What's happening
This bill requires state-operated hospitals to give local governments and organizations 12 to 24 months' notice before significant service reductions.
Why it matters
Requires earlier and clearer warnings. By mandating 12 to 24 months’ notice before significant service reductions at state-operated hospitals, the bill ensures local governments, advocacy groups, and unions have more time to prepare or respond, potentially reducing negative impacts on vulnerable populations.
Limits abrupt disruptions. Extended notice periods can help communities and employees avoid sudden loss of critical mental health or developmental services, allowing for smoother transitions, service planning, and resource allocation.
Excludes certain facilities. The bill specifies exceptions for some psychiatric centers, meaning not all hospitals are covered—this targeted approach may reflect facility status or previous closures, but could leave some gaps in notification protections.
Syncs existing notices with new law. Any notices given before the bill takes effect will expire 12 months after enactment, ensuring a uniform transition period and preventing loopholes that could allow for hasty service reductions under old rules.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Notify on Mental Health Cuts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 62
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Vetoed memo.318
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.669
- Substituted for A9563A
- Referred to mental health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1477
Show 1 earlier action
- 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.
Notify Cities on Hospital Cuts
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7207
IN SENATE
January 3, 2018
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to notice to local governments of the potential for significant service reductions at certain state-operated hospitals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 3 of subdivision (e) of section 7.17 of the mental hygiene law, as amended by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
3. provide for a mechanism which may reasonably be expected to provide notice to local governments, community organizations, employee labor organizations, managerial and confidential employees, consumer and advocacy groups of the potential for significant service reductions at such state-operated hospitals and state-operated research institutes at least twelve months and at most twenty-four months prior to commencing such service reduction, provided, however, that this requirement shall be deemed satisfied with respect to reductions at Central Islip Psychiatric Center, Gowanda Psychiatric Center, Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, Kings Park Psychiatric Center, Willard Psychiatric Center and Manhattan Children's Psychiatric Center; and
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that any notice issued pursuant to paragraph 3 of subdivision (e) of section 7.17 of the mental hygiene law prior to the effective date of this act shall expire twelve months from the effective date of this act.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14077-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to notice to local governments of the potential for significant service reductions at certain state-operated hospitals
Purpose
This legislation provides that the notice of closure for significant reductions at state operated hospitals and state operated research institutes be at least twelve months and at most twenty four months prior to commencing such service reduction
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds language that states that notice of reductions be between twelve and twenty four months prior to commencing such service reductions.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
This legislation seeks to add a degree of certainty to the mechanism by which notice must be given. Current law allows for notice to be given at least twelve months prior, however there is no maximum time frame. By not having a maximum time frame this leaves open-endedness and uncer- tainty that this legislation aims to give by requiring a twenty four month maximum time period.
Legislative history
Similar to veto 296 of 2016 Similar to Veto 218 of 2017.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
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.