Governor Kathy Hochul proposed changes to New York’s mental health laws to allow involuntary commitments for individuals unable to meet basic needs, even without imminent risk of harm.
The plan also seeks to expand Kendra’s Law, which mandates treatment for people with severe mental illness who may harm themselves or others.
While Hochul highlights the need for earlier intervention, critics argue the approach risks unfairly targeting low-income individuals and fails to address systemic issues like housing shortages and limited mental health resources.
Advocacy groups emphasize the importance of addressing root causes over coercive measures.
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