February 18, 2026 (Rochester, NY): Nearly six years after the tragic death of Daniel Prude, Assemblymember Harry Bronson (AD-138) and Senator Samra Brouk (SD-55) announced that the City of Rochester has been named a recipient by the Office of Mental Health (OMH) for a Health-Led Crisis Response Services pilot program. The City of Rochester will receive $2 million to continue funding the city’s Person In Crisis (PIC) team. We extend many thanks to OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan and her team, the Advisory Council, the Daniel’s Law Coalition and other local advocates, and Joe Prude–all of whom have worked tirelessly to help address our statewide mental health crisis.

The city’s pilot will include peer navigators to provide in-person responses to support engagement, instill hope, and coordinate with the emergency response social workers to provide follow-up services to individuals, their families, and caregivers. The Person in Crisis team operates around the clock, is dispatched through 911, 988, and 211, and responds to calls without law enforcement.

The Office of Mental Health will fund two pilot programs in addition to Rochester to create crisis response systems that offer safe, compassionate care for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The other pilot programs will be in Central Nassau Guidance & Counseling Services and Children’s Home of Jefferson County. These programs will offer trauma-informed, person-centered responses to mental health and substance use crises, prioritizing compassionate, dignified responses over coercion.

In the FY26 Budget, New York State made a historic investment in Daniel’s Law (S3670/A4617) with $6 million in funding for new and existing Daniel’s Law pilot programs and $2 million for the creation of a Behavioral Health Crisis and Technical Assistance Center. The pilot programs and assistance center came from recommendations made by the Daniel’s Law Task Force, a group tasked with holding public meetings and stakeholder engagement sessions to study methods of introducing a trauma-informed, community and public health-based crisis response for New York State. A year ahead of schedule, the Task Force released a written report of its recommendations at the close of 2024. Both recommendations–to establish a defined response protocol for behavioral health crisis and establish a statewide technical assistance center–were incorporated into the re-introduction of Daniel’s Law in 2025.

“Health-led crisis response models prioritize compassionate care, peer response and lived experience, providing individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis behavioral health supports that best meet the moment. Rochester’s PIC receive this funding and participate in this pilot program will help it expand services and give the state feedback on best practices so we can move away from a response based in force and control to one of compassion and care.

This announcement is made in honor of Daniel Prude, whose life was taken from him due to failures of a traditional emergency response system. We’re here today, and we’ve been here for the past six years, fighting to ensure that tragedy never happens again. We lift up justice and humanity in Daniel’s name. Thank you, Commissioner Sullivan, the OMH team, Senator Brouk, and the Advisory Council, for your confidence in Rochester to lead in this transformative pilot program.” said Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson.

“People in a mental health crisis deserve a compassionate and effective response that prioritizes safety, support, and dignity over fear or coercion. We made historic progress with Daniel’s Law today, as the Office of Mental Health announced $6 million to fund three pilot programs in New York State, including $2 million for the city of Rochester’s Person in Crisis team. As Chair of the Senate Mental Health Committee and sponsor of Daniel’s Law (S3670) along with Assemblymember Bronson, I recognize that many programs applied for this critical funding and not everyone was awarded. The statewide enthusiasm for creating non-police, peer-led compassionate responses to individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis is encouraging, and we must build upon this momentum by ensuring we secure an additional $8 million in the state budget this legislative session for more pilots and sustainable funding. I am grateful that the city of Rochester was selected as a recipient of this award and has the opportunity to prevent tragedies like the loss of Daniel Prude’s life. Thank you to the Prude family, Assemblymember Bronson, the Office of Mental Health, and our fellow advocates for looking for innovative ways to address our statewide mental health crisis with action rooted in safety, compassion, and dignity for all.” said Senator Samra Brouk (SD-55).

“I am proud that Rochester has been selected as a location for the Daniel’s Law Pilot Program, which will advance the goal of creating person-first, health-focused crisis response systems across all of New York State,” said Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. "I applaud State Senator Samra Brouk and Assemblymember Harry Bronson for fighting for this legislation to make sure our most vulnerable residents receive compassionate care when they call for help."

"This is personal, the death of my brother did not need to happen and our loss, his life, must mean something. Having the City of Rochester as a location to receive the Daniel’s Law Pilot Program will help in the process of restoration and healing for my family and for the city. The pilot will create a system that recognizes the humanity of people experiencing mental health crises and treat them with care and compassion getting them the help they need.” Said Joe Prude, Daniel Prude’s brother.

“Today’s announcement is an important step towards building a more compassionate, health-led response for people experiencing mental health challenges in Rochester,” said Shay Herbert, organizer at the New York Civil Liberties Union. “No New Yorker should die at the hands of the police because they have a disability, struggle with their mental health, or have used drugs. As this pilot program moves forward, it must prioritize peer-led teams and removing police involvement, which too often escalates crises instead of resolving them. It is also long past time for lawmakers to pass the Daniel’s Law and finally end our over-reliance on police as first responders in every crisis.”

The Daniel’s Law Coalition said, “We are grateful for the leadership of the Prude family, and our legislative champions, Senator Samra Brouk, and Assemblymember Harry Bronson, who have been unwavering in their commitment to transform how NY State responds to people in crisis.

The Daniel’s Law Coalition is glad that Rochester was selected to receive funding. We look forward to working with the City to ensure that the pilot honors Daniel Prude and reflects the vision and intent of Daniel’s Law by prioritizing peer responders, honoring the autonomy of individuals experiencing crises, and working diligently to reduce police involvement in crisis response.”