Bill Text: NY S08161 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Proposes a chapter amendment relating to licensing requirements for certain social work and mental health professionals employed by certain corporations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-06-14 - REFERRED TO RULES [S08161 Detail]
Download: New_York-2009-S08161-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 8161 I N S E N A T E June 14, 2010 ___________ Introduced by Sen. STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules AN ACT to amend the education law, chapter 420 of the laws of 2002, amending the education law relating to the profession of social work, chapter 676 of the laws of 2002, amending the education law relating to the practice of psychology, and a chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the education law and other laws relating to the registration of entities providing certain professional services and the licensure of certain professions, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5921-A and A.8897-A, in relation to the registration of entities providing certain professional services and the licensure of certain professions THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Paragraph f of subdivision 1 of section 6503-a of the 2 education law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the 3 education law and other laws relating to the registration of entities 4 providing certain professional services and the licensure of certain 5 professions, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5921-A and 6 A.8897-A, is amended to read as follows: 7 f. Each officer and director of such entity shall provide an attesta- 8 tion regarding his or her good moral character as required pursuant to 9 paragraph h of this subdivision. [Such statement shall set forth any 10 criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, determinations of 11 professional misconduct, pending charges of professional misconduct, or 12 any limitations on professional practice.] The commissioner shall be 13 further authorized to promulgate rules or regulations relating to the 14 standards of the waiver for entities pursuant to this section. Such 15 regulations shall include standards relating to the entity's ability to 16 provide services, the entity's maintenance of patient and business 17 records, the entity's fiscal policies, and such other standards as may 18 be prescribed by the commissioner. 19 S 2. Subdivision 3 of section 6503-a of the education law, as amended 20 by a chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the education law and other EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14336-18-0 S. 8161 2 1 laws relating to the registration of entities providing certain profes- 2 sional services and the licensure of certain professions, as proposed in 3 legislative bills numbers S.5921-A and A.8897-A, is amended to read as 4 follows: 5 3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority 6 of another state agency to certify, license, CONTRACT or otherwise 7 authorize an entity applying for a waiver pursuant to this section, if 8 such state agency is otherwise authorized under another provision of law 9 to certify, license, CONTRACT or authorize such an entity, nor shall a 10 waiver pursuant to this section be construed to provide an exemption of 11 such entity from any certification, licensure, NEED TO CONTRACT or any 12 other such requirement established BY SUCH STATE AGENCY OR under any 13 other provision of law. If a state agency determines that such certif- 14 ication, licensure, CONTRACT or other authorization is required, a waiv- 15 er pursuant to this section shall not [independently] have the effect of 16 authorizing the provision of professional services under the jurisdic- 17 tion of such agency in the absence of certification, licensure, A 18 CONTRACT or other authorization from such STATE agency, and the depart- 19 ment shall consult with such agency regarding the need for licensure, 20 CONTRACTING, certification or authorization [to the extent required in 21 the regulations of the commissioner]. In determining an application for 22 a waiver pursuant to this section, the department shall consider as a 23 factor in such determination any denial of an operating certificate or 24 other authority to provide the services authorized pursuant to this 25 section by a New York state or federal agency, political subdivision, 26 municipal corporation, or local government agency or unit, AND SHALL NOT 27 APPROVE A WAIVER APPLICATION AUTHORIZING AN ENTITY TO PROVIDE A PROGRAM 28 OR SERVICES WHERE THE ENTITY OPERATED SUCH A PROGRAM OR PROVIDED SUCH 29 SERVICES FOR WHICH AN OPERATING CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE IS PENDING, WAS 30 DISAPPROVED OR WAS REVOKED, OR A WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION OR CONTRACT WAS 31 TERMINATED FOR CAUSE, BY ONE OF SUCH AGENCIES, EXCEPT UPON APPROVAL OF 32 SUCH ACTION BY THE APPROPRIATE STATE AGENCY. SUCH STATE AGENCIES SHALL 33 NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT, UPON REQUEST AND WITHIN A FIFTEEN DAY PERIOD, 34 WHETHER A WAIVER APPLICANT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO SUCH DISAPPROVAL, REVOCA- 35 TION OR TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OR HAS A PENDING APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE 36 OR OPERATING CERTIFICATE. 