Senate Mental Health Chairman Brouk and Assemblyman Bronson Reintroduce a Transformational Bill Named for Daniel Prude

Watch Senator Brouk talk about the bill

ALBANY, New York – Senator Samra Brouk, Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee, has reintroduced Daniel’s Law, a comprehensive law that outlines how New Yorkers experiencing a mental health and/or substance abuse crisis can receive better service through a public health response that maximizes care based on consent and minimizes the role of law enforcement and the use of force against an individual (S2398 BROUK). Watch Senator Brouk talk about Daniel’s Law.

Daniel’s Law would establish a state crisis and emergency response council to encourage local governments to develop preventive, rehabilitative, crisis response and treatment services. This approach offers a safe and comprehensive way to respond to mental health and substance abuse crises in our communities with safety, care, and compassion. The emphasis on local governments also ensures that regions have the power to structure resources to meet community needs, empowering urban communities, rural communities, and all communities in between.

The legislation is named for Daniel Prude, who died after his encounter with police in Rochester while experiencing a mental health crisis. Senator Brouk and Assemblyman Harry Bronson have reintroduced the bill in their respective chambers with the full support of the Monroe County Democratic state delegation to ensure that everyone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or abuse of substances are treated with the care and respect they deserve. .

The purpose of this legislation is:

• Promote the public health, safety, and well-being of all citizens by broadly ensuring a public health-based response to anyone in New York experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis.
• Offer and ensure the most appropriate response, treatment, and transportation for people experiencing a crisis due to mental health or substance use conditions, and
• Reduce crisis situations so that as few New Yorkers as possible experience non-consensual transportation, use of force, or criminal consequences as a result of a mental health or substance abuse crisis.

Senator Samra Brouk, Chair of the Mental Health Committee: “We need to pass Daniel’s Law to transform our mental health and substance use crisis system by empowering localities to deliver crisis services in a way that makes sense for the region. Named for Daniel Prude, who was killed by law enforcement during a mental health crisis, Daniel’s Law would ensure all New Yorkers receive the treatment and compassion they seek, not deadly force.”

Assemblyman Harry Bronson: “Members of our community, including those from Black Lives Matter, Free the People Roc, and Rochester clergy, were letting their voices be heard to all who would listen and calling for change. I am committed to justice, equality, and change with the belief that if we work together, we can make a difference. Daniel’s Law will promote the public health, safety, and well-being of all families by broadly ensuring a public health-based response to anyone in New York experiencing a mental health or alcohol use or substance abuse crisis; Offer and ensure the most appropriate response, treatment, and transportation for people experiencing a crisis due to mental health or substance use conditions; and reduce crisis situations so that as few New Yorkers as possible experience non-consensual transportation, use of force or criminal consequences as a result of a mental health or substance abuse crisis. Together we can make sure that this type of tragedy is not repeated in our community, in our state or nation.”