Expands mobile crisis team credentials

Summary#

A-11677 is an introduced bill to amend New York’s Mental Hygiene Law, not create a separate law or program. It would add licensed mental health counselors and licensed marriage and family therapists to the definition of “qualified mental health professional” for approved mobile crisis outreach teams. Its stated goal is to broaden which professionals can qualify as team members; it has not become law.

  • The change applies to the definition used for members of an approved mobile crisis outreach team.
  • The bill also lists licensed psychologists, registered professional nurses, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed master social workers under specified supervision as qualified professionals.
  • It would take effect 180 days after becoming law. Rules needed for implementation could be made before that date.

What it means for you#

  • Mobile crisis outreach teams and their operators: Counselors and marriage and family therapists with the named licenses would qualify under this definition. The bill does not require a team to hire them or change how teams are approved.
  • People who may receive mobile crisis services: The bill does not directly change who is eligible for services or require a change in service delivery.
  • Other mental health professionals: The bill does not change the qualifications listed for the other professionals in the definition, including the supervision condition for licensed master social workers.
  • Current law: The supplied materials do not include the current text of the parent law, so I could not verify the full existing definition against current law.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

  • The bill does not state an appropriation, fee, or fine.
  • It does not estimate any staffing or implementation costs.

What is unclear#

  • The bill does not explain how mobile crisis outreach teams are approved or how this definition affects team membership in practice.
  • It does not set hiring, training, supervision, or other requirements for the newly listed professionals.
  • It does not say how the change would interact with existing team rules or programs.
  • The bill is at the introduced stage and has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Mental Health; passage is uncertain.

Case for#

  • A possible argument for the bill is that adding two licensed professions could give approved teams more options when choosing qualified members.
  • The bill makes that change by amending the eligibility definition, rather than requiring teams to hire particular professionals.
  • The existing definition would continue to include the other listed professional groups.

Case against#

  • One concern is that the bill does not explain how the added professionals’ roles or qualifications would fit with existing team practices.
  • It is unclear whether teams would use the expanded definition or whether any practical access to services would change.
  • The bill gives no estimate of costs, including any costs if teams choose to add staff.