Bill Text: NY A08017 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes a statewide information and referral system; provides for a directory of services and a reintegration counseling program for servicemembers; and requires the department of public health to coordinate service referrals with the statewide information and referral system.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 4)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-05-15 - held for consideration in governmental operations [A08017 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A08017-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8017
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 27, 2011
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CASTELLI, JORDAN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
A. CALHOUN, SALADINO -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the state technology law, in relation to establishing a
statewide information and referral system; and to amend the public
health law, in relation to requiring the department of public health
to create a directory of services and a reintegration counseling
program for servicemembers and to coordinate service referrals with
the statewide information and referral system
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. The state technology law is amended by adding a new article
2 5 to read as follows:
3 ARTICLE V
4 STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM
5 SECTION 501. STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM.
6 502. REGIONAL CALL CENTERS.
7 503. USE OF "211" PHONE NUMBER.
8 504. REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT.
9 S 501. STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM. THERE IS HEREBY
10 ESTABLISHED IN THE OFFICE A STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM TO
11 PROVIDE A STATEWIDE NETWORK OF COMMUNITY INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
12 SERVICES TO RESIDENTS IN NEED OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INFORMATION,
13 INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INFORMATION REGARDING CHILD CARE, AGING,
14 DISABILITY, MENTAL HEALTH AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. SUCH MONEYS AS MAY BE
15 NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE MAY BE APPROPRIATED
16 TO THE OFFICE FOR ITS EXPENSES.
17 S 502. REGIONAL CALL CENTERS. 1. THE OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
18 PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, MAY APPROVE UP TO TWELVE REGIONAL CALL
19 CENTERS TO COMPRISE THE STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM ESTAB-
20 LISHED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10237-02-1
A. 8017 2
1 2. EACH CALL CENTER SHALL HAVE:
2 (A) A COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL DATABASE WITH CALL TRACK-
3 ING CAPABILITY, WITH SPECIFIC STAFF EMPLOYED FOR INFORMATION AND REFER-
4 RAL DATABASE MAINTENANCE AND A STRUCTURED ROUTINE FOR UPDATING DATABASE
5 INFORMATION;
6 (B) TWENTY-FOUR HOUR PER DAY, SEVEN DAY PER WEEK ACCESSIBILITY TO
7 DIRECT CONNECTION WITH AN INFORMATION SPECIALIST IN LIVE TIME;
8 (C) ABILITY TO LAUNCH AND MAINTAIN AN INTERACTIVE INTERNET APPLICA-
9 TION, AND RESPOND TO CONSUMER INQUIRIES VIA COMPUTER-BASED TELECOMMUNI-
10 CATION WHEN SUCH COMPUTER-BASED TELECOMMUNICATION WILL BE THE MOST EFFI-
11 CACIOUS METHOD OF RESPONSE;
12 (D) ABILITY TO MEASURE ALL ACCESS POINTS TO CALL CENTER INFORMATION,
13 INCLUDING ACCESS TO A TELEPHONE REPORTING SYSTEM AND A WEBSITE REPORTING
14 SYSTEM;
15 (E) AUTOMATED CALL DISTRIBUTION CAPABILITY, OR THE ABILITY TO UPGRADE
16 TO SUCH CAPABILITY;
17 (F) TELETYPEWRITER AND MULTILINGUAL ACCESSIBILITY, EITHER ON SITE OR
18 THROUGH AN OFF SITE TRANSLATION SERVICE;
19 (G) A STRUCTURED TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR INFORMATION SPECIALISTS;
20 (H) ACCREDITATION OR A PENDING APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION WITH THE
21 ALLIANCE OF INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEMS, INC.;
22 (I) APPROPRIATE STAFF-TO-CALL VOLUME RATIO;
23 (J) ABILITY TO PUBLICIZE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON AN ONGOING BASIS
