S 8562: Develops protocols that designated hotline centers play calming music while callers are on hold, regular "comfort" messages, and if necessary, the hotline center shall provide additional messaging to encourage the caller to stay on the line.
What S 8562 does, verified January 9, 2026
The "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law" aims to improve the quality of calls to the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline. The law requires designated hotline centers to develop protocols for terminating calls, ensuring a smoother and more supportive experience for callers. When a caller is placed on hold, the hotline center must provide calming music and regular "comfort" messages to keep the caller engaged. The law also encourages hotline centers to provide additional messaging to encourage callers to stay on the line if necessary. The law takes effect immediately, with the goal of improving the overall experience for callers to the crisis hotline.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about S 8562
- What is the current status of S 8562?
- As of January 9, 2026, S 8562 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH".
- Did S 8562 pass?
- Not yet. S 8562 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote S 8562, and where is it now?
- S 8562 was authored by Sen. Joseph Griffo. Its committee of record is Senate Mental Health. It is filed under MHY, alongside 61 other New York MHY bills this session.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions2 total · showing 2
| Jan. 07, 2026 | REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH |
| Nov. 03, 2025 | REFERRED TO RULES |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, November 3, 2025 · 269 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8562 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE November 3, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. GRIFFO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law" which aids designated hotline centers in developing protocols for terminating calls to the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis hotline The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as 2 the "Mariah N. Lacey-Reid Law". 3 § 2. Section 36.03 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a 4 new subdivision (g) to read as follows: 5 (g) In accordance with 988 best practices and national standards, a 6 designated hotline center shall promote quality performance and 7 connection to the suicide prevention and behavioral health crisis 8 hotline, that shall include but not be limited to, developing protocols 9 for terminating a call with any person who calls a designated hotline 10 center, and if a caller is placed on hold, a designated hotline center 11 shall provide calming music, regular "comfort" messages, and if neces- 12 sary, the hotline center shall provide additional messaging to encourage 13 the caller to stay on the line. 14 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD09763-01-5
Text of S 8562 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions