Bill
A 2719
Enacts the Empire State of Mind Act to reform treatment of mentally ill persons, establishing patient rights and treatment standards, while repealing mental health laws.
Status and procedural history
- Bill number: A.2719
- Title: Relates to enacting the “Empire State of Mind Act” relating to the treatment of mentally ill persons; repealer
- Sponsor: Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar (primary)
- Introduced: January 22, 2025
- Committee referral: Referred to the Assembly Committee on Mental Health (1/22/2025)
- Subsequent actions: Multiple committee amendments and recommitments, with printed bill versions A.2719A (2/21/2025) and A.2719B (3/14/2025). The bill was amended (T) and recommitted to Mental Health on 2/21/2025 and again on 3/14/2025. Current print number: 2719B.
Purpose and intent (as stated in title)
- The bill proposes to enact the “Empire State of Mind Act” concerning the treatment of persons with mental illness, and contains repealer language to remove or revise existing statutory provisions. The stated intent (by title) is to change how mentally ill persons are treated under New York law.
Key points and what to expect in the bill (based on title and common legislative practice)
- The exact statutory changes are not included here. The title and repealer clause indicate the bill likely:
- Establishes new standards, rights, or procedures governing treatment of people with mental illness; and/or
- Repeals or replaces existing mental health statutes or specific statutory provisions that the sponsors view as outdated or inconsistent with the new framework.
- Typical subject-matter components in such legislation (look for these in the full text):
- Patient rights and informed consent requirements for treatment, including medication and hospitalization
- Standards for involuntary commitment, emergency psychiatric detention, and civil commitment procedures
- Oversight, accountability, or reporting requirements for psychiatric providers, hospitals, and state agencies (e.g., Office of Mental Health)
- Funding, implementation timelines, or transition provisions for programs or services
- Interaction with criminal justice, corrections, and law enforcement practices involving persons with mental illness
- Repealer provisions specifying which existing statutes or sections are being removed or amended
Who would be affected
- Directly: persons receiving mental health care (inpatient and outpatient), and their families/guardians.
- Indirectly: psychiatric hospitals, community mental health providers, clinicians, state agencies (e.g., NYS Office of Mental Health), local governments, insurers/Medicaid, and law enforcement/corrections when mental health intersects with public safety.
Potential impacts to watch for
- Changes to civil commitment standards could affect length and conditions of involuntary detention.
- New patient-rights or consent rules could change clinical practice and documentation burdens.
- Repealer provisions may require administrative transitions, training, and possible appropriation or reallocation of resources.
- Fiscal impact: could create new costs or savings for state and local budgets depending on service expansions, oversight mechanisms, or provider mandates.
What’s next / recommended follow-up
- Read the full text of A.2719B (print number 2719B) and the bill memorandum to see precise statutory language and repealer references.
- Review the fiscal impact statement and committee reports (when available) to understand cost, implementation timelines, and affected agencies.
- Monitor committee hearings, testimony, and subsequent amendments for substantive changes.
Note
- This summary is based on the bill’s title and legislative history provided. For definitive details, consult the printed bill text (A.2719B) and committee documents posted by the New York State Assembly.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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