Requires the same benefits and services for post-traumatic stress disorder for emergency dispatchers and correction officers as are afforded police and firefighters.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4968A
SPONSOR: Santabarbara TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the civil service law, in relation to access to certain
mental health care services for emergency dispatchers and correction
officers
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill will provide mental health benefits and services to emergency
dispatchers and corrections officers that police officers a
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the civil service law is amended by adding a new section
155, which allows corrections officers and emergency dispatchers to be
entitled to the same benefits and services which police officers and
firefighters are already entitled to.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, corrections officers and emergency dispatchers work under
stressful conditions and in traumatic situations which can cause an
individual to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and
other related conditions that require treatment. However, many
corrections officers and emergency dispatchers are not entitled to the
same treatment and services from the municipality or county that they
work for that other first responders are.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
None.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4968--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA, BUTTENSCHON -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees -- recommitted to
the Committee on Governmental Employees in accordance with Assembly
Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to access to certain
mental health care services for emergency dispatchers and correction
officers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section
2 155 to read as follows:
3 § 155. Access to post-traumatic stress disorder treatment for
4 correction officers and emergency dispatchers. 1. Correction officers
5 and emergency dispatchers employed by a municipality shall be entitled
6 to the same benefits and services for the diagnosis and treatment of
7 post-traumatic stress disorder as are afforded police officers and fire-
8 fighters employed by such municipality, and such benefits and services
9 shall be accessed through the same policies and procedures.
10 2. Any collective bargaining agreement or employment contract entered
11 into by a municipality and an employee or an employee organization
12 representing emergency dispatchers or correction officers employed by
13 such municipality shall provide the same benefits and services for the
14 diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder as provided to
15 police officers and firefighters employed by such municipality, which
16 shall be accessed through the same policies and procedures, provided,
17 however, that nothing contained in this section shall prohibit an
18 employee organization representing emergency dispatchers and correction
19 officers employed by a municipality from seeking to provide greater
20 benefits and services for the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic
21 stress disorder than those provided to police officers and firefighters
22 employed by such municipality.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09047-02-4
