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.