Bill > A01856

This bill requires the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), in collaboration with the Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), to develop a mandatory mental illness training course for providers of temporary housing assistance. The training is designed to help employees and volunteers recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness and provide appropriate referrals. Temporary housing providers covered by this bill include family shelters, adult shelters, hotels, emergency apartments, domestic violence shelters, runaway and homeless youth shelters, and refugee safe houses. The training must be completed by all employees and volunteers, and each facility must ensure that at least one trained staff member who can provide intake services is present at all times when the facility is required to have staff on-site. The goal of the training is to improve the ability of temporary housing staff to identify individuals who may be experiencing mental health challenges and connect them with necessary support services, ultimately enhancing the care and support provided to vulnerable populations in temporary housing settings.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A1856