Relates to the community mental health support and workforce reinvestment program and the membership of subcommittees for mental health of community service boards and the duties of such subcommittees and creating the community health and workforce reinvestment account, in relation to the effective date.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3027
SPONSOR: Ortiz (MS) TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend part R2 of chapter 62 of the laws of
2003, amending the mental hygiene law and the state finance law relating
to the community mental health support and workforce reinvestment
program and the membership of subcommittees for mental health of commu-
nity service boards and the duties of such subcommittees and creating
the community health and workforce reinvestment account, in relation to
the effective date thereof
PURPOSE:
To extend New York State's Community Mental Health Workforce Reinvest-
ment Program and the community health workforce reinvestment account for
an additional seven years until March 31, 2017.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends section 7 of part R2 of chapter 62 of the
laws of 2003 to extend for seven years, until March 31, 2018, those
provisions of law which provide for community mental health reinvest-
ment.
Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.
EXISTING LAW:
New York's Mental Health Community Reinvestment Act was originally
enacted in 1993 to direct all savings within the State-operated mental
health service delivery system be reallocated to localities across the
State to meet the mental health needs of individuals and facilitate
their ability to live independently in their home communities. The
program was allowed to expire in 2001, but was finally signed back into
law with revisions by chapter 62 of the laws of 2003. That statute is
set to expire on March 31, 2010.
JUSTIFICATION:
Community Mental Health Reinvestment was initiated in 1993 with a sunset
and subsequently renewed with revisions to establish the state policy
that savings achieved through downsizing of state operated mental health
facilities would be reallocated to localities across the state to meet
the mental health needs of individuals and facilitate their ability to
live independently in their home communities. Reinvestment was an impor-
tant promise that the state made and has continued to support for over
15 years. It has proved enormously successful and helpful in creating
and supporting community mental health services. In March, 2010 the
promise of reinvestment sunsets. It is incumbent upon the state to take
action and ensure that any opportunities for reinvestments into our
community mental health service system remain intact.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2009/10 - Passed both houses. Delivered to Governor. Governor vetoed.
2011/12 - Ref to Mental Health
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to state unless facilities are downsized in which case a portion of
the savings would go to the community mental health support and work-
force reinvest account instead of to the State's general fund.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
