What's happening
This bill allows certain mental health practitioners in New York VA facilities to diagnose disorders as part of a pilot program.
Why it matters
Expands the diagnostic authority of licensed mental health practitioners. (such as counselors and therapists) in VA facilities, which could improve access to timely and specialized care for veterans by allowing more providers to formally diagnose conditions.
Creates a structured pilot program. with departmental oversight, requiring VA facilities to notify the state before participating. This allows for monitoring, data collection, and assessment of the program’s outcomes and effectiveness.
Defines “diagnosis” within a psychosocial framework,. clarifying that practitioners can distinguish between similar disorders using recognized classification systems. This precision may help ensure consistent and accurate diagnoses.
Temporary, trial nature (sunset provision) means the impact will be evaluated. before any permanent change, potentially shaping future policy on how mental health services are delivered to veterans in New York.
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
Let Mental Health Staff Diagnose
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
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
4444
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 4, 2019
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, 2021, 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.
LBD07926-01-9
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.