S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  4496

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 3, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. P. RIVERA, LUPARDO, DINOWITZ, JAFFEE, SCHROEDER,
  WEISENBERG -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. HOOPER -- read  once  and
  referred to the Committee on Mental Health

AN ACT to enact the "behavioral health and long-term care act" providing
  for the establishment of a behavioral health and long-term care plan

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may  be  cited  as
the "behavioral health and long-term care act".
  S  2.    The behavioral health and long-term care plan. 1. The commis-
sioner of mental health, in conjunction with the commissioner of health,
the commissioner of alcoholism and  substance  abuse  services  and  the
director  of  the  office  for  the aging, shall develop and monitor the
implementation of a behavioral health and long-term care plan. A subcom-
mittee may be  established  through  the  interagency  geriatric  mental
health  and chemical dependency planning council to assist in the devel-
opment of such plan.
  (a) The behavioral health and long-term care plan shall  include,  but
not be limited to:
  (i)  Coordination  of  provider  services and interagency referrals of
persons with a mental illness and/or chemical dependence, as defined  in
section  1.03  of  the mental hygiene law, other than and in addition to
dementia, who are in or who may be in need of long-term care,
  (ii) Recommendations for integrating and coordinating  federal,  state
and local funding sources for behavioral health and long-term care,
  (iii)  Recommendations for facilitating research on best practices and
model programs, and the dissemination of such information,
  (iv) An increase in alternatives to  nursing  homes  for  adults  with
mental  illness and/or chemical dependence who also need long-term care,
and

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00245-01-1

              

A. 4496                             2

  (v) Support services for family  caregivers  who  assist  adults  with
mental  illness  and/or chemical dependence who also need long-term care
in the community rather than in institutions such as adult homes,  nurs-
ing homes or psychiatric inpatient units.
  (b)  The  behavioral  health and long-term care plan shall provide for
specific actions to be taken  for  its  implementation,  the  number  of
people  to  be  served,  measurable phases for the implementation, and a
time schedule for the achievement of such phases.
  (c) The provisions of the behavioral health and  long-term  care  plan
shall  be  included  in the statewide comprehensive plan of services for
the mentally disabled pursuant to section 5.07  of  the  mental  hygiene
law.
  2.  On  or  before  October 1, 2013, the commissioner of mental health
shall submit a report to the governor, the temporary  president  of  the
senate,  and  the speaker of the assembly. On or before October 1, 2014,
and annually until 2021, the commissioner of mental health shall  submit
a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the
speaker of the assembly regarding the implementation of the plan includ-
ing the number of people served and other measurable outcomes.
  S  3.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law.