S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9553
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 20, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
Committee on People with Disabilities
AN ACT establishing the "blue-ribbon commission on the future of New
York state's service delivery system for individuals with intellectual
and developmental disabilities act"; and providing for the repeal of
such provisions upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "blue-rib-
bon commission on the future of New York state's service delivery system
for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities act".
§ 2. A temporary commission, to be known as the "blue-ribbon commis-
sion on the future of New York state's service delivery system for indi-
viduals with intellectual and developmental disabilities", hereinafter
referred to as the "commission", is hereby established to conduct a
comprehensive study and prepare a report to examine, evaluate and make
recommendations for systemic reforms to ensure a sustainable set of
supports and services that meets the needs of all individuals with
intellectual and developmental disabilities.
§ 3. 1. The commission shall consist of fifteen members appointed by
the governor as follows:
(a) one member who is an individual with developmental or intellectual
disabilities;
(b) one member who is a representative of organized labor that repres-
ents a facility operated by the office for people with developmental
disabilities;
(c) one member who is a representative of a provider agency that is
certified by the office for people with developmental disabilities;
(d) one member who is a representative of a self-advocacy group that
represents individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities;
(e) one member who is a not-for-profit housing developer with experi-
ence building a supervised living facility or a supportive living facil-
ity as such terms are defined in section 1.03 of the mental hygiene law,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14774-02-4
A. 9553 2
or a group home operated by a provider agency certified by the office
for people with developmental disabilities;
(f) one member who is a representative of an organization established
by section forty-four hundred three-g of the public health law;
(g) one member who is a direct support professional certified by the
office for people with developmental disabilities;
(h) two members upon recommendation of the temporary president of the
senate;
(i) one member upon recommendation of the minority leader of the
senate;
(j) two members upon recommendation of the speaker of the assembly;
(k) one member upon recommendation of the minority leader of the
assembly;
(l) one member who is the commissioner of the office for people with
developmental disabilities or his or her designee; and
(m) one member who is the chief disability officer or such chief disa-
bility officer's designee.
2. The commissioner of the office for people with developmental disa-
bilities shall serve as the chair of the commission. Additionally, the
commission shall elect a vice-chair and a secretary from amongst its
members. Vacancies in the membership of the commission and among its
officers shall be filled in the manner provided for original appoint-
ments.
3. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 4. Such study shall examine systemic reforms to ensure a sustainable
set of supports and services that meets the needs of all individuals
with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including but not
limited to:
1. long-term and short-term solutions to address the workforce crisis,
including but not limited to the recruitment and retention of staff;
2. positive and effective services outcomes and a person-centered
approach in delivering all such services;
3. access to supports and services that reduce racial and socio-eco-
nomic inequities and disparities;
4. technology and infrastructure needs;
5. limiting closures of state-operated and provider agency-operated
facilities;
6. solutions to adverse regulatory and administrative burdens placed
on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
7. dual-diagnosis needs of individuals with intellectual and develop-
mental disabilities, behavioral health needs and other complex issues;
8. modernized and innovative housing opportunities;
9. career pathways, work trainings, and employment options for indi-
viduals with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
10. appropriate use of technology, including but not limited to tech-
nologies such as artificial intelligence; and
11. removing barriers that adversely affect individuals enrolled in
the self-direction program.
§ 5. Not later than one year after the effective date of this act, the
commission shall prepare and submit to the governor, the temporary pres-
ident of the senate and the speaker of the assembly a report of the
study's findings, together with specific recommendations for systemic
reforms to ensure a sustainable set of supports and services that meets
A. 9553 3
the needs of all individuals with intellectual and developmental disa-
bilities.
§ 6. The office for people with developmental disabilities shall
provide the commission with such facilities, assistance, data and infor-
mation as will enable the commission to carry out its study and report;
provided, further, that state entities shall, at the request of the
chair, provide the commission with such facilities, assistance, data and
information as will enable the commission to carry out its study and
report.
§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed two years after it shall have become a law.