Gov. Hochul Proposes Mental Health Law Changes After NYC Subway Violence

The governor plans to expand involuntary commitment standards and strengthen Kendra's Law, but critics question the lack of specifics and resources.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans to expand New York's involuntary commitment laws to address subway violence linked to untreated mental illness.
Proposed changes include broadening the definition of harm to facilitate more involuntary commitments and improving court-ordered outpatient treatment under Kendra's Law.
Hochul's proposals lack detailed specifics, with full legislation expected to be unveiled in her executive budget proposal on January 21.
Critics argue the plans are vague, underfunded, and fail to address systemic issues like workforce shortages and inadequate mental health infrastructure.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams praised the initiative but emphasized the need for robust implementation to prevent mentally ill individuals from cycling in and out of care.