Assembly Member Sam Berger and Senator Nathalia Fernandez have championed a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at protecting mental health patients from sexual abuse by their providers.
The legislation, known as Gittel’s Law, was signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Dec. 21. It broadens New York State’s penal code to include new categories of licensed mental health providers and imposes criminal penalties for sex offenses committed during treatment.
