BILL NUMBER: S4388
SPONSOR: ASHBY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to enacting the
health care worker peer support program; and making an appropriation
therefor
 
PURPOSE:
To amend the state law, in relation enacting the health care worker peer
support program; and making an appropriation therefor
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 establishes the name of the act as the "health care worker
peer support program".
Section 2 amends the mental hygiene law by creating a new section 7.49,
which creates the health care worker peer support program.
Section 7.49 establishes definitions for the program and directs the
commissioner of mental health to establish standards for this program as
well as create a grant program to support it.
Section 3 appropriates $10,000,000 to the office of mental health to
support the health care worker peer support program.
Section 4 establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York State
revealed the depths of sacrifice that health care workers are willing to
make for the benefit of their community. Several news outlets - includ-
ing Newsday - have cited the effects that the response has had on these
health care workers, with many experiencing anxiety and depression as
well as a potential for lasting post-traumatic stress disorder. These
negative mental effects have serious consequences. On April 28th, 2020,
CNN reported that Dr. Lorna Breen committed suicide; Dr. Breen was a New
York City area emergency room doctor who not only treated COVID-19
patients but contracted it herself. This bill aims to prevent such trag-
edies by using a well-established support methodology; establishing a
peer-to-peer support program.
This legislation is modeled on the Joseph P. Dwyer peer-to-peer program,
which provides mental health support to veterans by providing for confi-
dential, peerto-peer approach. This legislation also provides
$10,000,000 in appropriations for support of the program, and going
forward it will be subject to appropriations in the budget process.
This bill, which uses tried-and-true solutions to mental health prob-
lems, will provide peace of mind to frontline health care workers in the
future and will also help New York State lead the way in doing all it
can for these important individuals.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: S.2553-Referred to finance.
2021: S.2553- Referred to finance.
2020: S.8371- Referred to finance.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
$10,000,000 in FY 2023.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.