BILL NUMBER: S8059
SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the executive law, in
relation to establishing a blue envelope program for persons with mental
health disorders, behavioral disorders and persons who are neurodiver-
gent
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To establish a blue envelope program for operators and passengers of
motor vehicles who are persons with mental health or behavioral disor-
ders and persons who are neurodivergent.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends the vehicle and traffic law to add a new
subdivision that establishes a Blue Envelope Program for operators and
passengers of motor vehicles who have mental health or behavioral disor-
ders or who are neurodivergent. It stipulates that the envelope -- which
is intended to carry the person's driver's license or other government
issued photo identification, vehicle registration, vehicle insurance
card, and other related documents -- has information printed on the
outside that would be useful to law enforcement and emergency services.
This information would include instructions for how to effectively
communicate, reduce stress, and ensure everyone's safety during inter-
actions with law enforcement. The bill further stipulates that the Blue
Envelope Program materials be made available by mail and at every state
and county motor vehicles office.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Traffic stops by police are stressful for anyone, but especially for
drivers or passengers who are neurodivergent or who have mental health
or behavioral disorders. If a police officer is not aware of a person's
condition, the encounter can lead to misunderstandings and escalate. The
Blue Envelope Program aims to ease communication between this population
and law enforcement during traffic stops. Drivers simply put their
license, auto registration and insurance card in the envelope and when
stopped by a police officer, they let the officer know that they have a
blue envelope. The envelope has directions on both sides for the driver
and the police officer.
In January 2025 the New York State Sheriffs' Association initiated a
Blue Envelope Program. This bill bolsters these efforts statewide.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.

Statutes affected:
S8059: 200 vehicle and traffic law, 840 executive law