Relates to community mental health reinvestment services; repealer

7 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• Tom Libous
• Jack M. Martins
• George D. Maziarz
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Patty Ritchie
• Cecilia Tkaczyk

BILL NUMBER:S6363

Title of bill

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to community mental health reinvestment services; to amend the state finance law, in relation to the community mental health reinvestment account; and to repeal certain provisions of the mental hygiene law and the state finance law relating thereto

Purpose

This bill is to update section 41.55 of the mental hygiene law and to expand access to community mental health services.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill adds subdivision 59 to section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law. Subdivision 59 defines the person centric and evidence based services to be provided under the community mental health program.

Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision (a) of section 7.15 of the mental hygiene law, requiring the commissioner of mental health to include community mental health reinvestment services in the planning and implementation process of the state office.

Section 3 of the bill amends subdivision (a) of section 41.13 of the mental hygiene law by adding a new paragraph 17 to require the office of mental health to provide community mental health reinvestment services, in areas where services are not provided by the local government unit.

Section 4 of the bill repeals the existing section 41.55 of the mental hygiene law, and replaces it with a new section 41.55, which establishes "community mental health reinvestment program."

Section 5 of the bill repeals the existing section 97-dddd of the state finance law and adds a new section 97-dddd which establishes the "community mental health reinvestment account."

Justification

In 2013 the Executive announced the Regional Centers of Excellence plan, which would result in the reduction in the total of number of inpatient facilities from the current 24 to 15 Regional Centers of Excellence. This reduction will result in a realized savings that must be reinvested into the community. Since 1993 and the enactment of the original Community Mental Health Reinvestment Act, which mandated that all savings realized from the closure of in-patient facilities be reinvested into community based health services has been notwithstood in recent state budgets that have included language for facility closures. This has resulted in savings realized from ward or bed closures being deposited into the general fund and not reinvested into community services.

The intent of this legislation is to ensure that one hundred percent of the savings from bed closure be reinvested and to expand access to community mental health services that are person centered and evidence-based. Use of evidence-based practices can lead to a higher quality of mental health care and improved outcomes. Re-investment in high quality mental health care that is consumer-centric can lead to achieving important goals of recovery. Furthermore the changes made in

this legislation reflect a continued commitment to staffing at state operated facilities.

Legislative history

This is a new bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.