Ortiz Replaces Rivera as Assembly MH Chair; Morahan on the Mend

Friday, March 5, 2010

NYAPRS Note: NYAPRS congratulates long time Assembly Mental Health Chair Peter Rivera to his ascension to his new post as Speaker Pro Tempore of the NYS Assembly. We’ve long admired and benefitted from his dedicated leadership  many contributions to our community. As the committee chairman, Assemblyman Rivera:

• convened the Mental Hygiene Work Group to reorganize the Mental Health System in New York State,

• successfully restored or increased community mental health services’ funding,

• created two Centers of Excellence in Cultural Competence,

• fought to extend access to mental health care under Timothy’s Law and to protect access to psychiatric medications,

• passed or supported legislation benefitting adult home residents, prisoners and seniors with psychiatric disabilities,

• required independent research on NY’s Involuntary Outpatient Commitment program,

• extended the Community Reinvestment program and

• countless other legacy level achievement.

We trust that Peter will continue to look out for our community’s interests in his higher post and wish him all our best!

The new Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair, Felix Ortiz, is an old friend and supporter of the rights of our community since his election to the Assembly in 1994. He previously served as chair of the Assembly Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Committee and helped win passage of landmark Rockefeller Drug Law reform and gambling addiction treatment measures. He has long back legislation increasing oversight and patient protections as regards the use of electroshock therapy. He successfully sponsored legislation banning drivers’ cell phone use, children’s’ rights and obesity issues, immigrants’ rights, veteran’s issues and fought for stronger sex offender policies. We warmly welcome Felix to our community and the mental health committee leadership!

We also welcome the appointment of Assemblyman Michael Cusick to head the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities. Since 2002, the Staten Island legislator has been very active in mental health, disability, veterans and related issues and currently also sits on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Finally, we’re very pleased to share this account of our friend’s Senate MH Committee chairman Thomas Morahan’s steady recovery.

Speaker Silver Announces Appointments To Leadership Positions And Committee Chairs

Majority Leadership 

Speaker Pro Tempore                                          Peter M. Rivera

Secretary, Majority Conference                           Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes

Vice Chair, Majority Steering                               Barbara S. Lifton

Standing Committees        

Chair, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse                         Amy Paulin

Chair, Ethics & Guidance                                     Daniel O'Donnell

Chair, Libraries & Education Technology           Jonathan L. Bing

Chair, Mental Health                                              Felix Ortiz

Chair, Oversight, Analysis & Investigation          Michele Titus

Chair, Small Business                                           Adriano Espaillat

Chair, Veterans Affairs                                          William B. Magnarelli

Task Forces and Legislative Commissions

Chair, People with Disabilities                             Michael J. Cusick

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Morahan 'Responding Well To His Treatment,' Aide Says
Journal News  March 3, 2010

In response to a request for an update on the condition of state Sen. Thomas Morahan, who is under treatment for leukemia, the following statement was sent via e-mail by Ron Levine, Morahan's director of communications.

"Senator Morahan has been responding well to his treatment for a blood disorder at a New York City hospital. He is recovering and the prognosis is very positive.

"Since being hospitalized, the Senate passed three bills introduced by Senator Morahan. This week, the Senate majority appointed Senator Morahan to a bipartisan Senate taskforce that will be focusing on wasteful practices at state agencies. In addition, the Senator speaks with and communicates via e-mail with members of his Republican Senate conference, including Minority Leader Dean Skelos, as well as his friend and colleague Senator Jeff Klein, Senate deputy majority leader."

The statement also quotes Morahan: "While the treatment process is tiring at times, I have been spending a good deal of time staying in close contact with my staff, colleagues in government, and a number of individuals in my district. I very much appreciate the outpouring of support that I have received in the form of notes from scores of friends, relatives, neighbors, and officials from throughout Rockland and Orange counties. I love my job and I look forward to returning to Albany in the very near future."