A 8580: Requires victims of firearm violence be offered and/or provided psychiatric care.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8580 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY May 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Health AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to requiring victims of firearm violence be offered and/or provided psychiatric care The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2 2805-aa to read as follows: 3 § 2805-aa. Hospital firearm violence policies and procedures. 1. For 4 the purposes of this section, the term "firearm violence" shall mean any 5 bullet wound, gunshot wound, powder burn, or any other injury arising 6 from or caused by the discharge of a gun or firearm. 7 2. Every general hospital shall: (a) develop, maintain and disseminate 8 written policies and procedures for the identification, assessment, 9 treatment and referral of confirmed or suspected cases of firearm 10 violence; (b) establish, and implement on an ongoing basis, a training 11 program for all nursing, medical, social work and other clinical person- 12 nel, and security personnel working in hospital service units regarding 13 the policies and procedures established pursuant to this section; and 14 (c) designate a staff member to contact psychiatric services identified 15 by the commissioner under subdivision four of this section providing 16 victim assistance to the geographic area served by such hospital to 17 establish the coordination of services to firearm violence victims. 18 3. Upon discharge from treatment of a confirmed or suspected victim of 19 firearm violence, such hospital shall advise the victim of the avail- 20 ability of psychiatric services relating to firearm violence. If such 21 firearm violence victim requests psychiatric services relating to 22 firearm violence, such hospital shall initiate the coordination of such 23 services. 24 4. The commissioner shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may 25 be necessary and proper to carry out effectively the provisions of this EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09098-01-5 
 A. 8580 2 1 section. Prior to promulgating such rules and regulations, the commis- 2 sioner shall consult with the New York state firearm violence research 3 institute and other such entities and persons as the commissioner deems 4 necessary to develop a model policy for hospitals to utilize in comply- 5 ing with this section and to identify organizations providing psychiat- 6 ric services relating to firearm violence operating in each hospital's 7 geographic area, a list of which the commissioner shall provide to 8 hospitals with the model policy. 9 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 10 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or 11 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of 12 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed 13 on or before such effective date.