As the first step of advocacy for Daniel's Law, which is named in honor of Daniel Prude and would establish mental health response units to respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, organizations are being asked to contact Assembly Bronson, a co-sponsor of the legislation.
DUPC has continued to collaborate with Free the People Elders and Allies, which is encouraging organizations across NYS to send a letter of support and/or contact Assemblyman Bronson's office. Assemblyman Bronson will include the organization in an initial legislative advocacy letter in support of Daniel's Law.
Tonight, DUPC's Session voted to send the attached letter to Assemblyman Bronson and/or Senator Samra Brouk.
If your congregation or any other organization you are involved would like to support passage of Daniel's Law, please feel free to use the attached letter as a template.
A summary of Daniel's Law is provided below.
Summary of Daniel's Law: Senator Samra Brouk (SD-55), Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, and Assemblyman Harry Bronson (AD-138) have introduced Daniel’s Law, which outlines how New Yorkers experiencing a mental health breakdown and/or substance abuse crisis can better be served by a public health response that maximizes consent-based care and minimizes the role of law enforcement and the use of force against an individual. It would empower the State Department of Health to create a new statewide mental health response council and local mental health response units. These new units would offer a more comprehensive and secure way to answer mental health and substance abuse crises with safety, care and compassion. The bills ((S-4814, A-4697) have been referred to the Mental Health Committees in both houses.