Assembly Bill A10260

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10260
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 12, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on People with Disabilities
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law,  in  relation  to  enacting  the
   "Prader-Willi  syndrome  residential  stabilization  and best-practice
   support act"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "Prader-Willi syndrome residential stabilization  and  best-practice
 support act".
   §  2.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 13.44
 to read as follows:
 § 13.44 PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME RESIDENTIAL STABILIZATION  AND  BEST-PRAC-
           TICE SUPPORT.
   (A) THE OFFICE SHALL:
   1.  RECOGNIZE  PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME AS A DISTINCT, HIGH-NEED SUBPOPU-
 LATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES;
   2. DEVELOP  AND  APPROVE  PRADER-WILLI  SYNDROME-SPECIFIC  RESIDENTIAL
 MODELS UNDER EXISTING CERTIFIED SETTINGS SUCH AS INDIVIDUALIZED RESIDEN-
 TIAL  ALTERNATIVES  AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF
 SPECIALIZED,  SMALL-SCALE  HOMES  FOR  INDIVIDUALS   WITH   PRADER-WILLI
 SYNDROME OPERATED BY CERTIFIED PROVIDERS; AND
   3.  ESTABLISH  TRAINING AND OPERATIONAL STANDARDS CONSISTENT WITH BEST
 PRACTICES FOR PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME, INCLUDING SUCH STANDARDS RELATED TO
 FOOD SECURITY, MEDICAL MONITORING, AND BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT.
   (B) THE OFFICE SHALL UTILIZE EXISTING  FUNDING  MECHANISMS,  INCLUDING
 MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES, TO CARRY OUT THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION (A)
 OF THIS SECTION.
   (C) THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SHALL:
   1.  SUPPORT  MEDICAL  NECESSITY DETERMINATIONS FOR SPECIALIZED PRADER-
 WILLI SYNDROME RESIDENTIAL SERVICES;
   2. COORDINATE MEDICAID REIMBURSABLE COMPONENTS, SUCH AS NURSING  OVER-
 SIGHT, NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUPPORTS; AND
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14746-01-6
              

 A. 10260                            2
 
   3. ENSURE PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME-SPECIFIC RESIDENTIAL MODELS ALIGN WITH
 PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
   (D)  TARGETED  CAPITAL SUPPORT NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROVISIONS
 OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING FOR PILOT  HOMES  AND  ADAPTIVE  RENOVATIONS,
 SHALL BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET.
   (E) ACTIONS TAKEN PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL EMPHASIZE COST AVOID-
 ANCE AND REDUCING EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH CRISIS PLACEMENTS, INSTI-
 TUTIONALIZATION, AND OUT-OF-STATE SERVICES.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.