S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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1234
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 8, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, JAFFEE -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and chapter 568 of the laws of
2005, amending the mental hygiene law relating to enacting the geria-
tric mental health act, in relation to mental health care, chemical
dependence and compulsive gambling services for the elderly under the
geriatric service demonstration program
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 7.41 of the mental hygiene law, as added by chapter
568 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
S 7.41 Geriatric service demonstration program.
(a) The office shall establish a geriatric service demonstration
program to provide grants, within appropriations therefor, to providers
of mental health care, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE SERVICES, COMPULSIVE GAMBLING
SERVICES, OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF, to the elderly, INCLUDING ORGAN-
IZATIONS THAT PROVIDE HEALTH AND AGING SERVICES AS WELL AS MENTAL
HEALTH, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE, AND COMPULSIVE GAMBLING ORGANIZATIONS. Such
program shall be administered by the office in cooperation with THE
OFFICE OF ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES, the state office for
the aging and such other state agencies as the commissioner shall deter-
mine are necessary for the operation of the program.
(b) Grants may be awarded by the office to providers of care to older
adults with mental disabilities, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE, COMPULSIVE GAMBL-
ING, OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF, for the purposes which may include one
or more of the following:
(1) Community integration. Programs which enable older adults with
mental disabilities OR OLDER ADULTS SUFFERING FROM CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE
OR COMPULSIVE GAMBLING to age SAFELY in the community and prevent the
unnecessary use of institutional care;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00345-01-5
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(2) Improved quality of treatment. Programs for older adults which
improve the quality of mental health care, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE OR
COMPULSIVE GAMBLING SERVICES in the community OR IN RESIDENTIAL FACILI-
TIES;
(3) Integration of services. Programs which integrate mental health
and aging services with alcohol, drug, health and other support
services;
(4) Workforce. Programs which make more efficient use of mental health
[and], CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE, COMPULSIVE GAMBLING, health AND AGING
SERVICES professionals by developing alternative service roles for para-
professionals and volunteers, including peers, and programs more effec-
tive in recruitment and retention of bi-lingual, bi-cultural or
culturally competent staff;
(5) Family support. Programs which provide support for family caregiv-
ers, to include the provision of care to older adults by younger family
members and by older adults to younger family members;
(6) Finance. Programs which have developed and implemented innovative
financing methodologies to support the delivery of best practices;
(7) Specialized populations. Programs which concentrate on outreach
to, engagement of and effective treatment of cultural minorities OR
VETERANS AS DEFINED IN SECTION EIGHTY-FIVE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW;
(8) Information clearinghouse. Programs which compile, distribute and
make available information on clinical developments, program innovations
and policy developments which improve the care to older adults with
mental disabilities OR SUFFERING FROM CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE OR COMPULSIVE
GAMBLING; and
(9) Staff training. Programs which offer on-going training initiatives
including improved clinical and cultural skills, evidence based geria-
tric mental health, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE AND COMPULSIVE GAMBLING TREAT-
MENT skills, and the identification and management of mental, behavioral
and substance abuse disorders among older adults.
(c) The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations necessary to
implement the provisions of this section.
S 2. Section 3 of chapter 568 of the laws of 2005, amending the mental
hygiene law relating to enacting the geriatric mental health act, as
amended by chapter 203 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as
follows:
S 3. Interagency geriatric mental health and chemical dependence plan-
ning council. (a) There shall be established an interagency geriatric
mental health and chemical dependence planning council. Such council
shall consist of nineteen members, as follows:
(1) the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of alcoholism
and substance abuse services, the director of the division of veterans'
affairs and the director of the state office for the aging, who shall
serve as the co-chairs of the council. The adjutant general shall serve
as an ex-officio member of the council;
(2) one member appointed by the commissioner of [mental retardation
and] THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH developmental disabilities to represent
the office [of mental retardation and] FOR PEOPLE WITH developmental
disabilities;
(3) one member appointed by the chairman of the state commission on
quality of care and advocacy for persons with disabilities to represent
such commission;
(4) one member appointed by the commissioner of health to represent
the department of health;
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(5) one member appointed by the commissioner of education to represent
the education department and the board of regents;
(6) one member appointed by the commissioner of children and family
services to represent the office of children and family services on
issues relating to adult protective services;
(7) one member appointed by the commissioner of temporary and disabil-
ity assistance to represent the office of temporary and disability
assistance;
(8) four members appointed by the governor; and
(9) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate and
two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly to represent any
other organizations which serve or advocate on behalf of elderly
persons.
(b) The members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of their
appointing authority.
(c) The council shall meet as often as necessary, but not less than
four times per calendar year, to develop annual recommendations, to be
submitted to the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of
alcoholism and substance abuse services, the director of the division of
veterans' affairs, the adjutant general and the director of the state
office for the aging, regarding geriatric mental health and chemical
dependence needs. Such recommendations may address issues which include:
community integration, quality improvement, integration of mental
health, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCE, COMPULSIVE GAMBLING, HEALTH, AGING AND SUCH
RELEVANT services [with services to address alcoholism, drug abuse, and
health care needs,] AS APPROPRIATE; AND workforce development, family
support and finance.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.