24 CONCERNING THE APPLICABLE ACCESS NUMBER;
25 (K) ABILITY TO ADDRESS CRISIS CALLS ON SITE, OR LINKAGE THROUGH PROTO-
26 COL WITH A LOCAL CRISIS CENTER;
27 (L) ABILITY TO PROCESS VOLUNTEER OR DONATION REQUEST CALL, OR LINKAGE
28 THROUGH PROTOCOL WITH AN APPROPRIATE CLEARINGHOUSE; AND
29 (M) MEET SUCH OTHER CRITERIA AS SHALL BE DETERMINED BY REGULATION OF
30 THE OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.
31 S 503. USE OF "211" PHONE NUMBER. THE OFFICE SHALL COLLABORATE WITH
32 THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION TO ASSIGN THE TELEPHONE DIGITS 2-1-1 TO
33 THE STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
34 THIS ARTICLE.
35 S 504. REGULATION AND OVERSIGHT. 1. THE OFFICE SHALL PROMULGATE ANY
36 RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
37 ARTICLE. THE OFFICE SHALL OVERSEE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATEWIDE
38 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM AND REGIONAL CALL CENTERS ESTABLISHED
39 PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE HUNDRED ONE AND FIVE HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTI-
40 CLE. SUCH OFFICE MAY CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE NONPROFIT ENTITIES WHICH
41 HAVE A DEMONSTRATED INTEREST IN STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
42 SYSTEMS TO UNDERTAKE THE DUTIES DELINEATED IN THIS ARTICLE.
43 2. THE OFFICE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, SHALL
44 PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS TO INCORPORATE AND COMBINE EXISTING
45 STATE-OPERATED PHONE-BASED SERVICES THAT PROVIDE HELP OR ACCESS TO
46 HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES INTO THE STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
47 SYSTEM AND REGIONAL CALL CENTERS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE
48 HUNDRED ONE AND FIVE HUNDRED TWO OF THIS ARTICLE.
49 S 2. The office for technology shall provide a report on its progress
50 to the governor and the legislature within twelve months of the effec-
51 tive date of this act, and at annual intervals thereafter.
52 S 3. The article heading of article 38 of the public health law, as
53 added by chapter 1135 of the laws of 1971, is amended to read as
54 follows:
55 VETERANS HEALTH [MANPOWER CENTER]
A. 8017 3
1 S 4. Section 3803 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 743
2 of the laws of 2006, is amended to read as follows:
3 S 3803. Veterans health care information AND SERVICE REFERRAL program.
4 1. There is hereby created within the department the veterans health
5 care information AND SERVICE REFERRAL program (referred to in this
6 section as the "program"), which shall provide information on health
7 issues associated with military duty, including but not limited to Agent
8 Orange, Gulf War Syndromes, toxic materials or harmful physical agents
9 such as, depleted uranium, and hepatitis C, for veterans, their surviv-
10 ing spouses and health care providers AND REFERRALS TO SERVICEMEMBERS
11 AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR REINTEGRATION SERVICES.
12 2. The program shall include but not be limited to the following
13 elements:
14 (a) public service announcements;
15 (b) [establishment of a toll-free telephone hotline] COORDINATION WITH
16 THE STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM to provide information
17 regarding health care providers and treatment centers with expertise in
18 illnesses associated with military duty; [and]
19 (c) establish a veterans health information clearing house on-line.
20 3. THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION AND SERVICE REFERRAL PURSUANT TO THIS
21 SECTION THROUGH THE STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM MUST
22 INCLUDE:
23 (A) INFORMATION REGARDING COUNSELING SERVICES THAT:
24 (I) FACILITATE THE REINTEGRATION OF THE SERVICEMEMBER INTO CIVILIAN
25 AND FAMILY LIFE;
26 (II) IDENTIFY AND TREAT STRESS DISORDERS, TRAUMA, AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN
27 INJURY;
28 (III) ADDRESS PARENTING AND FAMILY WELL-BEING, EMPLOYMENT, AND
29 SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES; AND
30 (IV) PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES;
31 (B) TO THE GREATEST DEGREE POSSIBLE IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT,
32 ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COMMUNITY, STATE, AND NATIONAL RESOURCES THAT
33 PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF SERVICEMEMBERS AND
34 THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE IN THE STATE DIRECTLY OR
35 THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEDIA, PRINT MEDIA, OR THE INTERNET; AND
36 (C) OTHER RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF SERVICEMEMBERS AND
37 THEIR FAMILIES.
38 4. THE PROVISION OF INFORMATION AND SERVICE REFERRAL PURSUANT TO THIS
39 SECTION THROUGH THE STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM SHALL BE
40 ORGANIZED IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS A PERSON TO LOCATE SERVICES IN A
41 SPECIFIC COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.
42 5. In exercising any of his or her powers under this section, the
43 commissioner shall consult with appropriate health care professionals,
44 providers, veterans or organizations representing them, the division of
45 veterans' affairs, the federal department of veterans' affairs and the
46 United States defense department.
47 [4.] 6. The commissioner may make rules and regulations necessary and
48 appropriate for the implementation of this section.
