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File #: Int 2005-2020    Version: * Name: Reporting on the mental health of New Yorkers during the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Type: Introduction Status: Laid Over in Committee
Committee: Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction
On agenda: 7/28/2020
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law in relation to reporting on the mental health of New Yorkers during the COVID-19 public health crisis
Sponsors: Farah N. Louis, Ben Kallos, Diana Ayala
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Summary: This bill would require the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to track and issue a report on the aggregate number of mental health-related cases in the city during the public health crisis resulting from the new coronavirus, COVID-19. The bill would require DOHMH to issue the report no later than six months after enactment, and every six months thereafter. The bill would require a breakdown of the aggregate numbers by age, race, and gender, as well as the identification of any disparities in those numbers.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 2005, 2. Int. No. 2005, 3. July 28, 2020 - Stated Meeting Agenda with Links to Files, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 7-28-20, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - July 28, 2020, 6. Committee Report 9/22/20, 7. Hearing Testimony 9/22/20, 8. Hearing Transcript 9/22/20

Int. No. 2005

 

By Council Members Louis, Kallos and Ayala

 

A Local Law in relation to reporting on the mental health of New Yorkers during the COVID-19 public health crisis

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Biannual report on COVID-19 and mental health. a. No later than 6 months after the enactment of this local law, and every 6 months thereafter, the New York city department of health and mental hygiene (“DOHMH”) shall track and issue a report on the aggregate number of formally diagnosed or identified mental health-related cases following the declaration of a state of emergency by the mayor of the city of New York on March 13, 2020, in response to the new coronavirus, COVID-19. Such report shall be issued to the mayor and the speaker of the council and shall be published on DOHMH’s website. DOHMH may work with community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, and other community providers to conduct surveys and obtain aggregate information, and may seek information from hospitals, the department of education, the department for the aging, and any other entity as the commissioner of health and mental hygiene deems appropriate.

b. The report shall include the following information:

1. The aggregate number of formally diagnosed or identified mental health-related cases;

2. Breakdowns of such aggregate number by age, race, and gender;

3. Identifications of age disparities, racial disparities, and gender disparities in such numbers; and

4. Any other information the commissioner of health and mental hygiene deems appropriate.

c. No information that is otherwise required to be reported pursuant to this section shall be reported in a manner that would violate physician-patient confidentiality or any applicable provision of federal, state or local law relating to the privacy of medical information.

d. The commissioner shall include with any such report required by this section a recommendation to the mayor and the speaker of the city council about whether continued reporting on such topic is necessary and appropriate.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CP

LS #14954

6/9/20 3:06 PM