37 S 3. Section 9 of chapter 420 of the laws of 2002 amending the educa- 38 tion law relating to the profession of social work, as amended by a 39 chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the education law and other laws 40 relating to the registration of entities providing certain professional 41 services and the licensure of certain professions, as proposed in legis- 42 lative bills numbers S.5921-A and A.8897-A, is amended to read as 43 follows: 44 S 9. A. Nothing in this act shall prohibit or limit the activities or 45 services on the part of any person in the employ of a program or service 46 operated, regulated, funded, or approved by the department of mental 47 hygiene, the office of children and family services, the department of 48 correctional services, the state office for the aging, the department of 49 health, or a local governmental unit as that term is defined in article 50 41 of the mental hygiene law or a social services district as defined in 51 section 61 of the social services law, provided, however, this section 52 shall not authorize the use of any title authorized pursuant to article 53 154 of the education law, except that this section shall be deemed 54 repealed on July 1, 2013; provided, further, however, that on or before 55 [July 1, 2011, each such state agency, local governmental unit, and 56 social services district, either individually or on a group basis, shall S. 8161 3 1 submit to the commissioner of education a report on the utilization of 2 personnel subject to the provisions of this section. Such report shall 3 include but not be limited to: identification of tasks and activities 4 performed by such personnel categorized as tasks and functions 5 restricted to licensed personnel and tasks and functions that do not 6 require a license under article 154 of the education law; analysis of 7 costs associated with employing only appropriately licensed or otherwise 8 authorized personnel to perform tasks and functions that require licen- 9 sure under such article 154, including salary costs and costs associated 10 with providing support to unlicensed personnel in obtaining appropriate 11 licensure. Such report shall also include an action plan detailing meas- 12 ures through which each such entity shall, no later than July 1, 2013, 13 employ only licensed or otherwise authorized personnel to perform tasks 14 and functions requiring licensure, and shall include plans to assist the 15 entity's employees to become licensed, recommendations on alternative 16 pathways toward licensure, information related to reassignment, reap- 17 pointment, transfer, or reclassification of personnel, and any other 18 such support necessary to ensure an appropriately licensed workforce. 19 The commissioner of education shall, after consultation with state agen- 20 cies, not-for-profit providers, professional associations, consumers, 21 and other key stakeholders, submit a report to the speaker of the assem- 22 bly, the temporary president of the senate, and the chairs of the senate 23 and assembly education committees by July 1, 2012 to recommend any 24 amendments to law, rule or regulation necessary to fully implement the 25 requirements for licensure by July 1, 2013.] OCTOBER 1, 2010, EACH STATE 26 AGENCY IDENTIFIED IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER 27 OF EDUCATION DATA, IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS REQUESTED BY THE COMMIS- 28 SIONER OF EDUCATION, CONCERNING THE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY ITS SERVICE 29 PROVIDER WORKFORCE AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER WORKFORCE OF THE LOCAL 30 GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS AS DEFINED IN THIS 31 SUBDIVISION OVER WHICH THE AGENCY HAS REGULATORY AUTHORITY. AFTER 32 RECEIPT OF SUCH DATA, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONVENE A WORKGROUP OF SUCH 33 STATE AGENCIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING SUCH DATA AND ALSO TO MAKE 34 RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO LAW, RULE OR REGULATION NECES- 35 SARY TO CLARIFY WHICH TASKS AND ACTIVITIES MUST BE PERFORMED ONLY BY 36 LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 37 2011, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH SUCH WORK GROUP, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL 38 DEVELOP CRITERIA FOR THE REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION B OF 39 THIS SECTION AND SHALL WORK WITH SUCH STATE AGENCIES BY PROVIDING ADVICE 40 AND GUIDANCE REGARDING WHICH TASKS AND ACTIVITIES MUST BE PERFORMED ONLY 41 BY LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. 42 B. ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2011, EACH SUCH STATE AGENCY, AFTER CONSULTA- 43 TION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS AS 44 DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION A OF THIS SECTION OVER WHICH THE AGENCY HAS REGU- 45 LATORY AUTHORITY, SHALL SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION A REPORT 46 ON THE UTILIZATION OF PERSONNEL SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS 47 SECTION. