STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         2758--A

                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 25, 2019
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of A. ORTIZ, RAMOS, CUSICK, BARRETT, COLTON, WEPRIN,
          SEAWRIGHT -- Multi-Sponsored by --  M.  of  A.  ABINANTI,  MAGNARELLI,
          PAULIN  -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health --
          reported and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means --  committee
          discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
          to said committee

        AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating a public
          education  initiative  designed to eliminate stigma and misinformation
          about mental illness and substance use among military service members;
          and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
          of

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Section 7.09 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding
     2  a new subdivision (l) to read as follows:
     3    (l)  Notwithstanding  any  general or special law to the contrary, the
     4  commissioner, in conjunction with the  commissioner  of  alcoholism  and
     5  substance  abuse  services and the director of the division of veterans'
     6  services shall develop a public education initiative designed to  elimi-
     7  nate  stigma  and  misinformation about mental illness and substance use
     8  among service members,  veterans,  and  their  families,  improve  their
     9  understanding of mental and substance use disorders and the existence of
    10  effective   treatment,   and  provide  information  regarding  available
    11  resources and how to access them. These public education initiatives may
    12  include the use of the internet, including the use of social  networking
    13  sites.
    14    §  2.  This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on June
    15  30, 2022 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be  deemed
    16  repealed.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07368-02-9