File #: Int 1112-2024    Version: * Name: Requiring police precincts to develop plans for identifying and responding to individuals with special needs.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 11/13/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring police precincts to develop plans for identifying and responding to individuals with special needs
Sponsors: Althea V. Stevens, Linda Lee, Lynn C. Schulman
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Summary: This bill would require each police precinct in New York City to develop and implement a special needs plan for identifying and responding to individuals with special needs, such as those with Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, dementia, Down syndrome, and other related conditions. The precincts' plans would include processes for identifying individuals with special needs within their communities and establishing precinct-specific response protocols for interactions with them. The plans would involve community outreach to build relationships with individuals with special needs, their families, caregivers, and local organizations, and provide specialized training for officers on interacting effectively with these individuals. The Police Commissioner would review and approve the precincts' special needs plans and make them publicly available on the department's website within 30 days of approval. If a precinct fails to submit a plan or if the plan is not approved within specified timeframes, a default special needs plan would be implemented for that precinct.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1112, 2. Int. No. 1112, 3. November 13, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 11-13-24

Int. No. 1112

 

By Council Members Stevens, Lee and Schulman

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring police precincts to develop plans for identifying and responding to individuals with special needs

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 14 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 14-198 to read as follows:

§ 14-198 Precinct special needs plans. a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the term “special needs” means any mental health condition, intellectual disability, developmental disability, or neurological condition that may affect an individual's cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functioning, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease, autism spectrum disorder, dementia, Down syndrome, and other related conditions.

b. Development of precinct special needs plans. 1. Within 6 months of the effective date of this local law, the commanding officer of each police precinct shall develop and submit to the commissioner a special needs plan for their precinct that includes:

(a) The process by which to identify individuals with special needs living within the jurisdictional boundaries of the precinct; and

(b) The establishment of precinct-specific response protocols for police interactions with individuals with special needs living within the jurisdictional boundaries of the precinct.

2. Such precinct special needs plan should include, but need not be limited to:

(a) Outreach initiatives to build relationships with individuals with special needs, their families, caregivers, and local provider organizations;

(b) Collaboration with community groups, advocacy organizations, schools, healthcare providers, and social services agencies;

(c) Collection of feedback and communication from community members about specific needs or concerns;

(d) Implementation of training programs for precinct officers for interacting with individuals with special needs, emphasizing de-escalation techniques, communication strategies, and cultural competency;

(e) Guidelines and procedures for officers to follow during interactions with individuals with special needs;

(f) Strategies for involving specialized units or personnel when appropriate;

(g) Methods for assessing the effectiveness of the plan, including collecting feedback from community members and officers; and

(h) Procedures for updating and improving the plan based on evaluations.

c. Default special needs plan. If a precinct fails to submit a precinct special needs plan as required by subdivision b of this section within the required timeframe, the commissioner shall implement a default special needs plan for that precinct until a precinct plan is submitted and approved.

d. Approval and implementation of precinct special needs plans. Within 6 months of receiving a precinct special needs plan as required by subdivision b of this section, the commissioner shall review such plans and adhere to the following protocols:

1. If the commissioner approves of such precinct special needs plan, the precinct shall implement its precinct special needs plan without undue delay.

2. If the commissioner disapproves a precinct special needs plan, the commissioner shall provide the precinct with a written statement of the reasons for disapproval and any recommended modifications. Upon disapproval, the precinct shall revise and resubmit the plan to the commissioner within 60 days of receiving the commissioner's written statement.

3. If the precinct fails to resubmit the revised plan within the 60-day period specified in paragraph 2 of this subdivision, or if the commissioner disapproves a precinct special needs plan after resubmission, the commissioner shall implement the default special needs plan for that precinct until any new precinct special needs plan is submitted and approved.

e. Public accessibility. The commissioner shall make each precinct special needs plan, as required by subdivision b of this section, publicly available on the department's website within 30 days of approval by the commissioner.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

JL

LS #16521

11/04/24/2024 2:00 PM