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: IDENTIFICATION 48 OF TASKS AND ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY SUCH PERSONNEL CATEGORIZED AS TASKS 49 AND FUNCTIONS RESTRICTED TO LICENSED PERSONNEL AND TASKS AND FUNCTIONS 50 THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A LICENSE UNDER ARTICLE 154 OF THE EDUCATION LAW; 51 ANALYSIS OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EMPLOYING ONLY APPROPRIATELY LICENSED 52 OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL TO PERFORM TASKS AND FUNCTIONS THAT 53 REQUIRE LICENSURE UNDER SUCH ARTICLE 154, INCLUDING SALARY COSTS AND 54 COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING SUPPORT TO UNLICENSED PERSONNEL IN 55 OBTAINING APPROPRIATE LICENSURE. SUCH REPORT SHALL ALSO INCLUDE AN 56 ACTION PLAN DETAILING MEASURES THROUGH WHICH EACH SUCH ENTITY SHALL, NO S. 8161 4 1 LATER THAN JULY 1, 2013, COMPLY WITH PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE LAWS APPLI- 2 CABLE TO SERVICES PROVIDED AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALTERNATIVE PATH- 3 WAYS TOWARD LICENSURE. 4 C. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL, AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REPORT 5 REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION, AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH STATE AGENCIES, 6 NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDERS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, CONSUMERS, AND 7 OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS, SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF 8 THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE CHAIRS OF 9 THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEES BY JULY 1, 2012 TO 10 RECOMMEND ANY AMENDMENTS TO LAW, RULE OR REGULATION NECESSARY TO FULLY 11 IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY JULY 1, 2013. OTHER STATE 12 AGENCY COMMISSIONERS SHALL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE STATE- 13 MENTS OR ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS IN SUCH REPORT. 14 S 4. Subdivision b of section 17-a of chapter 676 of the laws of 2002 15 amending the education law relating to the practice of psychology, as 16 amended by a chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the education law and 17 other laws relating to the registration of entities providing certain 18 professional services and the licensure of certain professions, as 19 proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5921-A and A.8897-A, is amended 20 to read as follows: 21 b. This section shall be deemed repealed July 1, 2013 provided, howev- 22 er, that on or before [July 1, 2011, each such state agency, local 23 governmental unit, and social services district, either individually or 24 on a group basis, shall submit to the commissioner of education a report 25 on the utilization of personnel subject to the provisions of this 26 section. Such report shall include but not be limited to: identification 27 of tasks and activities performed by such personnel categorized as tasks 28 and functions restricted to licensed personnel and tasks and functions 29 that do not require a license under article 153 or 163 of the education 30 law; analysis of costs associated with employing only appropriately 31 licensed or otherwise authorized personnel to perform tasks and func- 32 tions that require licensure under such article 153 or 163, including 33 salary costs and costs associated with providing support to unlicensed 34 personnel in obtaining appropriate licensure. Such report shall also 35 include an action plan detailing measures through which each such entity 36 shall, no later than July 1, 2013, employ only licensed or otherwise 37 authorized personnel to perform tasks and functions requiring licensure, 38 and shall include plans to assist the entity's employees to become 39 licensed, recommendations on alternative pathways toward licensure, 40 information related to reassignment, reappointment, transfer, or reclas- 41 sification of personnel, and any other such support necessary to ensure 42 an appropriately licensed workforce. The commissioner of education 43 shall, after consultation with state agencies, not-for-profit providers, 44 professional associations, consumers, and other key stakeholders, submit 45 a report to the speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the 46 senate, and the chairs of the senate and assembly higher education 47 committees by July 1, 2012 to recommend any amendments to law, rule or 48 regulation necessary to fully implement the requirements for licensure 49 by July 1, 2013.] OCTOBER 1, 2010, EACH STATE AGENCY IDENTIFIED IN 50 SUBDIVISION A OF THIS SECTION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCA- 51 TION DATA, IN SUCH FORM AND DETAIL AS REQUESTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF 52 EDUCATION, CONCERNING THE FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY ITS SERVICE PROVIDER 53 WORKFORCE AND THE SERVICE PROVIDER WORKFORCE OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL 54 UNITS AND SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION A OF THIS 55 SECTION OVER WHICH THE AGENCY HAS REGULATORY AUTHORITY. AFTER RECEIPT OF 56 SUCH DATA, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONVENE A WORKGROUP OF SUCH STATE S. 8161 5 1 AGENCIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEWING SUCH DATA AND ALSO TO MAKE RECOM- 2 MENDATIONS REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO LAW, RULE OR REGULATION NECESSARY TO 3 CLARIFY WHICH TASKS AND ACTIVITIES MUST BE PERFORMED ONLY BY LICENSED OR 4 OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. NO LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2011, AFTER 5 CONSULTATION WITH SUCH WORKGROUP, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP CRITE- 6 RIA FOR THE REPORT REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH ONE OF THIS SUBDIVI- 7 SION AND SHALL WORK WITH SUCH STATE AGENCIES BY PROVIDING ADVICE AND 8 GUIDANCE REGARDING WHICH TASKS AND ACTIVITIES MUST BE PERFORMED ONLY BY 9 LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL. 10 1. ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2011, EACH SUCH STATE AGENCY, AFTER CONSULTA- 11 TION WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNITS AND SOCIAL SERVICES DISTRICTS AS 12 DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION A OF THIS SECTION OVER WHICH THE AGENCY HAS REGU- 13 LATORY AUTHORITY, SHALL SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION A REPORT 14 ON THE UTILIZATION OF PERSONNEL SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS 15 SECTION. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: IDENTIFICATION 16 OF TASKS AND ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY SUCH PERSONNEL CATEGORIZED AS TASKS 17 AND FUNCTIONS RESTRICTED TO LICENSED PERSONNEL AND TASKS AND FUNCTIONS 18 THAT DO NOT REQUIRE A LICENSE UNDER ARTICLE 153 OR 163 OF THE EDUCATION 19 LAW; ANALYSIS OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EMPLOYING ONLY APPROPRIATELY 20 LICENSED OR OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL TO PERFORM TASKS AND FUNC- 21 TIONS THAT REQUIRE LICENSURE UNDER SUCH ARTICLE 153 OR 163, INCLUDING 22 SALARY COSTS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING SUPPORT TO UNLICENSED 23 PERSONNEL IN OBTAINING APPROPRIATE LICENSURE. SUCH REPORT SHALL ALSO 24 INCLUDE AN ACTION PLAN DETAILING MEASURES THROUGH WHICH EACH SUCH ENTITY 25 SHALL, NO LATER THAN JULY 1, 2013, COMPLY WITH PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE 26 LAWS APPLICABLE TO SERVICES PROVIDED AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON ALTER- 27 NATIVE PATHWAYS TOWARD LICENSURE. 28 2. THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION SHALL, AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REPORTS 29 REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION, AND AFTER CONSULTATION WITH STATE AGENCIES, 30 NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDERS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, CONSUMERS, AND 31 OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS, SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF 32 THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE CHAIRS OF 33 THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEES BY JULY 1, 2012 TO 34 RECOMMEND ANY AMENDMENTS TO LAW, RULE OR REGULATION NECESSARY TO FULLY 35 IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE BY JULY 1, 2013. OTHER STATE 36 AGENCY COMMISSIONERS SHALL BE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE STATE- 37 MENTS OR ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS IN SUCH REPORT. 38 S 5. Section 15 of a chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the educa- 39 tion law and other laws relating to the registration of entities provid- 40 ing certain professional services and the licensure of certain 41 professions, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5921-A and 42 A.8897-A, is renumbered section 16 and a new section 15 is added to read 43 as follows: 44 S 15. NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES WHICH PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR 45 WHICH AN EXEMPTION RELATING TO THE PROFESSIONS IS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO 46 SECTIONS THIRTEEN AND FOURTEEN OF THIS ACT SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO 47 RECEIVE A WAIVER PURSUANT TO SECTION 6503-A OF THE EDUCATION LAW, AS 48 ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE OF THIS ACT, AND FURTHER SUCH ENTI- 49 TIES SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO BE APPROVED SETTINGS FOR THE RECEIPT OF 50 SUPERVISED EXPERIENCE FOR THE PROFESSIONS GOVERNED BY ARTICLES 153, 154 51 AND 163 OF THE EDUCATION LAW. 52 S 6. Section 16 of a chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the educa- 53 tion law and other laws relating to the registration of entities provid- 54 ing certain professional services and the licensure of certain 55 professions, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5921-A and S. 8161 6 1 A.8897-A, as renumbered by section five of this act is amended to read 2 as follows: 3 S 16. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that [if this 4 act shall have become a law after June 1, 2010,] sections thirteen 5 [and], fourteen AND FIFTEEN of this act shall take effect immediately 6 and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after 7 June 1, 2010 AND SUCH SECTIONS SHALL BE DEEMED REPEALED JULY 1, 2013; 8 provided further that the amendments to section 9 of chapter 420 of the 9 laws of 2002 amending the education law relating to the profession of 10 social work made by section thirteen of this act shall repeal on the 11 same date as such section repeals; provided further that the amendments 12 to section 17-a of chapter 676 of the laws of 2002 amending the educa- 13 tion law relating to the practice of psychology made by section fourteen 14 of this act shall repeal on the same date as such section repeals. 15 S 7. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same 16 manner as a chapter of the laws of 2010 amending the education law and 17 other laws relating to the registration of entities providing certain 18 professional services and the licensure of certain professions, as 19 proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5921-A and A.8897-A, takes 20 effect.