Skip to main content

Agora
Sign in

Senate bill · S8082 (2025-26)

Relates to authorizing the release of certain records of deceased residents of mental health facilities to family members upon written request

Latest action Jun 2, 2026

New York State Senate

Sponsor

Samra Brouk

State Senator, District 55 · Democratic/Working Families

Follow

Summary

Directs the commissioner to promulgate regulations for the release of patient records by the office of mental health.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Mental Hygiene Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data

Follow

Following needs an Agora account. You will sign in first, then come back to this page.

Your position on this bill

Choose the position closest to yours. You'll sign in or create an account to save it.

Sign in or create an account to give your position

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This bill would amend the Mental Hygiene Law (MHL) to authorize the release of certain records of deceased residents of facilities certified or operated by the Office of Mental Health.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

Mental Health · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Mental Health · New York State Senate.

The sponsor's argument

Why Samra Brouk says this is needed

This bill would authorize the commissioner of the Office of Mental Health to develop regulations in order to provide certain information to other family members on a case-by-case basis. Family members may learn of the existence of their relative only after the relative's death, and may have no ability to ascertain whether their relative even existed. The types of information to be released could include the person's name, dates of birth, death and admission, discharge/release, cause of death, diagnosis, treatment, services provided, employment and family history. Where the commissioner has determined that the release of information is appropriate pursuant to the standards set forth in regulation, this bill would allow for release unless the individual or a qualified family member had objected during his or her lifetime and such objection was documented in the individual's services plan. The bill would also amend MHL § 33.13 by adding a new paragraph 18 to provide for the release of records to a physician of a family member, who is not a qualified person, when the family member has a demonstrable medical need for such information. This provision would bring state law into compliance with the federal Health Insurance portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which allows for release of clinical informa- tion to a family member for this specific purpose.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 2, 2026Result: passed

    (61) (0) (0) (2)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Rules

    Senate RulesJun 2, 2026Result: passed

    (20) (0) (0) (1)

  • Vote: Committee vote · Rules

    Senate RulesJun 9, 2025Result: passed

    (21) (0) (0) (0)

  • Vote: Floor vote

    NY SenateJun 9, 2025Result: passed

    (62) (0) (0) (1)

Full history

  1. Jun 2, 2026

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  2. Jun 2, 2026

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 2, 2026

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1543

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1543

    NY Senate

  4. Jun 2, 2026

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  5. Jun 2, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH

    NY Assembly

Show full history (8 earlier events)
  1. Jan 7, 2026

    Died in Assembly

    DIED IN ASSEMBLY

    NY Assembly

  2. Jan 7, 2026

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH

    NY Senate

  3. Jun 9, 2025

    In committee

    COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

    NY Senate

  4. Jun 9, 2025

    Sent to the executive

    DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

    NY Senate

  5. Jun 9, 2025

    Ordered to Third Reading CAL.1716

    ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1716

    NY Senate

  6. Jun 9, 2025

    Passed a chamber

    PASSED SENATE

    NY Senate

  7. Jun 9, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH

    NY Assembly

  8. May 15, 2025

    Referred to committee

    REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH

    NY Senate