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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 59
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 57–2
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.258
- Print number 5493a
- Amend and recommit to aging
- Referred to aging
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to social services
Show 5 earlier actions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.1164
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to aging
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the community guardianship program
In Assembly Committee · Mental Health · Sponsor Matthew Titone
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5493A
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, in relation to the community guardianship program
Summary of provisions
At present, subparagraph (g) of paragraph 3 of section 473-d of the Social Services Law requires that community guardian programs obtain assessments of their clients by two mental health professionals each year. These assessments are intended to be used to determine whether the guardianship continues to be necessary.
Section one of this bill would eliminate this requirement and instead require a report by a doctor or psychologist or other person who has evaluated the client in the three months prior to the filing of the report regarding the client's condition and current functional level. This report is already required by paragraph 5 of subdivision (b) of section 81.31 of the Mental Hygiene Law.
Justification
Current Social Services Law requires that clients of a community guardian program be assessed yearly by two mental health professionals. These assessments help determine whether continued guardianship is needed. This requirement is no longer necessary in light of provisions of the Mental Hygiene Law. In particular, section 81.31 of the Mental Hygiene law requires that every guardian file an annual report with the court covering range of issues. One component of the report is a statement by a physician, psychologist, nurse clinician or social worker or other person who has recently evaluated the client regarding the client's condition and his or her function level. Since an evaluation of each client must now be conducted, it is redundant to require that two mental health professionals must also assess the client. During these difficult fiscal times, New York City strains to safeguard vital services while implement cost saving measures. Funds spent by localities on contracts for these assessments could be used elsewhere, rather than supporting duplicative and unnecessary evaluations.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Local fiscal implications
Savings to localities utilizing the community guardian program.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.