Bill Text: NY A11098 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Enacts the "Veterans Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Act."

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 18-5)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-08-30 - tabled [A11098 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A11098-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         11098
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                     May 14, 2010
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M.  of  A. MAGNARELLI, ORTIZ, PAULIN, LAVINE, ESPAILLAT,
         CUSICK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.  DESTITO,  McENENY,  SCHIMEL,
         SWEENEY, TOWNS -- 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, placing many of them
    4  in high risk categories for triggering substance abuse or mental  health
    5  issues.  More often than not, mental illness and substance abuse present
    6  themselves simultaneously or as  a  co-occurring  disorder.  The  conse-
    7  quences of co-occurring disorders, particularly when untreated or poorly
    8  treated, are severe. These disorders increase the cost of healthcare due
    9  to  the  frequent  use  of inpatient treatment, the ability to adhere to
   10  such treatment, the risk of suicide, crime victimization,  homelessness,
   11  and incarceration.
   12    The  legislature  further  finds  that the unemployment rate for young
   13  veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars was at 21.1 percent,  reflect-
   14  ing  another  tough  obstacle that combat veterans face as they make the
   15  transition home from 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. This act shall be known as the "Veterans Mental Health and Chemi-
   24  cal 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:
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD17238-01-0
       A. 11098                            2
    1    6.  THE  COMMISSION SHALL DEVELOP AND UPDATE, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE
    2  OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM  AND  SUBSTANCE  ABUSE
    3  SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, A NEW YORK STATE
    4  INTERAGENCY  PLAN TO IMPROVE OUTREACH, ASSESSMENT, AND CARE FOR VETERANS
    5  AND  THEIR  FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH AND/OR SUBSTANCE
    6  ABUSE PROBLEMS. THE PLAN WOULD ADDRESS THE NEED FOR  A  RANGE  OF  ADDI-
    7  TIONAL SERVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
    8    A.  THE  NEED FOR HOUSING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO VETERANS WITH PHYSICAL
    9  AND/OR MENTAL DISABILITIES;
   10    B. SUICIDE PREVENTION;
   11    C. SERVICES THAT ADDRESS THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF FEMALE  SERVICE  MEMBERS
   12  OR VETERANS;
   13    D. PEER OUTREACH AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS;
   14    E.  SERVICES  TO  MEET THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN, SPOUSE, AND/OR
   15  DOMESTIC PARTNER OF SERVICE MEMBERS OR VETERANS;
   16    F. SERVICES AND CONSULTATION FOR VETERANS IN SEARCH OF EMPLOYMENT; AND
   17    G. ACCESSIBILITY AND COORDINATION OF INFORMATION.
   18    7. REPORTS. THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR  EACH
   19  YEAR  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 thirty days after it shall have become
   25  law,  however, the first New York state interagency plan as described in
   26  subdivision 6 of section 352 of the executive law, as added  by  section
   27  three of this act, shall be completed not later than one year after such
   28  effective date.