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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10476
I N S E N A T E
May 15, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Trans-
portation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing
crisis responders assisting veterans and first responders in mental
health emergencies to display a green flashing light
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that veterans,
2 first responders, and emergency personnel experiencing acute mental
3 health crises, including suicidal ideation and substance-related emer-
4 gencies, require rapid intervention by trained crisis responders. Timely
5 response can be the difference between life and death. The legislature
6 further finds that permitting authorized crisis responders to display a
7 green flashing light--similar to volunteer firefighters and volunteer
8 ambulance personnel--will enhance roadway visibility, promote public
9 awareness, and support safer and more efficient crisis response.
10 § 2. Subparagraph (b) of paragraph 5 of subdivision 41 of section 375
11 of the vehicle and traffic law, as amended by chapter 71 of the laws of
12 2024, is amended to read as follows:
13 (b) As used in this paragraph the following terms shall have the
14 following meanings:
15 (i) "volunteer ambulance service" means: (A) a non-profit membership
16 corporation (other than a fire corporation) incorporated under or
17 subject to the provisions of the [membership corporations] NOT-FOR-PRO-
18 FIT CORPORATION law, or any other law, operating its ambulance or ambu-
19 lances on a non-profit basis for the convenience of the members thereof
20 and their families or of the community or under a contract with a coun-
21 ty, city, town or village pursuant to section one hundred twenty-two-b
22 of the general municipal law; or
23 (B) an unincorporated association of persons operating its ambulance
24 or ambulances on a non-profit basis for the convenience of the members
25 and their families or of the community; [and]
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14155-01-5
S. 10476 2
1 (ii) "mobile crisis team" shall have the same meaning as mobile crisis
2 teams as defined by paragraph eleven of subdivision (a) of section 36.03
3 of the mental hygiene law[.]; AND
4 (III) "CRISIS RESPONDER" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL: (A) WHO IS A
5 VETERAN, FIRST RESPONDER, OR TRAINED PEER CRISIS SPECIALIST; AND
6 (B) WHO IS AFFILIATED WITH, OR VOLUNTEERING FOR, A RECOGNIZED CRISIS-
7 RESPONSE PROGRAM SERVING VETERANS AND/OR FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING
8 PROGRAMS ADDRESSING PTSD, SUBSTANCE-USE EMERGENCIES, AND SUICIDE
9 PREVENTION; AND
10 (C) WHO HAS COMPLETED CRISIS-INTERVENTION TRAINING APPROVED BY THE NEW
11 YORK STATE DIVISION OF VETERANS' SERVICES, THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH,
12 OR THE OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORTS.
13 (I) AN AUTHORIZED CRISIS RESPONDER MAY EQUIP ONE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A
14 GREEN LIGHT AS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMISSIONER, WHICH MAY BE DISPLAYED
15 WHILE RESPONDING TO AN ACTIVE MENTAL HEALTH OR SUICIDE-PREVENTION EMER-
16 GENCY INVOLVING A VETERAN OR FIRST RESPONDER.
17 (II) THE DISPLAY OF SUCH GREEN LIGHT SHALL NOT CONFER ANY SPECIAL
18 RIGHT-OF-WAY PRIVILEGES AND SHALL BE USED SOLELY TO REQUEST THE COURTESY
19 OF OTHER MOTORISTS TO YIELD.
20 (III) CRISIS RESPONDERS DISPLAYING A GREEN LIGHT UNDER THIS SUBDIVI-
21 SION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING
22 VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY VEHICLE LIGHTING.
23 § 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
24 have become a law.