S04969: Proposed Law Would Require NY Hospitals to Offer Psychiatric Care to Firearm Victims

Senate Bill S04969, introduced on February 14, 2025 by Senators Bailey, Comrie, Fernandez, Hoylman-Sigal, and Webb, would require every general hospital in New York to develop policies for identifying and treating firearm violence victims and to advise those patients of available psychiatric services upon discharge. The bill reached the Third Reading calendar in the Senate the week of April 23, 2026.^[1]

What the Bill Would Do

S04969 amends the Public Health Law by adding a new Section 2805-aa, titled "Hospital firearm violence policies and procedures." The bill defines "firearm violence" as any bullet wound, gunshot wound, powder burn, or other injury arising from the discharge of a gun or firearm. It then imposes three requirements on every general hospital in New York:

• Written policies: Each hospital must develop, maintain, and disseminate written policies and procedures for the identification, assessment, treatment, and referral of confirmed or suspected firearm violence victims.
• Staff training: Each hospital must establish an ongoing training program for all nursing, medical, social work, clinical, and security personnel regarding those policies and procedures.
• Psychiatric services coordinator: Each hospital must designate a staff member to coordinate with psychiatric services organizations operating in the hospital's geographic area.

Patient Discharge Requirement

The most operationally significant provision concerns the discharge process. When a confirmed or suspected firearm violence victim is discharged from treatment, the hospital must advise that patient of available psychiatric services related to firearm violence. If the patient requests psychiatric services, the hospital must initiate coordination of those services. The bill creates an affirmative "if requested, coordinate" standard rather than mandatory enrollment.

Commissioner's Role

The Commissioner of Health is directed to promulgate implementing regulations in consultation with the New York State Firearm Violence Research Institute and other relevant entities. The Commissioner is also directed to develop a model policy for hospital use and to maintain a geographic list of psychiatric services organizations that hospitals can use when coordinating referrals.

Context and Background

Research has documented high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety among survivors of gunshot wounds, with studies showing that a significant share of firearm violence survivors do not receive mental health follow-up care after emergency or surgical treatment. The bill targets what advocates call a gap in the trauma-care continuum: the period when a patient is discharged from acute medical care but before they are connected with longer-term mental health support. The New York State Firearm Violence Research Institute, created by state law in 2019, has studied this gap and produced recommendations that informed the bill's design.^[2]

Legislative Status

S04969 was introduced in February 2025, referred to the Committee on Health, and reached Third Reading in the Senate the week of April 23, 2026. If enacted, the bill takes effect 90 days after the Governor's signature, with regulatory authority effective immediately. It has not passed either chamber and has not been signed into law.