Int. No. 82
By Council Members Riley, Stevens, Williams, Louis, Brooks-Powers, Gutiérrez, Hudson and Won
A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to the creation of a three-digit gun violence intervention hotline
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Section 13-f of the New York city charter, as amended by local law number 37 for the year 2023, is amended by adding a new subdivision f to read as follows.
f. 1.The director shall establish a three-digit emergency hotline, known as the gun violence intervention hotline. Such hotline shall be operational and available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, to aid individuals. The hotline shall be staffed by trained mental health professionals, whose qualifications shall be determined by the director, who can coordinate with various local, state, and federal agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, to ensure that callers are connected with appropriate resources, including but not limited to counseling services, conflict mediation, youth outreach programs, educational initiatives, and employment opportunities. Unless a phone operator determines disclosure is necessary due to an imminent risk to public health or safety, all information provided by callers shall be kept confidential.
2. The director shall carry out a public awareness campaign designed to inform residents, especially young adults, about the availability of the gun violence intervention hotline.
3. No later than April 1, 2024, and no later than April 1 of every year thereafter, the office shall include, in the report prepared pursuant to paragraph 5 of subdivision c of this section, information detailing efforts undertaken pursuant to this subdivision, including the total number of calls received by the gun violence intervention hotline, and an evaluation of whether the hotline has been effective at coordinating services for gun violence intervention.
§ 2. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.
JW
LS # 14810
11/15/23