Assembly Bill A5357

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5357
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to recovery communi-
   ty centers
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
 32.05-b to read as follows:
 § 32.05-B CERTIFIED RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTERS.
   1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE REGULATIONS CONSISTENT WITH  THIS
 SECTION  FOR THE VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION OF CERTIFIED RECOVERY COMMUNITY
 CENTERS.
   2. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL  BE  EVIDENCE-BASED,  UTILIZING  INFORMATION
 FROM  SOURCES  WITH  EXPERTISE IN RECOVERY. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL, AT A
 MINIMUM, PROVIDE GUIDANCE FOR:
   (A) STAFFING;
   (B) REFERRALS  TO  AND  COORDINATION  WITH  COMMUNITY  AND  PEER-BASED
 SUPPORTS INCLUDING SUPPORT RELATED TO CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS;
   (C) PARTICIPANT SAFETY;
   (D) PARTICIPANT RIGHTS;
   (E) CONFIDENTIALITY;
   (F) RE-OCCURRENCE SUPPORT; AND
   (G) ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
   3.  ONCE  THE  COMMISSIONER  HAS  CERTIFIED  A LOCATION AS A CERTIFIED
 RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTER,  SUCH  CERTIFIED  RECOVERY  COMMUNITY  CENTER
 SHALL  BE  INCLUDED  ON  THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE AS AN AVAILABLE OPTION FOR
 INDIVIDUALS SEEKING SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT.
   4. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL REGULATE AND ENSURE THAT SUCH CENTERS  WHICH
 ARE  CERTIFIED TO BE CERTIFIED RECOVERY COMMUNITY CENTERS ARE CONTINUING
 TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF  THIS  SECTION.  THE  COMMISSIONER  HAS  THE
 AUTHORITY  TO  INSPECT  SUCH  CERTIFIED  RECOVERY  COMMUNITY CENTERS AND

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04979-01-5
              

 A. 5357                             2
 
 IMPOSE PENALTIES, INCLUDING LIMITING, REVOKING OR SUSPENDING  A  CERTIF-
 ICATION,  AS  APPROPRIATE,  FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
 THIS SECTION.
   5.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL  CONSULT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO
 ENSURE THAT  THE  SERVICES  PROVIDED  BY  CERTIFIED  RECOVERY  COMMUNITY
 CENTERS ARE REIMBURSABLE IN THE STATE MEDICAID SYSTEM.
   §  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.