New York State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther introduced an amendment to the Correction Law which relates to training for staff in residential mental health treatment unit programs inside correctional facilities (see below).
MHASC has issued a memo of support for this act (Memo of Support A 7659 – S 5740 (2)). MHASC encourages other individuals and organizations to write to their assembly members in regards to A7659-S5740(2)!
STATE OF NEW YORK
76592013-2014
Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY
May 29, 2013
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to training for staff in residential mental health treatment units programs inside correctional facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 6 of section 401 of the correction law, as amended by section 5 of part A of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
6. The department shall ensure that the curriculum for new department staff shall include at least eight hours of training about the types and symptoms of mental illnesses, the goals of mental health treatment, the prevention of suicide and training in how to effectively and safely manage inmates with mental illness. Such training may be provided by the office of mental health or the justice center for the protection of people with special needs. All department staff who are transferring into a residential mental health treatment unit shall receive a minimum of eight additional hours of such training. All security, program services, mental health, and medical staff with direct inmate contact shall receive a minimum of eight hours of such training each year. The department shall provide additional training on these topics on an ongoing basis as it deems appropriate.
Section 2. This act shall take effect on the same date as section 5 of part A of chapter 501 of the laws of 2012 takes effect.
MHASC 