Senate Bill S4693

                                BILL NUMBER:S4693

TITLE  OF BILL:   An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to people receiving public assistance

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF  BILL:  Provides  for  the  utilization  of
existing  or  readily  available  data in order to identify and render
assistance to drug-dependent individuals to  encourage  rehabilitation
and provide treatment for drug-dependent individuals.

SUMMARY  OF  SPECIFIC  PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends Section 131 of the
social services law by adding a new subdivision 9-a to provide for the
establishment of rules and procedures by the  Commissioner  of  Health
with regard to drug testing and treatment for persons receiving public
assistance.  In  the  event  such  testing  reveals  the  presence  of
prohibited substances, as determined by the  Commissioner,  enrollment
and  participation  in a drug rehabilitation program will be required,
upon which the applicant may continue to  receive  public  assistance.
Failure   to  so  enroll  and  actively  participate  will  result  in
ineligibility for benefits.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:  New York State's Social Services law already  requires
screening  of  applicants for alcohol and substance abuse but fails to
adequately provide any potential solutions for those dealing with  the
              

difficulties  of  such addictions and the impact on their families and
dependents and society at large. It is  an  unfortunate  reality  that
those  dealing  with  such  addictions  often  allocate  the resources
received via public assistance programs toward the purchase of  drugs,
prolonging  their  illness. The sad results include neglected families
and  dependents  and  further  exacerbation  of   the   addiction   by
unintentionally  enabling  continued  use.  To  some  extent,  this is
preventable.

This legislation would provide for  the  utilization  of  existing  or
readily  available  data  in  order  to  identify  and  render crucial
assistance  to  drug-dependent  individuals  and  their  families  and
dependents.

It  would  encourage and provide for treatment and long term solutions
for those facing these crippling addictions, while  discouraging  drug
dependence by providing a treatment option tied to benefits.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.

EFFECTIVE  DATE:  This  act  shall  take  effect  on  the  one hundred
eightieth day after it shall become a law.