S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 1931 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 9, 2013 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Mental Health AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the commissioner of developmental disabilities to define a career path for direct support professionals THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 2 16.39 to read as follows: 3 S 16.39 CAREER PATH FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS. 4 NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISIONS OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, THE COMMISSION- 5 ER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL AND STATE EXPERTS, SHALL CREATE A 6 PUBLIC WORKFORCE INITIATIVE TO DEFINE A CAREER PATH MODEL FOR DIRECT 7 SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS BY BLENDING BEST PRACTICE LEARNING INITIATIVES 8 INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA'S COLLEGE OF DIRECT SUPPORT AND 9 NEW YORK STATE DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES. FOR PROVIDER 10 ORGANIZATIONS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONDUCT ONE-DAY REGIONAL LEARNING 11 SEMINARS ON THE TREND OF DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED SERVICES TOWARD COMPE- 12 TENCY BASED TRAINING, THE ROLE AND VALUE OF SKILL MENTORS, AND FACILI- 13 TATING DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT. 14 S 2. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD05972-01-3