S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  4625

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 5, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  WALKER,  TOBACCO, BARRA, ALFANO, KOLB, RAIA,
  CONTE, McDONOUGH, FIELDS, DUPREY, McKEVITT, THIELE, GIGLIO,  SCOZZAFA-
  VA,  SAYWARD,  FINCH  --  Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M.  of A. BACALLES,
  BURLING, CROUCH, ERRIGO, QUINN, RABBITT, WEISENBERG -- read  once  and
  referred  to  the  Committee  on Mental Health, Mental Retardation and
  Developmental Disabilities

AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to  establishing  an
  autism housing fund for the construction of group housing for individ-
  uals with autism, and making an appropriation therefor

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

  Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a  new  section
13.41 to read as follows:
S 13.41 AUTISM HOUSING FUND.
  THERE   IS   HEREBY   ESTABLISHED  AN  AUTISM  HOUSING  FUND  FOR  THE
CONSTRUCTION OF GROUP HOUSING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM.  THE  COMMIS-
SIONER  SHALL  HAVE  THE  CENTRAL  RESPONSIBILITY  FOR ADMINISTERING THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION AND OTHERWISE COORDINATING THE STATE'S  POLI-
CIES  WITH  RESPECT TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSING TO
INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ADVOCATE
FOR THE DISABLED, THE OFFICE OF  MENTAL  RETARDATION  AND  DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES,  THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND THE COMMISSION ON QUALITY
OF CARE FOR THE  MENTALLY  DISABLED.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  DEVELOP  A
COMPREHENSIVE  STATEWIDE  PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES HOUSING AND OTHER ESSEN-
TIAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH  AUTISM.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  ALSO
DEVELOP  A  BIENNIAL PLAN AND PRIORITIES FOR THE FUNDING OF THE SERVICES
AND PROGRAMS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE  DEVELOP-
MENT  AND  EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY-BASED HOUSING AND PROGRAMS AND, TO THE
EXTENT FEASIBLE, UTILIZE EXISTING ORGANIZATIONS WITH DEMONSTRATED INTER-
EST AND EXPERTISE IN SERVING PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND SHALL, WITHIN FUNDS
AVAILABLE, ENTER INTO CONTRACTS WITH SUCH ORGANIZATIONS.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01741-02-9
              

A. 4625                             2

  S 2. The sum of fifteen million  dollars  ($15,000,000),  or  so  much
thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in
the  state  treasury  in  the  general  fund  to the credit of the state
purposes account,  not  otherwise  appropriated,  and  made  immediately
available,  for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of this act.
Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the state comp-
troller on vouchers certified or approved in the  manner  prescribed  by
law.
  S  3.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized and directed to be made  and  completed  on  or
before such effective date.