S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5791
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 18, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to increasing the
frequency of visitation and inspection of facilities per year
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Paragraph 1 of subdivision (a) of section 16.11 of the
mental hygiene law, as added by section 10 of part MM of chapter 58 of
the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(1) The review of facilities issued an operating certificate pursuant
to this article shall include periodic visitation and review of each
facility. Reviews shall be made as frequently as the commissioner may
deem necessary but in any event such inspections shall be made on at
least [two] THREE occasions during each calendar year which shall be
without prior notice, provided, however, that where, in the discretion
of the commissioner, an operating certificate has been issued to a
program with a history of compliance and a record of providing a high
quality of care, the periodic inspection and visitation required by this
subdivision shall be made at least [once] TWICE during each calendar
year provided such [visit] VISITS shall be without prior notice,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE COMMISSIONER PROVIDE NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF
THE APPLICABLE BOARD OF VISITORS. ANY MEMBER OR MEMBERS OF A BOARD OF
VISITORS, APPOINTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 13.33 OF THIS TITLE, AND ANY
OTHER INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS THE COMMISSIONER AT HIS OR HER
DISCRETION APPROVES, MAY ACCOMPANY INSPECTORS DURING THE STATE'S PERIOD-
IC VISITATIONS AND INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION AS
INDEPENDENT MONITORS. Areas of review shall include, but not be limited
to, a review of a facility's: physical plant, fire safety procedures,
health care, protective oversight, abuse and neglect prevention, and
reporting procedures.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.