BILL NUMBER: S3897
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to require the New York State Office of Mental Health to study
the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings or kill-
ings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of African
Americans in New York state and to deliver a finding of the results of
such study to the governor and the legislative leaders
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of the bill is to study the spillover effects that police
brutality has on the mental health of African Americans in New York.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The New York State Office of Mental Health shall conduct a
study of the effects that awareness of or exposure to police shootings
or killings of unarmed African Americans has on the mental health of
African Americans in New York state.
Section 2: This act shall take effect immediately.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Black Americans are nearly three times more likely than are white Ameri-
cans to be killed by police officers and five time more likely than are
white Americans to be killed unarmed. Studies have shown that Racism,
like trauma, can be experienced vicariously; therefore, police killings
of unarmed Black Americans might comprise the mental health of other
Black Americans. This bill would study the causal link of police killing
to the mental health of African Americans in New York and help to
provide guidance as to how to increase access to mental health provid-
ers.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S5148- Referred to Mental Health
2021-22: S4553 - Referred to Mental Health
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.