49 S 5. The public health law is amended by adding four new sections
50 3800-a, 3804, 3805 and 3806 to read as follows:
51 S 3800-A. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE:
52 1. "ACTIVE DUTY" MEANS THAT A SERVICEMEMBER IS ACTIVATED AND DEPLOYED
53 OUTSIDE THE STATE PURSUANT TO FEDERAL ORDERS UNDER TITLE TEN OR THIRTY-
54 TWO OF THE UNITED STATES CODE.
A. 8017 4
1 2. "SERVICEMEMBER" MEANS A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE WHO IS A MEMBER OF
2 THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE NEW YORK NATIONAL
3 GUARD, WHO IS A RESIDENT OF THIS STATE.
4 3. "STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM" MEANS THE CALL NETWORK
5 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE FIVE OF THE STATE TECHNOLOGY LAW.
6 4. "VETERAN" MEANS A PERSON, MALE OR FEMALE, RESIDENT OF THIS STATE,
7 WHO HAS SERVED IN THE ACTIVE MILITARY, NAVAL OR AIR SERVICE OF THE
8 UNITED STATES DURING A TIME OF WAR IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES ENGAGED
9 AND WHO HAS BEEN RELEASED FROM SUCH SERVICE OTHERWISE THAN BY DISHONOR-
10 ABLE DISCHARGE, OR WHO HAS BEEN FURLOUGHED TO THE RESERVE.
11 S 3804. DIRECTORY OF SERVICES. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COMPILE, MAIN-
12 TAIN, AND DISSEMINATE THROUGH THE STATEWIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL
13 SYSTEM AND THROUGH OTHER APPROPRIATE MEDIA, A DIRECTORY OF SERVICES AND
14 OTHER RESOURCES, TOOLS, AND COUNSELING PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO SERVICEMEM-
15 BERS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY.
16 2. THE DIRECTORY MUST INCLUDE:
17 (A) INFORMATION REGARDING COUNSELING SERVICES THAT:
18 (I) FACILITATE THE REINTEGRATION OF THE SERVICEMEMBER INTO CIVILIAN
19 AND FAMILY LIFE;
20 (II) IDENTIFY AND TREAT STRESS DISORDERS, TRAUMA, AND TRAUMATIC BRAIN
21 INJURY;
22 (III) ADDRESS PARENTING AND FAMILY WELL-BEING, EMPLOYMENT, AND
23 SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES; AND
24 (IV) PROVIDE CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES.
25 (B) TO THE GREATEST DEGREE POSSIBLE IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT,
26 ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC COMMUNITY, STATE, AND NATIONAL RESOURCES THAT
27 PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF SERVICEMEMBERS AND
28 THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY AND THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE IN THE STATE DIRECTLY OR
29 THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEDIA, PRINT MEDIA, OR THE INTERNET; AND
30 (C) OTHER RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT THE HEALTH OF SERVICEMEMBERS AND
31 THEIR FAMILIES.
32 3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ORGANIZE THE DIRECTORY IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS
33 A PERSON TO LOCATE SERVICES IN A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY IN THE STATE.
34 4. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE DIRECTORY IN COLLAB-
35 ORATION WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT ORGANIZA-
36 TIONS, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, PROVIDERS,
37 VETERANS OR ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING THEM, THE DIVISION OF VETERANS'
38 AFFAIRS, THE FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, THE UNITED STATES
39 DEFENSE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY-
40 BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT TO SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR
41 FAMILIES.
42 5. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THE DIRECTORY TO THE STATEWIDE INFOR-
