What's happening
This bill creates a pilot program allowing licensed mental health practitioners to diagnose disorders in New York VA facilities.
Why it matters
Expands diagnostic authority to a broader group of mental health professionals. within New York VA facilities, which could reduce wait times and improve access to mental health care for veterans by not restricting diagnosis solely to psychiatrists or psychologists.
Sets up a clear reporting and oversight mechanism. by requiring VA facilities to formally notify the state in order to participate, potentially allowing for better state-level tracking, evaluation, and quality assurance of the pilot program’s effectiveness.
Defines “diagnosis” in statute for mental health practitioners. in the pilot, clarifying the scope and standards of what these professionals can do—this could impact professional roles, training requirements, and how interdisciplinary teams function within VA settings.
Establishes a temporary, experimental approach. (with an expiration date), signaling that the legislature is testing whether this policy change improves care for veterans, while allowing for legislative review and adjustment based on outcomes before making it permanent.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Clinicians Diagnose Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6444
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 7, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to granting mental health practitioners the authority to diagnose in certain United States veterans administration facilities; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 8411 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. A program or facility operated, funded, or administered by the United States veterans administration in the state of New York may participate in a pilot program that allows employees licensed pursuant to this article to diagnose mental, emotional, behavioral, addictive and developmental disorders and disabilities as well as diagnose the psychosocial aspects of illness, injury, disability and impairment while engaged in the performance of his or her duties.
(a) To participate in the pilot program, the program or facility operated, funded, or administered by the United States veterans administration must notify the department on a form to be created by the department.
(b) For the purpose of this article, diagnosis is the process of distinguishing, beyond a general assessment, between similar mental, emotional, behavioral, developmental and addictive disorders, impairments and disabilities within a psychosocial framework on the basis of similar and unique characteristics consistent with accepted classification systems.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law and shall remain in full force and effect until July 1, 2019, when upon such date this act shall expire and be deemed repealed; provided however, that effective immediately the commissioner of education is authorized to take any actions necessary to implement this act on or before its effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01739-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.