Bill Text: NY A08835 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Establishes a task force on adults with developmental disabilities to study, evaluate and develop recommendations concerning vocational, recreational and social needs of such adults.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2014-11-21 - tabled [A08835 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A08835-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         8835
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   February 19, 2014
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
         tee on Mental Health
       AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing  the
         task force on adults with autism; and providing for the repeal of such
         provisions upon expiration thereof
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that autism  is
    2  a  lifelong  disability, yet much of the focus on autism spectrum disor-
    3  ders relates to education and development, and  neglects  concerns  that
    4  may  arise  later  in  a  person's life. The legislature also finds that
    5  adults with autism may face significant challenges in various aspects of
    6  their lives, including such areas as job placement,  housing  and  long-
    7  term  care.  Further, just as the autism spectrum covers a wide range of
    8  functional abilities, so does the need for  services  and  supports  for
    9  adults  with autism. Consequently, the legislature finds that there is a
   10  pressing need for policymakers and advocates in the state  to  formulate
   11  achievable  goals  for state government to meet in order to better serve
   12  the community of adults with autism spectrum disorders. To this end,  it
   13  is  in  the  public  interest  to  establish a task force on adults with
   14  autism to develop a comprehensive plan for meeting the various needs  of
   15  adults with autism spectrum disorders living in New York.
   16    S  2.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 13.41
   17  to read as follows:
   18  S 13.41 TASK FORCE ON ADULTS WITH AUTISM.
   19    (A) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE TASK FORCE ON ADULTS  WITH  AUTISM
   20  IN THE OFFICE. THE PURPOSE OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE TO STUDY, EVALUATE
   21  AND  DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO SPECIFIC ACTIONABLE MEASURES TO
   22  SUPPORT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH AUTISM WHO  ARE  RESIDENTS  OF
   23  THE  STATE,  INCLUDING  SUCH NEEDS AS VOCATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL AND SOCIAL
   24  NEEDS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL  COMPRISE  THE  BASIS
   25  FOR  A  COMPREHENSIVE  PLAN FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH AUTISM,
   26  AND SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE  PURSUANT  TO
   27  SUBDIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD14063-01-4
       A. 8835                             2
    1    (B) THE TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
    2    (1)  THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, THE COMMISSIONER OF
    3  EDUCATION, THE DEPUTY  COMMISSIONER  FOR  ADULT  CAREER  AND  CONTINUING
    4  EDUCATION  SERVICES WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMISSIONER
    5  OF LABOR; AND
    6    (2) FOUR MEMBERS WITH DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE IN ISSUES RELATING TO THE
    7  WORK OF THE TASK FORCE; WITH TWO SUCH MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
    8  ONE SUCH MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,  AND
    9  ONE  SUCH MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, NO LATER THAN
   10  THE THIRTIETH DAY AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
   11    VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED  IN  THE
   12  SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR BY THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
   13    (C)  THE  COMMISSIONER  OR  THE COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE SHALL SERVE AS
   14  CHAIRPERSON OF THE TASK FORCE. THE TASK FORCE SHALL ORGANIZE AS SOON  AS
   15  PRACTICABLE  FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF ITS MEMBERS AND SHALL SELECT A
   16  VICE-CHAIRPERSON FROM AMONG THE MEMBERS. THE CHAIRPERSON SHALL APPOINT A
   17  SECRETARY WHO NEED NOT BE A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE.
   18    (D) THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL RECEIVE  NO  COMPENSATION  FOR
   19  THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
   20  INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
   21    (E)  TO  THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE, THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE ENTITLED
   22  TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE, AND SHALL UTILIZE  AND  BE  PROVIDED  WITH  SUCH
   23  FACILITIES,  RESOURCES  AND  DATA  OF  ANY  COURT, DEPARTMENT, DIVISION,
   24  BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION OR AGENCY OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDI-
   25  VISION THEREOF AS IT MAY REASONABLY REQUEST TO PROPERLY  CARRY  OUT  ITS
   26  POWERS AND DUTIES.
   27    (F)  THE  TASK  FORCE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
   28  THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE  SPEAKER  OF
   29  THE ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN.
   30    S  3.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
   31  deemed repealed 2 years after such effective date.