Establishes a pilot program in partnership with a nonprofit organization to improve equity and efficiency in housing for people with developmental disabilities by encouraging shared housing.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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10327
IN SENATE
May 14, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. FAHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating a pilot
program to improve equity and efficiency in housing for people with
developmental disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
2 13.44 to read as follows:
3 § 13.44 Shared housing pilot program.
4 1. The office for people with developmental disabilities shall estab-
5 lish a pilot program in partnership with a nonprofit organization that
6 has experience providing employment training and support for individuals
7 with autism spectrum disorder. Such pilot program shall explore alterna-
8 tive housing models for individuals with intellectual and developmental
9 disabilities. Specifically, such pilot shall work with the partner
10 nonprofit organization to provide shared residential housing for up to
11 four individuals per unit, supported by dedicated staff.
12 2. Under the pilot program, the funding allotted per individual shall
13 not be decreased by a substantial amount due to the shared residential
14 unit. The pilot program shall serve to balance equitable funding with
15 incentivizing shared spaces in order to promote community for residents
16 and to increase efficiency by reducing the total number of units funded.
17 3. For the purposes of the pilot program established by this section,
18 the office may waive or alter certain housing requirements, as neces-
19 sary, to achieve the goals of the pilot program, including but not
20 limited to funding allotments based on residents per unit pursuant to
21 subdivision two of this section.
22 4. While the partner nonprofit organization may conduct day-to-day
23 operations of residential units, the office shall oversee and monitor
24 residential units established through the pilot program in order to
25 ensure the welfare of its residents and to evaluate the effectiveness of
26 this model, including the impact on resident well-being, cost-effective-
27 ness, and administrative efficiency.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11656-01-5
S. 10327 2
1 5. The office shall report its findings to the governor, the temporary
2 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly three years
3 after the establishment of the pilot program. The office may recommend
4 regulatory changes based on the outcomes of the pilot program.
5 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
