Alliance Note: New York is on the brink of taking a great step towards creating an effective, public health centered crisis response system for the entire state. This week, both houses of the NYS Legislature proposed $2 million for Daniel’s Law First Responder Pilots to model how best to implement teams of Peers, EMTs, and other health experts as first responders to mental health, substance use, and trauma related crisis calls when police are not required.
The pilot programs will work with localities to ensure people receive the appropriate public health response and gather data on best practices to support the work of the state’s Daniel’s Law Task Force which was established in 2023. While the proposed funding is much appreciated, we must continue to advocate for the inclusion of these funds in the final budget. We need you to continue sending messages to the Governor and your legislators telling them to keep this funding in the enacted budget. Use the link below to send messages and share this your networks so we can continue showing our support!
Contact The Governor and Your Legislators Here!
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 more information on the proposed Pilot funding.
Brouk, Bronson Secure $2M in Funding for Daniel’s Law Pilot to Address NYS Mental Health Crisis Response
March 14, 2024
ALBANY, NY – Following years of advocacy, New Yorkers are one step closer toward a more compassionate and just crisis response system. As FY ’25 state budget negotiations continue, State Senator Samra Brouk and Assemblymember Harty Bronson have successfully advocated for the inclusion of a $2 million Daniel’s Law Pilot Program, in both the Senate and Assembly “One House” Budgets.
Named in memory of Daniel Prude, who died at the hands of law enforcement during his own mental health crisis, Daniel’s Law (S.2395/A.2210) would establish a statewide framework for responding to mental health substance use emergencies, and would mobilize trained mental health providers and peers as first responders for these crises. This $2 million dollar investment will fund peer-led compassionate crisis response programs that meet the core tenets of Daniel’s Law, and follows the creation of a Daniel’s Law Task Force last year.
The Daniel’s Law Task Force brought together a state-wide consortium that included the Office of Mental Health (OMH), advocates from across the state, mental health providers and those with lived experience to examine New York’s current crisis response model and make recommendations for a more compassionate, peer-led approach. The Task Force has conducted a series of state-wide town halls to collect data, stories and experiences for which to make their recommendations, as well as holding monthly meetings, to analyze findings and discuss a way forward.
Since its creation, the Task Force has received abundant feedback expressing the urgent and immediate need for Daniel’s Law in New York State, and has indicated that they may be able to compile their report on statewide implementation of Daniel’s Law earlier than anticipated. The Task Force will continue for the pilot period, and will include data and infofmation from the pilot program in their official recommendations.
In addition to the public feedback received by the Daniel’s Law Task Force, the legislation has received the support of:
• LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) Support Bureau
• VOCAL New York
• Alliance for Rights and Recovery
• Fountain House
• New York Lawyers for the Public Inteiest
• Law Enforcement Action Partnership
• National Alliance on Mental Illness – New York Chapter
• Mental Health Association in New York State
• Rochester-Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative
• New York Civil Liberties Union
• Rochester City Council
• New York Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus
• National Association of Social Workers
Following the completion of the One House Budgets, the State Senate, Assembly, and Governor must agree on a final iteration of the Fiscal Year ‘25 Budget prior to the pilot program taking effect.
$2 million for Daniel’s Law pilot program included in one-house budget resolution
By Taylor Mulligan and James Battaglia | Rochester First | March 13, 2024
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The New York State Senate majority released its one-house budget resolution Tuesday, including $2 million in funding to establish a Daniel’s Law Pilot program.
Daniel’s Law was established in memory of Daniel Prude, who lost consciousness during a struggle with police during a mental health crisis in 2020. Prude died in the hospital days later. His death was ruled a homicide, and his cause of death included “complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.”
Daniel’s Law would require mental health professionals alone to respond to calls for certain types of mental health crises and substance abuse. Police would respond in cases where an individual poses threat towards others.
The Daniel’s Law Coalition released a statement Wednesday evening, saying:
“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.”