2010 Legislative Priorities
Each year, NYAPRS members, staff, and the the grassroots community, gather at a series of regional forums to discuss areas of state budget and legislative advocacy for the year ahead. Our regional coordinators and staff work with members of the mental health community to define a list of public policy issues that are of the highest priority.
You can download and view a newly revised and updated presentation on the results of NYAPRS member budget and legislative advocacy for the 2010 session that is currently being presented at NYAPRS' summer/fall regional forums statewide. Download the presentation here!
Regional forums have been scheduled for Westchester, the Hudson Valley, NYC, Long Island, and the North Country. Click on your region's name to view details on the forum in your area or contact your regional coordinator for more information.
Budget Priorities
Office of Mental Health:
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SUPPORT: We must Preserve and Protect Current Funding Levels for the Community Mental Health Safety Net! Despite the large and unfair disparities in compensation we have endured for over two decades, our community mental health workforce continues to serve in the state's moment of greatest need.
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COLA
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EXPAND: Bring Justice for Adult Home Residents with Psychiatric Disabilities by Expanding Supported Housing Beds and Services in the Community.
Community Services Initiatives
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advancing the Employment of New Yorkers with Disabilities
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The Expansion of Peer Recovery Centers and Personalized Recovery Oriented Services in New York (concerned about diminished start up dollars)
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Clinic Restructuring
State Hospitals
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SSI in Hospitals: Mental Hygiene Law Sections 29.23 and 33.07 provide important protections for patients residing in OMH and OMRDD facilities, which the Governor proposes to eliminate. First, the Governor proposes to revoke the requirement in Section 33.07 of the Mental Hygiene Law that OMH and OMRDD act in a patient's best interests when they manage a patient's funds as representative payee. Second, the Governor proposes to amend Mental Hygiene Law Section 29.23 to exempt Social Security benefits and other federal or state benefits from the requirement that a patient's funds must first be used for "luxuries, comforts, and necessities" before those funds can be used for facility charges. Last, the Governor proposes to amend Mental Hygiene Law Section 29.23 to exempt Social Security benefits and other federal or state benefits which prohibits OMH and OMRDD from receiving more than $5,000 in patient funds from any source. These proposals are designed to balance the budget by plundering patients' Social Security funds. The State anticipates seizing $70 million in patients' funds annually, which would come directly from Social Security funds which would otherwise be used for patients' comforts and necessities in the facility, and to enable patients to successfully establish themselves in the community upon discharge from the facility. Without funds to establish themselves after discharge, patients are likely to end up back in the facility or homeless. Last year, the Governor proposed nearly identical changes to the law, and the Legislature wisely rejected them. It should do so again. There is a desperate shortage of supported housing and community programs for persons with mental illness leaving state hospitals, and persons with mental retardation leaving developmental centers. Patients would greatly benefit from saving their Social Security benefits for housing, food, clothing, transportation, education and other needs upon discharge, which would greatly increase the likelihood of successful transition to community life.
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SOMTA
Department of Health
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RESTORE: Language protections assuring that funds continue to be explicitly dedicated to help adult home residents with psychiatric disabilities get recovery services and air conditioning assistance and to require resident council approval for all adult home quality improvement proposals.
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PRESERVE: Open Unrestricted Access to Antidepressant and Antipsychotic Medications in New York's Medicaid Program.
Commission on Quality of Care for People with Disabilities
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RESTORE: CIAD money
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SUPPORT: Continued funding for legislative initiatives that advance custody rights and supports for Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities.
Office of Disability and Temporary Assistance
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SUPPORT: No Cut to state supplement to SSI
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RESTORE: $4.6 million to fully fund SROs in OTDA at $22.2 million and $5 million for OTDA's Supported Housing for Family and Young Adults
Legislative Agenda
Office of Mental Health
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SUPPORT: Reauthorizing the Community Reinvestment Act redirecting savings from state hospital downsizing into community service expansion.
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REJECT: Forced Outpatient Treatment Initiatives Associated with Kendra's Law
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ADVANCE: Improved System Responsiveness and Service Engagement initiatives
Executive Law
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SUPPORT: Legislation (A.8699 and S.3369 Adding Consumer Representatives to the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council
State Education Department
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SUPPORT: Legislation Extending the Exemption for Social Worker and Mental Health Practitioner Licensing Requirements for an additional four years through June 1, 2014 to allow localities and the field time to train and upgrade staffing to comply with licensing standards.
Social Services Law
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Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities: Ending The Discrimination Against Parents with Psychiatric Disabilities by Eliminating Section 384B of Social Services Law that Jeopardizes Parental Custody Rights for People with Psychiatric Disabilities.
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Adult Home Resident Abuse Reporting: A.668, Magnarelli Amends Social Servcies and Education Law to require health care and other professionals to report cases of abuse, mistreatment, or neglect of residents in adult homes and assisted living residences and provides civil penalties for committing acts of abuse, mistreatment or neglect or failure to report such alleged acts committed by others.