WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 6335

Conforms the definition of an incarcerated individual with a serious mental illness to the definition of "person with a serious mental illness" in the mental hygiene law

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Luis Sepúlveda

Aligns the definition of incarcerated individuals with a serious mental illness to the mental hygiene law's definition, standardizing eligibility for mental health services.

REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 6335

Bill Summary: S 6335

Overview

  • Bill: S 6335
  • Title: Conforms the definition of an incarcerated individual with a serious mental illness to the definition of "person with a serious mental illness" in the mental hygiene law
  • Sponsor: Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda (primary)
  • Status: Referred to the Senate committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
  • Introduced: March 11, 2025
  • Related/Companion/Prior-Session Bills: A 9559 (prior-session), S 8750 (prior-session), S 2690 (prior-session), S 2144 (prior-session), S 4621 (prior-session); Companion: A 3102 (listed twice)

Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to harmonize the definition used for “incarcerated individuals with a serious mental illness” with the broader statutory definition of “person with a serious mental illness” as established in the mental hygiene law. In practical terms, this aims to ensure consistent criteria across statutes for identifying individuals who have a serious mental illness while incarcerated, aligning correctional and mental health frameworks.

Key Provisions (as inferred from the title)

  • Conformity of Definitions: Amendments to ensure that the term “incarcerated individual with a serious mental illness” uses the same criteria as the mental hygiene law’s definition of “person with a serious mental illness.”
  • Cross-Reference Alignment: Likely updates to cross-references within related statutes so that programs, services, or protections governed by the mental hygiene law apply to incarcerated individuals who meet the serious mental illness definition.
  • Potential Scope Effects: The alignment could influence eligibility for mental health services, treatment planning, capacity for informed consent matters, discharge planning, or other rights and remedies under mental hygiene law provisions for incarcerated populations.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Incarcerated Individuals: Primarily those identified as having a serious mental illness, whose classification would be governed by the mental hygiene law’s definition.
  • Correctional and Mental Health Systems: State or local agencies administering correctional facilities and mental health services that rely on these definitions for eligibility, treatment protocols, and protections.
  • Policymakers and Advocates: Stakeholders concerned with alignment between correctional practices and mental health statutory protections.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • The bill has been referred to the Senate committee focused on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction. No explicit enactment date or effective date is provided in the available information.
  • Given the referrals occurred on March 11, 2025, the bill will proceed through committee review, potential amendments, and subsequent floor consideration if advanced.

Potential Impacts and Implications

  • Clarity and Consistency: Eliminates definitional ambiguity, promoting uniform application of mental health protections for incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness.
  • Treatment and Rights: Could affect how services are administered, including eligibility, access to treatment, and rights under the mental hygiene law within correctional settings.
  • Costs and Implementation: Depending on current discrepancies, the change could require administrative adjustments, training, and coordination between correctional and mental health agencies.

Related Context

The bill is part of a broader set of related or companion measures from prior sessions (A 3102 and others) that address similar definitional and cross-agency coordination issues. Stakeholders may review those related bills for additional context and implementation considerations.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.