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History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to increasing the frequency of visitation and inspection of facilities per year
Purpose
To increase the number of inspections conducted at facilities operated and/or licensed by the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities from two to three per year and to allow for independent monitors to accompany inspectors during such inspections.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision (a) of section 16.11 of the mental hygiene law to increase the number of periodic visitations and inspections of each facility from a minimum of two to a minimum of three, making them unannounced and allowing members of the board of visitors and other independent monitors approved by the Commissioner to accompany inspectors. It also increases the number of unannounced inspections of facilities that have a history of compliance and a record of providing high quality of care from a minimum of one to a minimum of two per year.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.
Existing law
Section 16.11(a) provides for a minimum two inspections of each facility per year, at least one of which shall be without prior notice. It also provides that where, in the discretion of the commissioner, an operating certificate has been issued to a program with a history of compliance and a record of providing a high quality of care, the periodic inspection and visitation shall be made at least once during each calendar year without prior notice.
Justification
Caring for our most vulnerable developmentally disabled citizens is an important job carried out by many dedicated workers and agencies throughout the state. In order to insure that individuals are cared for in a manner that meets our highest standards, New York State conducts visitations and inspections of facilities that it operates and/or licenses each year. This bill allows members of a board of visitors and other individuals, if approved by the Commissioner, to accompany inspectors and serve as independent monitors during inspections. It also provides for an extra inspection each year and insures that all inspections are unannounced. This bill will provide additional oversight and transparency to the existing inspection process.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.