Bill Text: NY A09415 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Enacts the "Veterans Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Act"; directs the veterans affairs commission to develop and update a New York state interagency plan to improve outreach, assessment and care for veterans and their families who are experiencing mental health, major depression and/or substance abuse problems; requires a report be issued each year after the effective date.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-4)
Status: (Passed) 2012-10-03 - approval memo.15 [A09415 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A09415-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 9415 I N A S S E M B L Y February 29, 2012 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "Veterans Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Act" THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature recognizes 2 that throughout their service, many of the military personnel from New 3 York state experienced trauma during active duty, especially in Iraq and 4 Afghanistan, placing many of them in high risk categories for triggering 5 substance abuse or mental health issues. More often than not, mental 6 illness and substance abuse present themselves simultaneously or as a 7 co-occurring disorder. The consequences of co-occurring disorders, 8 particularly when untreated or poorly treated, are severe. These disor- 9 ders increase the cost of healthcare due to the frequent use of inpa- 10 tient treatment, the inability to adhere to such treatment, the risk of 11 suicide, crime victimization, homelessness, and incarceration. 12 The legislature further finds that the unemployment rate and fierce 13 competition for a sparse selection of jobs contribute to the tough 14 obstacle that combat veterans face as they make the transition home from 15 war. 16 The legislature further finds that New York state has recognized its 17 responsibility for care for our veterans and their families, offering an 18 array of economic and health benefits. Now we are called to ensure that 19 the returning combat veterans can obtain the benefits that they are 20 entitled to from the various state agencies which offer help to the 21 returning servicemen and women to make the transition from military 22 personnel to veteran. 23 S 2. Short title. This act shall be known as the "Veterans Mental 24 Health and Chemical Dependency Act". 25 S 3. Section 352 of the executive law is amended by adding two new 26 subdivisions 6 and 7 to read as follows: 27 6. THE COMMISSION SHALL DEVELOP AND UPDATE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE 28 OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD03276-03-2 A. 9415 2 1 SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, A NEW YORK STATE 2 INTERAGENCY PLAN TO IMPROVE OUTREACH, ASSESSMENT, AND CARE FOR VETERANS 3 AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH, MAJOR DEPRESSION 4 AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS. THE PLAN WOULD ADDRESS THE NEED FOR A 5 RANGE OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: 6 A. THE NEED FOR HOUSING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO VETERANS WITH PHYSICAL 7 AND/OR MENTAL DISABILITIES; 8 B. SUICIDE PREVENTION; 9 C. SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF FEMALE SERVICE MEMBERS 10 OR VETERANS; 11 D. SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF PHYSICALLY DISABLED 12 VETERANS; 13 E. PEER OUTREACH AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS; 14 F. SERVICES TO MEET THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN, SPOUSE, AND/OR 15 DOMESTIC PARTNER OF SERVICE MEMBERS OR VETERANS; 16 G. SERVICES AND CONSULTATION FOR VETERANS IN SEARCH OF EMPLOYMENT; AND 17 H. ACCESSIBILITY AND COORDINATION OF INFORMATION. 18 7. THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR EACH YEAR 19 AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION. SUCH REPORT SHALL 20 INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMISSION'S ACTIV- 21 ITIES CONCERNING THE NEW YORK STATE INTERAGENCY PLAN. THE DIRECTOR SHALL 22 SUBMIT SUCH REPORT OR A SYNOPSIS OF SUCH REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AS 23 PROVIDED IN SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE. 24 S 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 25 have become a law, however, the first New York state interagency plan as 26 described in subdivision 6 of section 352 of the executive law, as added 27 by section three of this act, shall be completed not later than one year 28 after such effective date.