Senate Bill S3138

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3138
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 27, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. MANNION, ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation  to  establishing  a
   pilot  program  to  create  an assistance hotline for individuals with
   intellectual and developmental  disabilities  and  complex  behavioral
   needs
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 13.17 of the  mental  hygiene  law  is  amended  by
 adding a new subdivision (e) to read as follows:
   (E)  1.  THE  COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER A THREE-YEAR
 PILOT PROGRAM TO CREATE  AN  ASSISTANCE  HOTLINE  FOR  INDIVIDUALS  WITH
 INTELLECTUAL  AND  DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITIES  AND  COMPLEX  BEHAVIORAL
 NEEDS.
   2. THE ASSISTANCE HOTLINE SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE VIA  A  TOLL-FREE  TELE-
 PHONE  NUMBER  AND VIDEO RELAY SERVICE OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY ACCESSIBLE TO
 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR HAVE  SPEECH  DISABILITIES,
 THAT OPERATES TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
   3.  THE OFFICE SHALL RECRUIT AND TRAIN EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS
 WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND COMPLEX  BEHAVIORAL
 HEALTH NEEDS WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES OFFERED BY THE OFFICE.  INDIVIDUALS
 WITH  INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL
 HEALTH NEEDS, OR THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF SUCH  INDIVIDUALS,  MAY  CALL
 THE  HOTLINE  TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES, REFERRAL TO
 SERVICES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION ON SERVICES OFFERED BY THE OFFICE.
   4. THE HOTLINE SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE IN ENGLISH AND THE SIX MOST  COMMON
 NON-ENGLISH  LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED-ENGLISH PROFI-
 CIENCY IN NEW YORK STATE BASED ON THE MOST RECENT CENSUS  AND  TO  THOSE
 WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, OR HAVE SPEECH DISABILITIES.
   5.  ON OR BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE COMMISSIONER
 SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY,  AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04896-01-3
              

 S. 3138                             2
 
 THE  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF THE SENATE EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
 THE PILOT PROGRAM.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.    Effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment
 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.