STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8576 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY September 13, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. COOK, ORTIZ, CRESPO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GOTTFRIED, LENTOL, RIVERA -- 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 § 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. LBD13681-01-9A. 8576 2 1 § 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 § 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 § 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 § 6. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding 28 the date on which it shall have become a law.