S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
226
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRUZ, BUTTENSCHON, STIRPE, SANTABARBARA,
SEAWRIGHT, SIMON, TAYLOR, RAGA, ZINERMAN, COLTON -- read once and
referred to the Committee on People with Disabilities
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the
office for people with developmental disabilities to create a staffing
plan for workforce emergencies when experiencing staffing shortages
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) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AN EMERGENCY STAFFING PLAN FOR
STATE OPERATED FACILITIES IN EACH REGION. SUCH EMERGENCY STAFFING PLAN
SHALL INCLUDE INCENTIVIZING THE CURRENT WORKFORCE THROUGH ENHANCED OVER-
TIME PAY, ACTIONS TO IMPROVE STAFFING THAT MINIMIZE THE TRANSFER OF
INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR RESIDENCES AND MOVEMENT OF STAFF BETWEEN RESI-
DENCES, AND ENHANCED RECRUITMENT INITIATIVES. THE EMERGENCY STAFFING
PLAN SHALL BE IN EFFECT WHEN ANY REGION'S FILL LEVEL IS LESS THAN NINETY
PERCENT. THE EMERGENCY STAFFING PLAN SHALL BE MADE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE
AND SHALL BE PUBLISHED ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00151-01-5