Establishes an intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot program to support two three-year demonstration programs that provide intensive addiction and mental health integrated services to individuals with significant addiction and mental health issues who have had multiple and frequent treatment episodes.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A9409
SPONSOR: Woerner TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing an
intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services pilot
program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration
thereof
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would establish an intensive addiction recovery and mental
health integrated services demonstration program for individuals with
significant addiction and mental health issues who have had multiple and
frequent treatment episodes
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: establishes "Topper's Law"
Section 2: amends the mental hygiene law by adding section 19.18-d to
create a pilot program to support two three-year demonstration programs
that provide intensive addiction and mental health integrated services
to individuals with significant addiction and mental health issues who
have had multiple and frequent treatment episodes. One of the demon-
stration programs shall be located in a rural area and one shall be
located in an urban setting. Services shall include but not be limited
to mental health counseling services for the individuals and their fami-
lies, peer supports, and transportation assistance, and shall be prima-
rily provided in the community or home of the individual, as clinically
and socially necessitated.
Section 3: requires the commissioner to provide a written evaluation
within one year after the conclusion of the demonstration programs and
annually thereafter, which, at minimum, addresses the overall effective-
ness of the program, identifies best practices for services provided and
any additional services that may be appropriate, and addresses whether
continuation or expansion of the demonstration program is recommended.
The written evaluation shall be made publicly available on the office's
website.
Section 4: establishes the effective date
JUSTIFICATION:
Topher's Law is an initiative designed to support individuals suffering
from co-occurring disorders (substance use disorders and significant
mental health diagnoses) by developing models that remove barriers to
obtaining treatment and promote greater access to appropriate services.
Most current OASAS treatment programs are not able to treat individuals
who have significant co-occurring disorders. This demonstration program
would assist individuals with both sets of diagnoses and create a
person-centered treatment model that ensures each individual receives a
level of care appropriate to them. Services encompassed by such a
person-centered treatment model may include:
* Peer Support;
* Family Counseling/Family Support;
* Mental Health Counseling;
* Substance Use Disorder Treatment;
* Medication Assisted Recovery;
* Regular employment transportation;
* Education transportation, such as trade school, 2- or 4-year degree
programs, or apprenticeships;
* Shopping for healthy food, clothing, and other essential items;
* Trips to Mutual Aid Meetings Narcotics Anonymous/Alcoholics Anonymous;
* Trips to court or drug court, or court-related appointments (probation
officer, social worker, etc.);
* Trips that reduce social isolation, such as social outings with others
engaged in sober living; and
* Trips to local recovery community outreach centers or other communi-
ty-based supports.
Because this model is tailored to individual needs, the program will
help individuals improve their situation by providing them with hope and
confidence to move forward. COVID-19 has increased social isolation and
unemployment leading to especially disastrous results for individuals
with co-occurring disorders. The primary purpose of this pilot program
is to provide services which are not currently offered to one of the
most vulnerable populations in OASAS treatment settings. Giving people
support they need to get back on their feet by providing integrated
services will pay back dividends in increased productivity, earning
potential, and a decrease in re-admittance in existing programs.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023/2024 - A.2972 - Referred to ways and means
2022 - A.8502 - Referred to Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
S.8244 - Passed Senate
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect April 1, 2026 and shall expire on the nineti-
eth day following the submission of the report provided for pursuant to
subdivision 2 of section 19.18-d of the mental hygiene law as added by
section two of this act, when upon such date the provisions of this act
shall be deemed repealed.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9409
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 19, 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 establishing an
intensive addiction recovery and mental health integrated services
pilot program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 "Topher's Law".
3 § 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
4 19.18-d to read as follows:
5 § 19.18-d Intensive addiction and mental health integrated services
6 pilot program.
7 1. Within the funds appropriated to the office, a pilot program shall
8 be established to support two three-year demonstration programs that
9 provide intensive addiction and mental health integrated services to
10 individuals with significant addiction and mental health issues who have
11 had multiple and frequent treatment episodes. One of the demonstration
12 programs shall be located in a rural area and one shall be located in an
13 urban setting as determined by the commissioner. The services provided
14 shall include but not be limited to mental health counseling services
15 for the individual experiencing significant addiction and mental health
16 issues and their family, peer supports, and transportation assistance.
17 Such services shall be primarily provided in the community or home of
18 such individual, as clinically and socially necessitated.
19 2. Within one year after the conclusion of the demonstration program,
20 the commissioner shall provide the governor, the temporary president of
21 the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate stand-
22 ing committee on alcoholism and substance use disorders, and the chair
23 of the assembly committee on alcoholism and drug abuse with a written
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09383-01-5
A. 9409 2
1 evaluation of the demonstration programs established pursuant to subdi-
2 vision one of this section. Such evaluation shall, at a minimum,
3 address the overall effectiveness of such demonstration programs, iden-
4 tify best practices for services provided under the demonstration
5 programs and any additional services that may be appropriate within each
6 type of program operated, regulated, funded, or approved by the office,
7 and address whether continuation or expansion of the pilot program
8 established by subdivision one of this section is recommended. The
9 written evaluation shall be made publicly available on the office's
10 website.
11 § 3. This act shall take effect April 1, 2026 and shall expire on the
12 ninetieth day following the submission of the report provided for
13 pursuant to subdivision 2 of section 19.18-d of the mental hygiene law
14 as added by section two of this act, when upon such date the provisions
15 of this act shall be deemed repealed; provided that the commissioner of
16 the office of addiction services and supports shall notify the legisla-
17 tive bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of the submission of
18 such report provided for in section two of this act in order that the
19 commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of
20 the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of
21 effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and
22 section 70-b of the public officers law.
