Renames an office of addiction services and supports scholarship program the "NYS Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Professionals Scholarship Program"; codifies the purposes of such program as offering financial education assistance to individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in addiction studies or the education requirements for an office of addiction services and supports credential at Alfred State College, Stony Brook University or Empire State University.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8955
SPONSOR: McDonald TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to renaming an
office of addiction services and supports scholarship program the "NYS
Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Professionals Scholarship Program"
PURPOSE:
To rename the addiction services scholarship program in honor of Father
Peter Young.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1. Amends section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law by renaming
the program as the 'NYS Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Profes-
sionals Scholarship Program.'
JUSTIFICATION:
This scholarship program addresses workforce shortages in addiction
treatment. Renaming it honors Father Peter Young's pioneering approach
to addiction rehabilitation, which emphasized treatment, housing, and
employment. His efforts transformed lives across New York State and
continue to inspire advancements in addiction services.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A8160 (2023-24)
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8955
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 18, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to renaming an
office of addiction services and supports scholarship program the "NYS
Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Professionals Scholarship
Program"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision (o) to read as follows:
3 (o) The office shall administer a scholarship program to be named the
4 "NYS Father Peter Young Memorial Addiction Professionals Scholarship
5 Program". Such program shall offer financial education assistance to
6 individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in addiction studies or the
7 education requirements for an office of addiction services and supports
8 credential at Alfred State College, Stony Brook University or Empire
9 State University. Such program shall use such funds as shall be provided
10 by the governor for the purposes under this subdivision. The commission-
11 er shall be authorized to seek and receive any assistance deemed neces-
12 sary by the commissioner from the University of the State of New York in
13 the administration of such program. Such program shall operate as a
14 continuation of any program operating under the leadership of the office
15 for the same purpose in existence upon the effective date of this subdi-
16 vision. The commissioner shall be authorized to promulgate any rules
17 and/or regulations necessary for the implementation of this subdivision.
18 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
19 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
20 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
21 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
22 on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04763-01-5
