A07489 Summary:
| BILL NO | A07489A |
| SAME AS | SAME AS S05637-A |
| SPONSOR | Gunther |
| COSPNSR | |
| MLTSPNSR | Miller ML |
| Establishes a temporary commission relating to the evaluation of the office of mental health housing programs. | |
A07489 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
TITLE OF BILL: An act to create a temporary commission relating to the office of mental health housing programs PURPOSE: This bill would establish a temporary commission to investigate, and provide policy guidance and recommendations relating to the adequacy of funding levels and need for sufficient staffing in all supportive hous- ing under the auspices of the Office of Mental Health (OMH). SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This bill would establish a temporary commission to make recommendations related to the adequacy of funding levels and need for sufficient staff- ing in all supportive housing under the auspices of OMH, establishes the size and process for the appointment of members to the commission, provides for the commission to be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, and states that the commission must report on its findings to the Governor and the Legislature no later than October 1, 2020. JUSTIFICATION: There are approximately 40,000 units of mental health housing, state- wide, under the auspices of the State Office of Mental Health. Collec- tively, they have lost from 40-70% of their funding to inflation, depending on model, due to a lack of rate increases. When these programs were first created in the late 1970s, staff was paid close to an entry level teacher. Now, many providers are barely reim- bursed enough to pay the minimum wage. Originally, 50% of a provider's stipend went to services and administration while 50% went towards rents. Now 90% to 100% go to rents with little to nothing left for services and administration. This bill would establish a temporary commission to investigate and make recommendations relating to the adequacy of funding levels and need for sufficient staffing in all supportive housing under the auspices of OMH. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: None. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Undetermined. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
A07489 Text:
Go to topSTATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7489--A 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY May 7, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Mental Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to create a temporary commission relating to the office of mental health housing programs The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. 1. A temporary state commission, to be known as the "office 2 of mental health housing program evaluation commission" (hereinafter 3 referred to as the "commission") is hereby created to make determi- 4 nations and recommendations on the following: 5 a. The number of and total quarterly occupancy levels for scattered 6 site supportive housing, licensed community residences, licensed treat- 7 ment apartments, and all other supportive housing (hereinafter referred 8 to as "the programs"), under the auspice of the office of mental health 9 by county over the last five years as well as each program's funding 10 levels on an annual basis, over the last five years. Such information 11 shall be utilized to: (i) determine the impact of changes in funding 12 levels, if any, (ii) determine if there are varying funding levels with- 13 in the same programs in the same counties, the rationale therefor, and 14 the impact of such variances, and (iii) determine, with the information 15 from paragraph b of this subdivision, the adequacy of funding levels by 16 program. 17 b. For each program by county, a sampling of clients' acuity and their 18 needs and the programs' current staffing models. Such information shall 19 be used to analyze the impact on the quality of care the programs are 20 mandated and able to deliver and whether there is a need for additional, 21 different and/or credentialed/licensed staff in the programs. 22 c. For each program and by county, the programs' and/or the mental 23 health system's ability to meet the needs, as determined in paragraph b 24 of this subdivision, of the clients. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD11334-02-9A. 7489--A 2 1 2. The commission shall consist of nine members as follows: two 2 members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members 3 shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; one member 4 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; one member 5 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and three 6 members shall be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be desig- 7 nated as the chair of the commission. Members so appointed shall 8 include adequate representation of resident advocates, family members of 9 residents, program provider organizations, licensed mental health 10 professionals and related health care professionals. 11 3. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for 12 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses 13 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder. 14 4. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any 15 recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and 16 appropriate, to the governor and the legislature no later than October 17 1, 2020. 18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.