S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6510
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 4, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to directing local
government units providing services to individuals with mental illness
or developmental disabilities to create a single point of access
system
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 41.13 of the mental hygiene law
is amended by adding a new paragraph 17 to read as follows:
17. CREATE, DIRECT AND EXERCISE SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY OVER A SINGLE
POINT OF ACCESS SYSTEM TO FACILITATE ENTRY TO CARE COORDINATION
SERVICES, RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT, REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, AND OTHER
SERVICES FOR HIGH NEED ADULTS AND CHILDREN. THE SINGLE POINT OF ACCESS
SYSTEM MAY BE OPERATED EITHER INDIVIDUALLY BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL
UNIT OR COLLECTIVELY IN COOPERATION WITH ONE OR MORE OTHER LOCAL GOVERN-
MENTAL UNITS. SEPARATE SINGLE POINT OF ACCESS SYSTEMS MAY BE ESTABLISHED
IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF A TARGETED POPULATION BASED ON CRITERIA
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, AGE, DISABILITY, VETERAN STATUS OR
SPECIFIC SERVICE NEED SUCH AS HOUSING OR CARE COORDINATION. SINGLE POINT
OF ACCESS SYSTEMS SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO:
(I) RECEIVE REFERRALS OF ALL PERSONS WITH A MENTAL DISABILITY AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 1.03 OF THIS CHAPTER WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS A HIGH
NEED PERSON BY THE COMMISSIONER;
(II) RECEIVE REFERRALS REGARDLESS OF AGE, ABILITY TO PAY, OR HEALTH
INSURANCE STATUS;
(III) REQUIRE THE COOPERATION OF PROVIDERS OF CARE COORDINATION, HOUS-
ING, HEALTH CARE, AND MANAGED CARE OPERATING WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL UNIT TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CARE
AND SERVICE DELIVERY FOR DESIGNATED HIGH NEED PERSONS.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09515-01-3