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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
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.
Renames and broadens the geriatric service demonstration program to include older adults with mental health disabilities and chemical dependence
In Senate Committee · Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
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 and chapter 568 of the laws of 2005, amending the mental hygiene law relating to enacting the geriatric mental health act, in relation to mental health care, chemical dependence and compulsive gambling services for the elderly under the geriatric service demonstration program
Purpose or general idea of bill
To amend the existing geriatric mental health act to expand the advisory scope of the interagency geriatric mental health planning council to include issues of substance abuse, chemical dependence, and compulsive gambling.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Mental Hygiene Law, section 7.41. Requires the consideration of chemical dependence and compulsive gambling services for mental health programs directed to seniors.
Section 2. Amends the Mental Hygiene Law, section 3 of chapter 568 of the laws of 2005, as amended by chapter 203 of the laws of 2008, amending the geriatric mental health act. Expands the advisory scope of the geriatric mental health planning council to include chemical dependence, compulsive gambling, health, aging and other services as appropriate, and workforce development. Provides that such Council shall consist of nineteen members and shall include the Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, the Director of the Division of Veterans Affairs and the Director of the State Office for the Aging who shall serve as co-chairs. The Adjutant General shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Council. Specifies the manner in which appointments to the Council shall be made.
Section 3. Effective Date
Existing law
Title B, Article 7, Section 7.41 of the Mental Hygiene Law establishes the Geriatric Service Demonstration Program. This bill expands the scope of the Geriatric Service Demonstration Program by including chemical dependence and compulsive gambling.
Justification
It is estimated that 17% of seniors suffer from alcoholism or some other form of chemical dependence. Compulsive gambling is also a growing problem. As our senior population is expected to increase over the next 15 years, we must act proactively to develop programs and strategies to meet the expected needs of our seniors. This legislation is unlike previous attempts to provide services for seniors because it does not create a new bureaucracy to investigate best practices for senior chemical dependence and compulsive gambling services. It simply expands an existing planning council to address these issues among the elderly in New York State.
Prior legislative history
2014: S.299A - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.427A - Passed Assembly 2013: S.299-Reported and Committed to Finance/A.427- Referred to Aging 2012: S.308 - Notice of Committee Consideration Requested, Committee Discharged, Committed to Rules/A.265 - Passed Assembly 2011: S.308 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.265 Reported, Referred to Rules
2009-10: S.2207 - Reported and Committed to Finance/A.1843 - Reported Referred to Ways and Means 2008: S.6817/A.9846 - Passed Both Houses, Veto Memo #14
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.