S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    413
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  THOMAS, CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN ACT to establish the people  with  disabilities  access  to  programs
   commission

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. 1. (a) There is hereby established a people with  disabili-
 ties  access to programs commission to examine, evaluate and make recom-
 mendations for new laws with respect to how the state should  streamline
 eligibility  requirements and processes for its programs and services to
 assist people with disabilities including but not  limited  to  programs
 overseen  by  the  office  for  people  with developmental disabilities,
 office of mental health, department of health, ACCES-VR, and the  office
 of  children  and family services.  The commission's report shall be due
 by December 1, 2024.
   (b) The commission shall be comprised of eleven members, five of which
 shall be appointed by the governor, two of which shall be  appointed  by
 the  temporary  president of the senate, two of which shall be appointed
 by the speaker of the assembly, one of which shall be appointed  by  the
 minority  leader  of  the senate, and one of which shall be appointed by
 the minority leader of the assembly. The commission shall not  be  fully
 constituted  without the appointment of the eleventh member. There shall
 be no chairperson appointed, and the commission shall be governed  by  a
 majority vote, and at all times, the commission shall act with a quorum.
   2.  (a) The commission shall only meet within the state and shall hold
 at least one hearing at which the public will be afforded an opportunity
 to provide comments. The commission may hold additional public  hearings
 as  it  deems necessary. Such additional hearings, if any, may allow for
 an opportunity to provide public comments.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01900-01-3
              

 S. 413                              2
 
   (b) 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. Nothing contained
 herein shall prohibit a member of the commission from receiving  his  or
 her salary earned by reason of their state employee position.
   (c) No member of the commission shall be disqualified from holding any
 other  public  office  or public employment, nor shall he or she forfeit
 any such public office or public employment by  reason  of  his  or  her
 appointment  pursuant to this section, notwithstanding the provisions of
 any general, special or local law, regulation, ordinance or  city  char-
 ter.
   (d)  To  the  maximum  extent  feasible  and as authorized by law, the
 commission shall be entitled to request and receive  and  shall  utilize
 and  be  provided with such facilities, resources and data of any court,
 department,  division,  board,  bureau,  commission,  agency  or  public
 authority  of  the  state or any political subdivision thereof as it may
 reasonably request to properly carry out its powers and duties  pursuant
 to  this act.  Provided however, any information obtained by the commis-
 sion shall be kept confidential and  shall  only  be  utilized  for  the
 purpose  of completing their responsibilities as a member of the commis-
 sion.
   (e) The commission may request, and shall receive, reasonable  assist-
 ance  from state agency personnel as is necessary for the performance of
 its function.
   3. The commission shall make a report to the governor and the legisla-
 ture of its findings, conclusions,  determinations  and  recommendations
 and shall submit such report by December 1, 2024.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately. The commission created by
 section  one of this act shall be dissolved after the report required by
 such section has been submitted.