Mental Health and Health Care Rulemaking 2026

Proposed Rules Updating Mental Health and Health Care Standards (2026)

Mental Health and Health Standards Proposed Rules Public Hearing Oral Testimony

At its October 14, 2025 public meeting, the New York City Board of Correction, an independent oversight board for the City's jail system, initiated rulemaking to amend sections 2-05(b)(2)(i-ii) and 3-04(b)(2)(v)(A) of Title 40 of the Rules of the City of New York (“RCNY”) to codify long-standing variances granted by the Board regarding psychotropic medication and tuberculosis screening, and to amend outdated language in the mental health and health care minimum standards.

The Board's proposal begins with a public comment process that will seek feedback from people with lived experience, families, staff, advocates, and other members of the community. After the public comment period, the Board will review all public comment, amend the proposal if necessary, and vote on a final rule on March 10, 2026 at 1:00 pm.

The Board's rulemaking process follows the City Administrative Procedure Act (CAPA) and includes the following upcoming steps:

1. Notify the public of the Proposed rule. This includes publishing the rule in the City Record.
   
   • The Board will work with DOC to post notices of proposed rule and public hearing in the jail. The Department will keep a copy of the proposed rule package in each jail's law library and Deputy Warden of Administration office. Additionally, if a person in custody calls the Board and requests a copy of the proposed rule package, the Board will mail the person a copy. Members of the public can call and leave a comment via voicemail at 212-669-7900. People in custody can call and leave a comment via voicemail at 212-266-4320 (English) or 212-266-4321 (Spanish).
     
2. Hold a public hearing and accept written comment during a public comment period. The Board will hold one in-person and online public hearing at 1:00 pm on February 10, 2026. Anyone who wants to comment on the proposed Rule at a public hearing must sign up to speak. You can sign up before a hearing by registering for the hearing via Microsoft Teams or calling 212-669-7900. You can speak for up to three (3) minutes.
   
3. During and after the public comment period, there will be opportunity to make further amendments to the rules, as necessary.
   
4. Publish and introduce final Rule on the Board's website and send to the Board's interested parties list.
   
5. Vote on whether to approve the final Rule. Five (5) members of the nine (9)-member Board are required to approve the final Rule.
   
6. Publish the final Rule on the NYC Rules website, the City Record, and submit to the City Council.
   
7. The final Rule is adopted. The final Rule shall take effect no earlier than 30 days after its publication in the City Record.
   

February 10, 2026 1PM Public Hearing

Time: 1:00 pm

NYC Board of Correction February 2026 Public Hearing and Public Meeting Registration

Or

Call-In Number: 1-646-893-7101 and Access Code: 405 599 849#

The Board will accept written comments until the close of business on the date of the hearing. You may send written comments by mail (2 Lafayette, Suite 1221, New York, NY 10007), email (boc@boc.nyc.gov), fax (212-669-7980), or via the NYC Rules website.

You must inform the Board if you need a reasonable accommodation of a disability at the hearing. Please also inform us if you need a language interpreter. You can inform us by mail at 2 Lafayette, Suite 1221, New York, NY 10007, by telephone at 212-669-7900, or by email at boc@boc.nyc.gov. Please inform us by the close of business on January 8, 2026 so that we have sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.

• Wheelchair Access. The venue has an accessible entrance on Lafayette Street and elevators. There are accessible bathrooms on the first floor of the building.
• Assistive Listening Systems (ALS). ALS is not currently in place at the 125 Worth Street Second Floor Auditorium.
• Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART).CART is not currently available.
• Sign Language Interpretation. If you require language interpretation, or sign language interpretation to participate in the hearing, please email boc@boc.nyc.govor call 212-669-7900 by January 8, 2026 to allow sufficient time to determine if accommodations can be arranged.

To request any other accommodations, please email boc@boc.nyc.gov or call 212-669-7900 at least 48 hours before the hearing or public meeting

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