker of the Assembly.
Section 3 adds a new section 19.45 to the mental hygiene law to apply the same provisions contained in section 1 of the bill to the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.
Section 4 provides the effective date.
Justification
There are circumstances where sex offenders who are dependent upon drugs and/or alcohol are ordered or mandated to attend chemical dependence therapy as part of their plea and probation arrangements from a drug or alcohol court. However, it has come to the sponsor's attention that there is the potential for, and actual cases of, victims of sexual abuse being placed in the same alcohol and substance abuse therapy sessions as a registered sex offender. This may lead to additional victimization of sexual abuse victims and there should be procedural mechanisms set in place that prevent registered sex offenders and sexual abuse victims from being in the same therapy sessions. This legislation would have the Office of Mental Health and the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services develop guidelines and procedures regarding the segregation of sex offenders from the general patient population in order to ensure a protected, safe and clinically sound treatment environment for all patients.
Legislative history
2013-2014: Died in Finance 01/07/15 REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 03/11/15 REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE 01/06/16 REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 01/25/16 REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE 06/20/17 PASSED SENATE 01/03/18 died in assembly 01/03/18 returned to senate 01/03/18 REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 01/17/18 REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
Fiscal implications
None.
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.