Bill > A05385

This bill authorizes personnel engaged in shelter placement and support services to access mental health information from the Office of Mental Health's PSYCKES (Psychiatric Services and Clinical Knowledge Enhancement System) database and similar state-managed mental health databases, with several key safeguards. The legislation establishes strict protocols to ensure that only authorized personnel can access limited, necessary information for determining appropriate shelter placement and mental health support services for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. These protocols include compliance with federal and state confidentiality laws like HIPAA, mandatory mental health training for accessing personnel, comprehensive data logging and auditing procedures, and the creation of an oversight committee comprising representatives from government agencies, privacy advocates, mental health professionals, shelter providers, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness. The bill requires the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and the Office of Mental Health to submit annual reports to the legislature detailing the program's implementation, including the number of authorized personnel, aggregate data on shelter placement outcomes, any data breaches, and recommendations for improvement. Additionally, the agencies are mandated to conduct a comprehensive review of the program's effectiveness within three years of its implementation and report their findings and recommendations to the legislature.

Health and Social Services

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5385