S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2972--A
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 30, 2015
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Introduced by Sens. YOUNG, FUNKE, GALLIVAN, KENNEDY, ORTT -- read twice
and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities -- recommitted to the
Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities in accord-
ance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to integrated hous-
ing for individuals with developmental disabilities
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
13.43 to read as follows:
S 13.43 INTEGRATED HOUSING PLAN.
(A) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILI-
TIES ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL, THE MOST INTEGRATED SETTINGS COORDINATING COUNCIL
AND OTHER AGENCIES AS DETERMINED APPROPRIATE BY THE COMMISSIONER, SHALL
ESTABLISH A PLAN TO INCREASE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO:
(1) THE CREATION AND MAINTENANCE OF AN INVENTORY OF AFFORDABLE AND
ACCESSIBLE RENTAL UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES;
AND
(2) IDENTIFICATION OF STRATEGIES TO FACILITATE INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING
OR ELIGIBLE FOR HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED (HCBS) WAIVERS TO LIVE IN THEIR
OWN HOME, LEASED APARTMENT OR FAMILY'S HOME, WHEN SUCH A PLACEMENT IS
THEIR INFORMED CHOICE AND THE MOST INTEGRATED SETTING APPROPRIATE TO
THEIR NEEDS. ANY SUCH STRATEGIES AT A MINIMUM SHALL ADDRESS:
(I) FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL
DISABILITIES, INCLUDING STUDENTS TRANSITIONING FROM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05939-03-6
S. 2972--A 2
TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN HOME OR APARTMENT AND AWAY FROM THEIR
PARENTAL HOME;
(II) INCREASING THE STOCK OF AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE RENTAL UNITS
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES;
(III) INCREASING AND EXPANDING ACCESS TO RENTAL SUBSIDIES FOR INDIVID-
UALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES;
(IV) BUILDING UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF INFORMED CHOICES FOR
INDEPENDENT LIVING AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES,
FAMILIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS, DEVELOPERS AND MEDICAID
SERVICE COORDINATORS;
(V) REVIEWING AND EVALUATING POTENTIAL FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY CHANG-
ES THAT WILL FACILITATE INCREASED ACCESS AND AVAILABILITY OF SERVICES
AND SUPPORTS THAT PERMIT INDIVIDUALS TO CHOOSE MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING
OPTIONS; AND
(VI) ASSESSING AND ADVANCING COORDINATED PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
(B) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILI-
TIES ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE DIVISION OF HOUSING
AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL, THE MOST INTEGRATED SETTINGS COORDINATING COUNCIL
AND OTHER AGENCIES AS DETERMINED APPROPRIATE BY THE COMMISSIONER, SHALL
DEVELOP THE PLAN WITH INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF INDIVIDUALS
WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, ADVOCATES AND PROVIDERS OF SERVICES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, SUCH PLAN MAY INCLUDE THE
HOUSING TRANSFORMATION GOAL AND STRATEGIES IDENTIFIED IN THE OFFICE'S
COST CONTAINMENT STRATEGY, SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL CENTERS FOR MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID SERVICES, DATED JUNE FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN, AND ANY
REQUIRED UPDATES THEREOF SUBMITTED TO SUCH CENTERS THEREAFTER.
(C) THE PLAN REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE DEVELOPED AND
SUBMITTED TO THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY AND THE CHAIRS OF APPROPRIATE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY STANDING
COMMITTEES, AND POSTED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE OFFICE ON OR BEFORE APRIL
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SEVENTEEN. SUCH PLAN SHALL BE REASSESSED AND UPDATED
AT LEAST ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, ON OR BEFORE THE THIRTY-FIRST DAY OF JANU-
ARY, TO ENSURE RESPONSIVENESS TO CHANGING NEEDS AND GOALS, TO REFLECT
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INFORMATION, AND TO REFLECT ACHIEVEMENT OF HOUS-
ING TRANSFORMATION GOALS, EVALUATION OF SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATED HOUSING
STRATEGIES AND MILESTONES TO MEET INTEGRATED HOUSING GOALS. SUCH UPDATED
PLAN SHALL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE OF THE OFFICE, AND SUBMITTED TO THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.