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.
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.
