BILL NUMBER: S8562
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
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
 
PURPOSE:
To promote quality performance and connection to the suicide prevention
and behavioral health crisis hotline.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 sets forth the title.
Section 2 amends section 36.03 of the mental hygiene law by adding a new
subdivision (g). Section 3 established the effective date.
 
EXISTING LAW:
N/A.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
When individuals choose to dial 988 in a time of crisis, they should
never be hung up on. In a time of extreme vulnerability and seeking
support, individuals need to know that they will receive the help they
rightfully deserve, without the possibility that they will be hung up
on. There should never be a circumstance where a crisis hotline termi-
nates a call because they are "too busy", such as in the devastating
case of Mariah Lacey-Reid. Mariah, an eighteen-year- old high school
student, called the suicide hotline in her time of crisis desperate for
help, only to be told by an operator, the center was "too busy" and
would "call her back", however by the time the center responded to
Mariah's
call for help it was too late. Mariah Lacey-Reid, a young student with
years of life ahead, made the tragic decision to end her life in early
January 2024. There should never be a circumstance in which a mental
health crisis hotline operator terminates a person's call. Doing so not
only perpetuates an untrue notion that the individual on the other end
of the line is not worthy of the utmost attention but also places that
individual's life at far greater and unnecessary risk. In order to
prevent these tragic instances such as Mariah's from impacting further
New York families we must resolve to prevent all hotline call termi-
nations. If there is ever a time when an operator is unavailable, the
individual should be placed on hold, with calming, comfort speech play-
ing, not disregarded, and told they will be called back. This legis-
lation would require that calls made to the suicide prevention and
behavioral crisis hotline would be terminated in accordance 988 best
practices and national standards.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: A.10099-A - Reported to Rules
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S8562: 36.03 mental hygiene law