S 2033: Requires parity in the mental and physical health treatment of the residents of New York state; provides that both mental and physical health "will be matters of public concern and provision therefor shall be made by the state and by such of its subdivisions".
The proposed constitutional amendment aims to ensure the protection and promotion of mental health in New York. The amendment would make mental health a matter of public concern and require the state to provide for its provision. It would also give state and local authorities the authority to provide care and treatment for individuals with mental disorders or defects, and require regular inspections of institutions providing mental health care. The amendment would also allow the head of the department of mental hygiene to visit and inspect institutions providing mental health care, and would give the legislature the power to determine the manner and means of providing mental health care. The proposed amendment would be published for three months prior to the next general election, allowing for public input and consideration.
| Feb. 03, 2026 | OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY |
| Jan. 08, 2026 | TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR OPINION |
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO JUDICIARY |
| Jan. 31, 2025 | OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY |
| Jan. 16, 2025 | TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR OPINION |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 2033 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 15, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. HARCKHAM, HINCHEY, KRUEGER, MYRIE, WALCZYK, WEBER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing amendments to sections 3 and 4 of article 17 of the constitu- tion, in relation to the protection and promotion of the mental health of New Yorkers 1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 3 of arti- 2 cle 17 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 3 § 3. The protection and promotion of the physical and mental health of 4 the inhabitants of the state are matters of public concern and provision 5 therefor shall be made by the state and by such of its subdivisions and 6 in such manner, and by such means as the legislature shall from time to 7 time determine. 8 § 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 4 of article 17 9 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 10 § 4. The care and treatment of persons suffering from mental disorder 11 or defect and the protection of the mental health of the inhabitants of 12 the state [may] shall be provided by state and local authorities and in 13 such manner as the legislature [may] shall from time to time determine. 14 The head of the department of mental hygiene shall visit and inspect, or 15 cause to be visited and inspected by members of [his or her] the head of 16 the department's staff, all institutions either public or private used 17 for the care and treatment of persons suffering from mental disorder or 18 defect. 19 § 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment 20 be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the 21 next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in 22 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be 23 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD89003-01-5