Alliance Note: We were heartened to see both the NYS Assembly and Senate have included $2 Million for Daniel’s Law First Responder pilot programs in their One House bills. A major priority, along with pushing for a flexible 3.2% COLA, the Alliance has been advocating for the funding of pilot programs to better support New Yorkers in crisis as soon as possible and offer the Daniel’s Law Task Force more information on best practices. While this inclusion in the one house bills is a great step, we must ensure this funding remains in the final budget negotiated between the Legislature and Governor.
We are asking for your support to help us get this funding passed! Please use the link below to send a message (send a letter, call, or post on social media) to the Governor and your legislators urging them to support this funding in the final budget. The Daniel’s Law Coalition will also offer other ways to join statewide advocacy efforts, including the upcoming Daniel’s Law Week of Action starting next Monday (register here). See below for the Daniel’s Law Coalition’s press release endorsing the funding in the one house bills as well as more information on the week of action. Click the link to send messages to lawmakers urging their support for the funding.
Contact The Governor and Your Legislators Here!
The Daniel’s Law Coalition Endorses $2 Million Allocation in Senate and Assembly 2024 One House Bills to Establish Daniel’s Law Pilot
NEW YORK, NY – In response to the Senate and Assembly One House Bills Including $2 Million to support a Daniel’s Law pilot program, the Daniel’s Law Coalition is issuing the following statement:
The Daniel’s Law Coalition wants to thank Senator Brouk, Assembly Member Bronson, and numerous other legislators, who have fought to include funding for a Daniel’s Law pilot program in the One House Budgets.
Implementation of a pilot program will demonstrate that it is possible to provide a culturally competent response, led by peers (individuals with lived mental health experience), to those experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. The pilot program will help establish best practices that can serve as a model as we move toward the statewide implementation of Daniel’s Law.
As we mark the four-year anniversary of the death of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died of asphyxiation after being restrained by police officers during a mental health crisis in Rochester, the Daniel’s Law Coalition asks legislators to honor Daniel Prude by establishing a statewide approach that centers peer-led and culturally competent responses to mental health and substance use crises.
We urge Governor Hochul and our state legislators to keep the $2 million in the final budget.
The Daniel’s Law Coalition will continue to support the full funding and passage of Daniel’s Law. Individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis need a peer-led health crisis response — not police.”
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About the Daniel’s Law Coalition
The Daniel’s Law Coalition seeks to pass legislation in New York State that would end our over-reliance on police as first responders to mental health and substance use crises. Daniel’s Law aims to provide better support and resources for individuals experiencing mental health crises by designating community-based teams as the first responders to mental health or substance use crises. These first responders will include those with lived mental health experience and/or lived experience with alcohol use or substance use disorders, as well as those already practicing trauma-informed mental health work in their communities, in addition to emergency medical technicians. Daniel’s Law would also create a statewide council of mental health experts to develop training and rules for all crisis calls and provide resources to mental health emergencies. These rules and training would be fully integrated into existing 988 and other emergency dispatch services.
Members of the Coalition include:
- Community Access
- Correct Crisis Intervention Today – NYC (CCIT-NYC)
- East Flatbush Village Inc.
- Fountain House
- Free The People – Rochester
- Free The People Elders & Allies – Rochester
- Friends of Recovery – New York
- Long Island United to Transform Policing and Community Safety
- New York Civil Liberties Union
- National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York State (NAMI-NYS)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City, Inc. (NAMI-NYC)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness – Queens/Nassau
- Alliance for Rights and Recovery (formerly NYAPRS)
- New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
- NNLB
- Partnership for the Public Good
- Public Issues Committee of the Long Island Council of Churches
- Rochester City Wide Tenants Union
- Showing Up for Racial Justice – Rochester
- Showing Up for Racial Justice – NYC
- Social Justice Committee of the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock
- The Supportive Housing Network of New York (SHNNY)
- VOICE Buffalo
- Voices Of Community Activists And Leaders – NY