What's happening
This bill requires communication support services to be included as vocational rehabilitation for individuals with pragmatic language impairments or communication challenges.
Why it matters
Expands access to job support. By explicitly including people with pragmatic language impairments or communication challenges, the bill ensures that a broader group of individuals can access vocational rehabilitation services, potentially improving their employment prospects.
Defines communication support services. The bill spells out specific skills—such as initiating conversations, maintaining topics, handling conflict, organizing correspondence, and preparing for interactions—that will be addressed, which could lead to more targeted and effective support for those struggling with workplace communication.
Sets standards for service providers. Requiring referrals to licensed, certified, or qualified professionals means that individuals will receive help from those with appropriate training, which may improve the quality and consistency of services.
Respects existing professional boundaries. The legislation clarifies that it does not change the scope of practice for any professions, reducing the risk of unintended consequences or professional disputes while implementing the new support services.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Communication Support Services
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to education
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.
Add Communication Help to Rehab
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor David Carlucci
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1353
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to vocational rehabilitation services for enhancing communication support
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 1004-c to read as follows:
§ 1004-c. Communication support services. 1. The commissioner is hereby directed to promulgate rules and regulations to include communication support services as a vocational rehabilitation service as defined by paragraph a of subdivision five of section one thousand two of this article. Any individual who shall have been diagnosed with a pragmatic language impairment or whose employment prospects may reasonably benefit from an improved capacity to communicate shall qualify for communication support services. All referrals made pursuant to this section shall be made to individuals licensed, certified, registered or otherwise qualified under existing state laws, rules and regulations. Nothing herein shall be construed to alter or define scope of practice under existing state laws, rules and regulations.
2. For the purposes of this section, "communication support services" shall mean treatment or services that focus on communication-related skills including, but not limited to, dialogue strategies for:
(i) initiating and exiting communication of intent;
(ii) topic maintenance;
(iii) defusing hostile situations that result from ineffective attempts at independent communication;
(iv) preparing, strategizing, and organizing information for written or electronic correspondence; and
(v) preparing for upcoming interpersonal communication situations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2021.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05281-01-9
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.