New York Laws
Article 36 - Addiction and Mental Health Services and Supports
36.01 - Crisis Stabilization Centers.

(a) (1) The commissioners are authorized to jointly license crisis
stabilization centers subject to the availability of state and federal
funding.
(2) A crisis stabilization center shall serve as a voluntary and
urgent service provider for persons at risk of a mental health or
substance abuse crisis or who are experiencing a crisis related to a
psychiatric and/or substance use disorder that are in need of crisis
stabilization services. Each crisis stabilization center shall provide
or contract to provide person centered and patient driven crisis
stabilization services for mental health or substance use twenty-four
hours per day, seven days per week, including but not limited to:
(i) Engagement, triage and assessment;
(ii) Continuous observation;
(iii) Mild to moderate detoxification;
(iv) Sobering services;
(v) Therapeutic interventions;
(vi) Discharge and after care planning;
(vii) Telemedicine;
(viii) Peer support services; and
(ix) Medication assisted treatment.
(3) The commissioners shall require each crisis stabilization center
to submit a plan. The plan shall be approved by the commissioners prior
to the issuance of a license pursuant to this article. Each plan shall
include:
(i) a description of the center's catchment area,
(ii) a description of the center's crisis stabilization services,
(iii) agreements or affiliations with hospitals as defined in section
1.03 of this chapter,
(iv) agreements or affiliations with general hospitals or law
enforcement to receive persons,
(v) a description of local resources available to the center to
prevent unnecessary hospitalizations of persons,
(vi) a description of the center's linkages with local police
agencies, emergency medical services, ambulance services and other
transportation agencies,
(vii) a description of local resources available to the center to
provide appropriate community mental health and substance use disorder
services upon release,
(viii) written criteria and guidelines for the development of
appropriate planning for persons in need of post community treatment or
services,
(ix) a statement indicating that the center has been included in an
approved local services plan developed pursuant to article forty-one of
this chapter for each local government located within the center's
catchment area; and
(x) any other information or agreements required by the commissioners.
(4) Crisis stabilization centers shall participate in county and
community planning activities annually, and as additionally needed, in
order to participate in local community service planning processes to
ensure, maintain, improve or develop community services that demonstrate
recovery outcomes. These outcomes include, but are not limited to,
quality of life, socio-economic status, entitlement status, social
networking, coping skills and reduction in use of crisis services.
(b) Each crisis stabilization center shall be staffed with a
multidisciplinary team capable of meeting the needs of individuals
experiencing all levels of crisis in the community, which shall include,
but not be limited to, at least one psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse

practitioner, a credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor
and one peer support specialist on duty and available at all times.
(c) The commissioners shall promulgate regulations necessary to the
operation of such crisis stabilization centers.
(d) Where a crisis stabilization center has been established prior to
the effective date of this article, the previously established center
may be issued a license where the provider can demonstrate substantial
compliance with minimum crisis service standards necessary for patient
safety and program efficacy.
(e) For the purpose of addressing unique rural service delivery needs
and conditions, the commissioners shall provide technical assistance for
the establishment of crisis stabilization centers otherwise approved
under the provisions of this section, including technical assistance to
promote and facilitate the establishment of such centers in rural areas
in the state or combinations of rural counties.
(f) The commissioners shall develop guidelines for educational
materials to assist crisis stabilization centers in educating local
practitioners, community mental health and substance abuse programs,
hospitals, law enforcement and peers. Such materials shall include
appropriate education relating to de-escalation techniques, cultural
competency, the recovery process, mental health, substance use, and
avoidance of aggressive confrontation.
(g) Within the amounts appropriated, the commissioners shall arrange
for appropriate training to law enforcement entities, first responders,
including but not limited to firefighters and emergency medical services
personnel, and any other entities deemed appropriate by the
commissioners, located within the catchment area of a crisis
stabilization center. The training may include but not be limited to:
(1) crisis intervention team training; (2) mental health first aid; (3)
implicit bias training; and (4) naloxone training. Such training may be
provided in an electronic format or other format as deemed appropriate
by the commissioners. The commissioners may contract with an
organization with the knowledge and expertise in providing the training
required under this subdivision.

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