S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6094
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 7, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. COOK, ORTIZ, PHEFFER, ROBINSON, SCHROEDER --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CLARK, GOTTFRIED, HOOPER, LENTOL,
MAISEL, McENENY, J. RIVERA, SCARBOROUGH, TOWNS -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
AN ACT to establish senior citizen alcoholism treatment and training
demonstration programs
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The latest New York State census iden-
2 tifies twelve and three-tenths percent of the state's residents as age
3 sixty-five or older. The New York state office of alcoholism and
4 substance abuse services has identified chemical abuse and dependence
5 among the elder population as a serious and growing problem. This can
6 result from isolation, depression or the interaction of prescribed
7 drugs. Too many professionals: doctors, nurses, pharmacists and social
8 workers are unfamiliar with the science of gerontology and the special
9 physiological and psychological needs of the elderly. In addition, many
10 community-based programs and facilities, nursing homes and senior citi-
11 zen centers are not aware of the incidence of chemical abuse and depend-
12 ence among the elderly and do not have the expertise to recognize their
13 clients' problems, resulting in a barrier to prevention, detection and
14 treatment.
15 It is, therefore, the intention of the legislature to eliminate barri-
16 ers to effective chemical abuse and dependence services through this act
17 by establishing chemical abuse prevention, education and treatment
18 demonstration programs for senior citizens in the office of alcoholism
19 and substance abuse services.
20 S 2. The commissioner of alcoholism and substance abuse services in
21 consultation with the director of the office for the aging shall develop
22 comprehensive chemical abuse prevention, education and treatment demon-
23 stration programs to address the unique needs of the elderly.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02509-01-1
A. 6094 2
1 S 3. Subject to appropriation, funds for support of demonstration
2 projects for the purposes stated in section two of this act shall be
3 allocated to eligible local governments and not-for-profit providers
4 through a request for proposal process to be designed by the office of
5 alcoholism and substance abuse services in consultation with the office
6 for the aging.
7 S 4. In reviewing applications for funding, the commissioner of alco-
8 holism and substance abuse services shall consider such factors as
9 program cost-effectiveness; the ability of such proposals to offer
10 programmatically appropriate, long-term, stable services; and the abili-
11 ty of such proposals to enable elderly persons to receive chemical abuse
12 and dependence services; and geographic need. While incidence and preva-
13 lence shall be significant factors in the distribution of funds, demon-
14 stration projects approved pursuant to this act shall be established in
15 regions across the state.
16 S 5. No expenditure shall be made until the commissioner of alcoholism
17 and substance abuse services has approved a program and fiscal plan for
18 chemical abuse and dependence prevention, education and treatment demon-
19 stration projects. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to, the
20 following:
21 i. Specific criteria to be applied in evaluating the requests for
22 proposal;
23 ii. Uniform program and cost standards;
24 iii. Criteria to be used to evaluate the outcome of the demonstration
25 projects, including specific requirements to be met by providers of
26 service.
27 S 6. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding
28 the date on which it shall have become a law.