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Senate Bill S8635B

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to establishing a special needs assisted living demonstration program

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Health Committee

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Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2025-S8635 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A9418
Current Committee:
Senate Health
Law Section:
Social Services Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §461-l, Soc Serv L; amd §3614, Pub Health L

2025-S8635 - Summary

Establishes a special needs assisted living demonstration program to authorize up to three assisted living programs throughout the state to serve individuals with special needs, including, but not limited to, individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments.

2025-S8635 - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8635 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8635
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 7, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. FERNANDEZ, CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the social services law and the public health law, in
   relation to a special needs assisted living demonstration program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Subdivision 3 of section 461-l of the social services law
 is amended by adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
   (O) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH (M) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSION-
 ER SHALL ESTABLISH A SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTED LIVING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
 TO AUTHORIZE UP TO THREE ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT  THE  STATE
 TO  SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS.  EACH  PARTICIPATING
 ASSISTED  LIVING  PROGRAM  SHALL SUBMIT INFORMATION AS DETERMINED BY THE
 COMMISSIONER TO ANALYZE THE FEASIBILITY, EFFICIENCY  AND  THE  POTENTIAL
 FOR  COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING CARE TO THE POPULATION UNDER
 THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. NO LATER THAN TWO YEARS AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE
 DATE  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE
 GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER  OF  THE
 ASSEMBLY ANALYZING THE COST AND EFFICIENCY OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTED
 LIVING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
   § 2. Subdivision 6 of section 3614 of the public health law is amended
 by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   (D)  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ADJUST MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RATES OF PAYMENT
 FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY ASSISTED LIVING  PROGRAMS  PARTICIPATING  IN  A
 DEMONSTRATION  PROGRAM PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (O) OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF
 SECTION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE-L OF THE SOCIAL  SERVICES  LAW  TO  SERVE
 INDIVIDUALS  WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INDIVID-
 UALS WITH DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS. SUCH RATES SHALL BE  SUFFI-
 CIENT  TO  COVER THE PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES, STAFFING LEVELS,
 STAFF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
 OR SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS RELEVANT  TO  SERVING  PERSONS  WITH  SPECIAL
 NEEDS,  AND  ANY ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OR WILL
 BE MADE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF SUCH PERSONS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

co-Sponsors

2025-S8635A - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A9418
Current Committee:
Senate Health
Law Section:
Social Services Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §461-l, Soc Serv L; amd §3614, Pub Health L

2025-S8635A - Summary

Establishes a special needs assisted living demonstration program to authorize up to three assisted living programs throughout the state to serve individuals with special needs, including, but not limited to, individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments.

2025-S8635A - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8635A - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8635--A
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 7, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. FERNANDEZ, CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health -- commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law and the public  health  law,  in
   relation to a special needs assisted living demonstration program

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 461-l of the social  services  law
 is amended by adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
   (O) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPH (N) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSION-
 ER SHALL ESTABLISH A SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTED LIVING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
 TO  AUTHORIZE  UP TO THREE ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
 TO SERVE INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED  TO,
 INDIVIDUALS  WITH DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS.  EACH PARTICIPATING
 ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAM SHALL SUBMIT INFORMATION AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE
 COMMISSIONER  TO  ANALYZE  THE FEASIBILITY, EFFICIENCY AND THE POTENTIAL
 FOR COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING CARE TO THE POPULATION  UNDER
 THE  DEMONSTRATION  PROGRAM. NO LATER THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE
 DATE OF THIS PARAGRAPH, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT A  REPORT  TO  THE
 GOVERNOR,  THE  TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE
 ASSEMBLY ANALYZING THE COST AND EFFICIENCY OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTED
 LIVING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
   § 2. Subdivision 6 of section 3614 of the public health law is amended
 by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   (D) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ADJUST MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RATES OF  PAYMENT
 FOR  SERVICES  PROVIDED  BY  ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAMS PARTICIPATING IN A
 DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (O) OF SUBDIVISION THREE  OF
 SECTION  FOUR  HUNDRED  SIXTY-ONE-L  OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW TO SERVE
 INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,  INDIVID-
 UALS  WITH DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS. SUCH RATES SHALL BE SUFFI-
 CIENT TO COVER THE PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES,  STAFFING  LEVELS,
 STAFF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
 OR  SPECIAL  CHARACTERISTICS  RELEVANT  TO  SERVING PERSONS WITH SPECIAL
 NEEDS, AND ANY ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE  OR  WILL
 BE MADE TO PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF SUCH PERSONS.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
              

co-Sponsors

2025-S8635B (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A9418
Current Committee:
Senate Health
Law Section:
Social Services Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §461-l, Soc Serv L; amd §3614, Pub Health L

2025-S8635B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes a special needs assisted living demonstration program to authorize up to three assisted living programs throughout the state to serve individuals with special needs, including, but not limited to, individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments.

2025-S8635B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2025-S8635B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  8635--B
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 7, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. FERNANDEZ, CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health -- commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to  said  committee  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN  ACT  to  amend the social services law and the public health law, in
   relation to a special needs assisted living demonstration program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision 3 of section 461-l of the social services law
 is amended by adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
   (O) NOTWITHSTANDING PARAGRAPHS (M) AND (N)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION,  AS
 WELL  AS  ARTICLE FORTY-SIX-B OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, THE COMMISSIONER
 SHALL ESTABLISH A SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTED LIVING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO
 AUTHORIZE UP TO THREE ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE  STATE  TO
 SERVE  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  SPECIAL  NEEDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
 INDIVIDUALS WITH DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS.  EACH  PARTICIPATING
 ASSISTED  LIVING  PROGRAM  SHALL SUBMIT INFORMATION AS DETERMINED BY THE
 COMMISSIONER TO ANALYZE THE FEASIBILITY, EFFICIENCY  AND  THE  POTENTIAL
 FOR  COST SAVINGS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING CARE TO THE POPULATION UNDER
 THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM. NO LATER THAN TWO YEARS AFTER  THE  EFFECTIVE
 DATE  OF  THIS  PARAGRAPH, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE
 GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER  OF  THE
 ASSEMBLY ANALYZING THE COST AND EFFICIENCY OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS ASSISTED
 LIVING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
   § 2. Subdivision 6 of section 3614 of the public health law is amended
 by adding a new paragraph (d) to read as follows:
   (D)  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ADJUST MEDICAL ASSISTANCE RATES OF PAYMENT
 FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY ASSISTED LIVING  PROGRAMS  PARTICIPATING  IN  A
 DEMONSTRATION  PROGRAM PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (O) OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF
 SECTION FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE-L OF THE SOCIAL  SERVICES  LAW  TO  SERVE
 INDIVIDUALS  WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INDIVID-
 UALS WITH DEMENTIA OR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS. SUCH RATES SHALL BE  SUFFI-
 CIENT  TO  COVER THE PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES, STAFFING LEVELS,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

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