Establishes an office of the independent public advocate and makes an appropriation therefor

2 Co-sponsors

• Martin Malavé Dilan
• Ruth Hassell-Thompson

BILL NUMBER:S4364

Title of bill

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing an office of the independent public advocate and making an appropriation therefor

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this bill is to establish an office representing the independent public advocate.

Summary of provisions

This bill would:

* Establish an office and its organization which will represent the independent public advocate;

* State the offices duties and responsibilities.

Justification

The recently implemented Medicaid 1115 Waiver includes $6.42 billion allocation to the "Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment" (DSRIP) program. The goal of DSRIP is to financially support healthcare restructuring by improving the quality of patient care, enhancing community health outcomes and reducing per capita costs of care. The restructuring of the healthcare system through the DSRIP program will significantly impact local communities through consolidation, closure or relocation of existing services and changes in the ways in which healthcare resources are currently distributed.

Fiscal implications

The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) or so much thereof as may be necessary will be appropriated to the office of the independent public advocate. The funds will be out of any money in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit if the state of purposes account not otherwise appropriated.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall become a law.