S 1543: Expands the definition of mental health care provider to include licensed psychoanalysts, creative arts therapists and behavior analysts for purposes of certain sex offenses committed during a treatment session, consultation, interview, or examination.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1543 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 10, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to expanding the definition of mental health care provider for purposes of certain sex offenses The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Subdivision 13 of section 130.00 of the penal law, as 2 amended by chapter 636 of the laws of 2024, is amended to read as 3 follows: 4 13. "Mental health care provider" shall mean a licensed physician, 5 licensed psychologist, registered professional nurse, licensed clinical 6 social worker, licensed master social worker under the supervision of a 7 physician, psychologist or licensed clinical social worker, [licensed 8 mental health counselor or a licensed marriage and family therapist] 9 behavior analyst, mental health practitioner, or any mental health 10 professional licensed pursuant to title eight of the education law. 11 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD02551-02-5