Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R,C-Medford) today stood with Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R,C-Pulaski), Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt (SD-62), and members of the Minority Conferences to call for immediate action to strengthen New York’s involuntary commitment laws in the wake of a horrific incident that left four young girls severely injured.

The press conference, held in the Senate Minority Conference Room at the State Capitol, addressed a deeply disturbing case involving a family member with a well-documented history of mental illness who brutally attacked the children.

“This tragedy is heartbreaking, and it should never have happened,” said DeStefano. “It’s clear our state’s mental health system is broken. When individuals with serious mental illness show signs of being a danger to themselves or others, there must be tools in place to intervene before innocent lives are put at risk. Right now, those tools are simply not strong enough.”

DeStefano and his Minority colleagues are calling for legislation that would reform and strengthen the criteria for involuntary commitment in New York, ensuring individuals with severe mental health issues receive appropriate treatment before they can cause harm. The lawmakers emphasized that these changes are about protecting public safety while also providing compassionate, early intervention for those struggling with mental illness.