Establishes the community mental hygiene services fund

BILL NUMBER:A5354A

Title of bill

An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the community mental hygiene services fund

Purpose Or General Idea Of Bill:

Summary Of Specific Provisions:

The State Finance law is amended by adding a new Section 95-e.

Effects Of Present Law Which This Bill Would Alter:

1. Establishes, in the joint custody of the State Comptroller and the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance, the Community Mental Hygiene Services Fund.

2. (a) The Community Mental Hygiene Services Fund shall consist of all revenue received into the fund from mental hygiene asset sales or leas- es, including the sale of real property, in excess of the amounts neces- sary to comply with statutory requirements and bond covenants, and all other money credited or transferred to the fund. (b) In addition, such fund shall consist of all general fund savings resulting from decreases in debt service obligations and maintenance costs.

3. (a) On or before April 30, 2012 and annually thereafter, the Comp- troller shall provide a full accounting of all mental hygiene as set sales or leases, including the sale of real property, listing of the outstanding bonds on each mental hygiene asset sold or leased, and, a listing of all revenue received into the fund derived from each such mental hygiene asset sale or lease.

(b) On or before April 30, 2012 and annually thereafter, the Comp- trollers shall provide the annual debt service savings, to be realized through retiring bonds related to the sale or conveyance of mental hygiene properties, for each year of what would have been the life of the bonds.

4. Subject to appropriation, money deposited in the fund as surplus revenues from asset sales shall be made available for capital projects and money deposited from annual debt service savings shall be expended for the operating costs of community based not-for-profit and State operated programs through an Office of the Department of Mental Hygiene. These funds shall not supplant funds already being received by these programs.

Justification: For many years moneys have been removed from the mental hygiene service delivery system to pay for other State priorities caus- ing a crisis that is impacting on the ability of providers of services to the mentally disabled to provide appropriate care and services to such mentally disabled individuals. Retaining and reusing revenues from

the sale or leasing of capital assets will foster quality of life and recovery for our most vulnerable residents.

Prior Legislative History: 2001-2002: A.3423 Luster - Mental Health Committee 2003-2004: A.11329 - Passed Assembly 2005-2006: A. 2974-A - Passed Assembly 2007-2008: A. 6818 - Passed Assembly

Fiscal Implications For State And Local Governments: None

Effective Date: Immediately