S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2164
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, M. G. MILLER, SANTABARBARA -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the social services law, in
relation to housing navigation services for those with intellectual
and 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
13.44 to read as follows:
§ 13.44 HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES.
(A) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES
FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 1.03 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW. HOUSING NAVIGATION
SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
(1) COLLABORATING WITH INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUALIZED HOUS-
ING ACTION PLAN, THAT AT A MINIMUM, SHALL ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN FINDING
APPROPRIATE HOUSING THAT MEETS THEIR SPECIFIC HOUSING GOALS;
(2) SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS THAT APPLY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS;
(3) COORDINATING AND ASSISTING HOUSING TRANSITIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS,
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS; AND
(4) COLLABORATING WITH INDIVIDUALS TO CRAFT A HOUSING SUSTAINABILITY
PLAN TO ENSURE THAT SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN
STABLE HOUSING, AND HAVE ACCESS TO AND ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE NECESSARY
SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE THEIR HOUSING GOALS.
(B) (1) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A HOUSING NAVIGA-
TION CURRICULUM STATEWIDE, FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRAINING APPLICANTS IN
DELIVERING HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION (A) OF
THIS SECTION. IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SUCH CURRICULUM, THE
COMMISSIONER MAY CONTRACT WITH AN ENTITY THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED APPROPRI-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01777-01-9
A. 2164 2
ATE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE, AND EXPERIENCE IN HOUSING NAVIGATOR SERVICES
AND TRAINING CURRICULUMS.
(2) THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE REGIONAL OFFICES UNDER
HIS OR HER JURISDICTION SHALL PERFORM A STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED
FOR HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES, AND SHALL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OUTREACH
REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING NAVIGATION TRAINING IN REGIONS OF
THE STATE WHERE THERE IS THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATED NEED.
(C) (1) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH A HOUSING NAVIGATION TASK
FORCE TO PERFORM TASKS THAT WILL HELP TO ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMEN-
TATION OF THE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION.
THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE CO-CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER
DESIGNEE, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY
ASSISTANCE OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF NEW YORK
STATE HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL. ENSURING ADEQUATE GEOGRAPHIC REPRE-
SENTATION, AN ADDITIONAL TEN INDIVIDUALS SHALL BE SELECTED FOR THE TASK
FORCE. SUCH INDIVIDUALS SHALL HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELDS
OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, BANKING, FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND IN
DELIVERING HOUSING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR INTEL-
LECTUAL DISABILITIES AS A NON-PROFIT PROVIDER. THE MEMBERS SHALL BE
SELECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OTHER STATE AGENCY
REPRESENTATIVES ON THE TASK FORCE.
(2) THE TASK FORCE SHALL MEET AS OFTEN AS IS NECESSARY, BUT NO LESS
THAN THREE TIMES PER YEAR, AND UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES AS ARE APPROPRIATE TO
FULFILLING ITS DUTIES AS REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION.
(3) MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL SERVE WITHOUT COMPENSATION, BUT
MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR ACTUAL COSTS INCURRED FOR PARTICIPATION ON SUCH
TASK FORCE.
(4) THE TASK FORCE SHALL:
(I) COORDINATE WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE REGIONAL OFFICES TO HELP
ENSURE ACCESS TO HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES IN THE REGIONS OF THE STATE
WITH THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATED NEED;
(II) CREATE OR UTILIZE WRITTEN INFORMATION THAT MAY BE USED AS A
RESOURCE FOR INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HOUSING NAVIGATION RESOURCES
AS WELL AS EDUCATING PARENTS, INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDER AGENCIES AND OTHER
STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-CERTIFIED HOUSING IN ALL
FIVE REGIONS OF THE OFFICE;
(III) PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF AND WAYS TO
IMPLEMENT A HOUSING NAVIGATOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM USING THE HOUS-
ING NAVIGATOR TRAINING CURRICULUM;
(IV) ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH METHODS WHICH MEASURE THE
CORRELATION BETWEEN THE HOUSING NAVIGATOR MODEL AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
OF HEALTH;
(V) EVALUATE HOUSING NAVIGATION AS A REIMBURSABLE SERVICE AND MEASUR-
ING OUTCOMES BASED ON VALUE-BASED PAYMENT METHODOLOGIES AND ARRANGE-
MENTS; AND
(VI) EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES
TO OTHER SYSTEMS OF CARE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE DELIVERY OF HOUSING
SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HIGH UTILIZATION MEDICAID SERVICE
ENROLLEES WHO RESIDE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
§ 2. Section 366 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 7-d to read as follows:
7-D. THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER
OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IS AUTHORIZED
TO SUBMIT THE APPROPRIATE WAIVERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE
AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO SECTION ELEVEN HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE FEDERAL
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE PURPOSE OF HIGH-QUALITY
A. 2164 3
HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES PURSUANT TO SECTION 13.44 OF THE MENTAL
HYGIENE LAW FOR A POPULATION OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR INTELLEC-
TUAL DISABILITIES, AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN SECTION 1.03 OF THE
MENTAL HYGIENE LAW.
§ 3. Subdivision (b) of section 5.07 of the mental hygiene law is
amended by adding a new paragraph 5 to read as follows:
(5) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISA-
BILITIES SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN THE PORTION OF THE STATEWIDE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO
PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES: (I) INFORMATION
RELATED TO PROGRESS IMPLEMENTING AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOUSING NAVI-
GATION SERVICES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 13.44 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW,
AND (II) ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY SUCH COMMISSIONER.
§ 4. This act shall take effect April 1, 2020. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.