What's happening
This bill requires the civil service commissioner to report on classifications and salary grades for licensed mental health practitioners.
Why it matters
May impact pay equity and job satisfaction. By requiring a detailed report on salary grades and classifications for licensed mental health practitioners, the bill could help address inconsistencies in compensation, potentially reducing turnover and improving morale among these professionals.
Could influence recruitment and retention. Clear classification and salary recommendations based on credentials and experience may make civil service positions more attractive, helping New York better compete for skilled mental health practitioners amid workforce shortages.
Provides a data-driven foundation for future policy. The mandated report would supply lawmakers and state agencies with specific information to guide future decisions on budgeting, resource allocation, and potential reforms in public mental health services.
Highlights the professionalization of mental health roles. By focusing on qualifications like board certification and education levels, the bill acknowledges the complexity and professionalism of mental health work, potentially elevating the status of these roles within the public sector.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Report on Mental Health Jobs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to civil service and pensions
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.229
- Referred to civil service and pensions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3151
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
AN ACT to require the commissioner of the department of civil service to prepare a report regarding the classification of mental health practitioners
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of the department of civil service shall prepare a report establishing classifications for mental health practitioners, as licensed under article 163 of the education law. Such report shall include recommendations for appropriate salary grades for such positions according to board certification, job duties, education and experience levels. The commissioner shall submit such report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on or before July 1, 2020.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09430-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to require the commissioner of the department of civil service to prepare a report regarding the classification of mental health practi- tioners
Purpose
To establish civil service titles for Article 163 mental health practi- tioners.
Summary of provisions
The bill directs the New York State Department of Civil Service to prepare a report by July 1, 2018 with regard to establishing classifica- tions for Mental Health Practitioners licensed under Article 163 of the State Education Law.
Justification
Article 163 Mental Health Practitioners (Mental Health Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, Psychoanalysts and Creative Arts Thera- pists) currently practice in New York State agencies and state-supported community-based organizations. However, since these licenses did not exist prior to 2006, there are no civil service titles for these professions.
As New York State positions itself to end the current state agency exemption from professional licensure for certain entities and individ- uals providing services within the scopes of practice of social work, psychology and mental health practitioners, creation of civil service titles for MHPs would provide employment stability. The State Education Department, in its report Pursuant to Chapter 57 of 2013, found that the lack of titles has "presented challenges to state agencies and programs." SED concluded that "there is agreement that the Department of Civil Service should revise job titles to reflect the new professions established in Article 163 and require an applicant to be licensed in order to hold a Civil Service position, in order to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public. The creation of appropriate titles will provide opportunities for qualified licensees seeking to provide services in state or local government programs, as well as in the volun- tary not-for-profit sector" (p. 14).
Legislative history
2018: S.8354 - Referred to Civil Service & Pensions/A.8140 - Referred to Governmental Employees
Effective date
This bill shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.