STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7961
IN SENATE
May 27, 2010
___________
Introduced by Sen. ADAMS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Securi-
ty and Military Affairs
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "Veterans
Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature recognizes
2 that throughout their service, many of the military personnel from New
3 York State experienced trauma during active duty, placing many of them
4 in high risk categories for triggering substance abuse or mental health
5 issues. More often than not, mental illness and substance abuse present
6 themselves simultaneously or as a co-occurring disorder. The conse-
7 quences of co-occurring disorders, particularly when untreated or poorly
8 treated, are severe. These disorders increase the cost of healthcare due
9 to the frequent use of inpatient treatment, the ability to adhere to
10 such treatment, the risk of suicide, crime victimization, homelessness,
11 and incarceration.
12 The legislature further finds that the unemployment rate for young
13 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars was at 21.1 percent, reflect-
14 ing another tough obstacle that combat veterans face as they make the
15 transition home from war.
16 The legislature further finds that New York State has recognized its
17 responsibility for care for our veterans and their families, offering an
18 array of economic and health benefits. Now we are called to ensure that
19 the returning combat veterans can obtain the benefits that they are
20 entitled to from the various state agencies which offer help to the
21 returning servicemen and women to make the transition from military
22 personnel to veteran.
23 § 2. This act shall be known as the "Veterans Mental Health and Chemi-
24 cal Dependency Act."
25 § 3. Section 352 of the executive law is amended by adding two new
26 subdivisions 6 and 7 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD17238-01-0
S. 7961 2
1 6. The commission shall develop and update, in consultation with the
2 office of mental health, the office of alcoholism and substance abuse
3 services, department of health and department of labor, a New York state
4 interagency plan to improve outreach, assessment, and care for veterans
5 and their families who are experiencing mental health and/or substance
6 abuse problems. The plan would address the need for a range of addi-
7 tional services, including, but not limited to:
8 a. the need for housing that is accessible to veterans with physical
9 and/or mental disabilities;
10 b. suicide prevention;
11 c. services that address the special needs of female service members
12 or veterans;
13 d. peer outreach and support programs;
14 e. services to meet the emotional needs of children, spouse, and/or
15 domestic partner of service members or veterans;
16 f. services and consultation for veterans in search of employment; and
17 g. accessibility and coordination of information.
18 7. Reports. The commission shall submit a report to the director each
19 year after the effective date of this subdivision. Such report shall
20 include, but not be limited to, a description of the commission's activ-
21 ities concerning the New York state interagency plan. The director shall
22 submit such report or a synopsis of such report to the governor as
23 provided in section three hundred fifty-three of this article.
24 § 4. This act shall take effect thirty days after it shall have become
25 law, however, the first New York state interagency plan as described in
26 subdivision 6 of section 352 of the executive law, as added by section
27 three of this act, shall be completed not later than one year after such
28 effective date.
