ALBANY – Repeatedly, the catastrophic results of people with untreated, serious psychiatric disorders falling through the cracks and inflicting harm on themselves and their communities has been felt across our state and the nation.

To help prevent future tragic incidents, the Senate and Assembly have passed legislation (S.6726) sponsored by Senator Catharine Young (R,C,I- 57th District) that would strengthen Kendra’s Law and extend its provisions from June 30, 2017 to June 30, 2022.

“By extending Kendra’s Law five more years, people with profound mental illness will get the court-ordered, community based treatment they need to prevent violence, suicide, and incarcerations,” said Senator Young. “It will protect the public while vastly improving the quality of life for those grappling with severe mental illness.”

Kendra’s Law was originally implemented in 1999, and allows the courts to issue assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) orders for individuals who will not voluntarily seek help for their illness, but are a safety threat to themselves or the public. The law is designed to prevent serious harm to the mentally ill person or others, but the current system is set to expire on June 30, 2017, noted Senator Young.

The law is named in honor of Kendra Webdale, who grew up in the village of Fredonia. On Jan. 3, 1999, a man with a long history of schizophrenia stepped onto the 23rd Street subway station platform in New York City and abruptly pushed Kendra, 32, a journalist and photographer, into the path of an oncoming 400-ton N train. Witnesses would later testify that Kendra’s attacker, 29-year-old Andrew Goldstein, did not flee the scene. Instead, he stopped just a few feet from the subway exit, stating, “I’m crazy. I’m psychotic. Take me to the hospital.”

“I am still fighting to make Kendra’s Law completely permanent,” said Senator Young. “The Senate has passed a bill I sponsor (S.516) for several years now that would do just that, but the Assembly has yet to release it from committee. But this is a victory for patients, their families and the public, and I am grateful that we will have this measure on the books another five years if the Governor signs it into law.”