43 MATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM IN THE TIME PERIODS AND IN THE MANNER AND
44 FORMAT SPECIFIED BY THE OFFICE FOR TECHNOLOGY.
45 6. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE THE DIRECTORY ON THE DEPARTMENT'S
46 WEBSITE OR THROUGH LINKS APPEARING ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.
47 S 3805. SERVICE REFERRAL PROGRAM. 1. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP A
48 PROGRAM TO PROVIDE REFERRALS TO SERVICEMEMBERS FOR REINTEGRATION
49 SERVICES.
50 2. THE PROGRAM SHALL:
51 (A) IDENTIFY AND MAKE REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT
52 HAVE EXISTING PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE REINTEGRATION SERVICES TO SERVICEM-
53 EMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES;
54 (B) FOCUS ON EARLY INTERVENTION AND APPROPRIATE REFERRAL TO PROMOTE
55 THE HEALTH OF SERVICEMEMBERS AND THE CHILDREN AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS
56 OF THE SERVICEMEMBERS;
A. 8017 5
1 (C) PROMOTE FAMILY COHESION AND SUSTAINABILITY;
2 (D) BE BASED ON EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES RELATED TO MEETING THE
3 NEEDS OF SERVICEMEMBERS AND THE CHILDREN AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE
4 SERVICEMEMBERS;
5 (E) BE CARRIED OUT, WHEN APPROPRIATE, IN A COMMUNITY SETTING THROUGH
6 PEER COUNSELING AND OTHER MEANS EFFECTIVE FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH;
7 (F) USE EXISTING SERVICE DELIVERY FACILITIES, INCLUDING CHURCHES, AND
8 VETERANS CENTERS AND SUPPORT FACILITIES;
9 (G) USE COMMUNITY-BASED AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS;
10 (H) BE DEVELOPED AND ADMINISTERED IN A MANNER THAT PROMOTES COLLAB-
11 ORATION OF SERVICE PROVIDERS AND RESULTS IN THE REFERRAL OF SERVICEMEM-
12 BERS, THEIR CHILDREN, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS TO THE APPROPRIATE FEDER-
13 AL, STATE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR WHICH THEY ARE ELIGIBLE; AND
14 (I) PROVIDE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES REGARDING THE RISKS AND
15 CONSEQUENCES OF TRAUMA, INCLUDING POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, TRAU-
16 MATIC BRAIN INJURY, AND OTHER CONDITIONS FOR WHICH SERVICEMEMBERS ARE AT
17 RISK.
18 3. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ENSURE THAT:
19 (A) EACH PERSON WHO PROVIDES REFERRALS TO SERVICEMEMBERS UNDER THE
20 REFERRAL PROGRAM HAS RECEIVED SUFFICIENT TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT SERVI-
21 CEMEMBERS RECEIVE ACCURATE INFORMATION; AND
22 (B) SERVICEMEMBERS ARE NOTIFIED IN A TIMELY MANNER ABOUT THE SERVICE
23 REFERRAL PROGRAM.
24 4. IN DEVELOPING THE REFERRAL PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONSULT
25 WITH APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, PROVIDERS, VETERANS OR
26 ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING THEM, THE DIVISION OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS, THE
27 FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND THE UNITED STATES DEFENSE
28 DEPARTMENT.
29 S 3806. REINTEGRATION COUNSELING PROGRAM. THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSUL-
30 TATION WITH THE ADJUTANT GENERAL, SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A STATE-
31 WIDE REINTEGRATION COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR IMME-
32 DIATE FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM SHALL:
33 1. BE AVAILABLE TO A SERVICEMEMBER AND THE SERVICEMEMBER'S IMMEDIATE
34 FAMILY FROM THE BEGINNING DATE OF ACTIVE DUTY UNTIL ONE YEAR AFTER THE
35 DATE OF THE SERVICEMEMBER'S RETURN OR DEACTIVATION, WHICHEVER IS LATER;
36 AND
37 2. INCLUDE COUNSELING SERVICES DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE REINTE-
38 GRATION OF THE SERVICEMEMBER BACK INTO CIVILIAN AND FAMILY LIFE.
39 S 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011; provided, however, that
40 effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
41 or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
42 tive date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or
43 before such effective date.
