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A08835 Summary:

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A08835 Floor Votes:

A08835 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         8835--A
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 19, 2014
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
          tee on Mental Health -- reported and referred to the Committee on Ways
          and Means -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted  as
          amended and recommitted to said committee
 
        AN  ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the
          task force on adults with developmental  disabilities;  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. Legislative findings. The legislature finds  that  develop-
     2  mental  disabilities  require a lifetime of person-centered services and
     3  supports, yet much of the focus on developmental disabilities relates to
     4  education and development, and neglects concerns that may arise later in
     5  a person's life. The legislature also finds that  adults  with  develop-
     6  mental  disabilities  may face significant challenges in various aspects
     7  of their lives, including such areas as job placement, housing and long-
     8  term care. Consequently, the legislature finds that there is a  pressing
     9  need for policymakers and advocates in the state to formulate achievable

    10  goals for state government to meet in order to better serve the communi-
    11  ty  of adults with developmental disabilities. To this end, it is in the
    12  public interest to establish a task force on adults  with  developmental
    13  disabilities  to  develop  a  comprehensive plan for meeting the various
    14  needs of adults with developmental disabilities living in New York.
    15    § 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new  section  13.41
    16  to read as follows:
    17  § 13.41 Task force on adults with developmental disabilities.
    18    (a) There is hereby established the task force on adults with develop-
    19  mental  disabilities  in the office. The purpose of the task force shall
    20  be to study, evaluate and develop recommendations relating  to  specific
    21  actionable  measures to support and meet the needs of adults with devel-

    22  opmental disabilities who are residents of  the  state,  including  such
    23  needs  as  vocational,  residential  and social needs. Additionally, the
    24  task force shall study the long term needs of adults with  developmental
    25  disabilities who reside with caregivers. The recommendations of the task
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD14063-02-4
        A. 8835--A                          2
 
     1  force  shall comprise the basis for a comprehensive plan for meeting the
     2  needs of adults with developmental disabilities, and shall be  submitted

     3  to  the governor and the legislature pursuant to subdivision (f) of this
     4  section.
     5    (b) The task force shall consist of ten members as follows:
     6    (1)  the  commissioner, the commissioner of mental health, the commis-
     7  sioner of housing and community   renewal, the commissioner  of  health,
     8  the commissioner of education and the commissioner of labor; and
     9    (2) four members with demonstrated expertise in issues relating to the
    10  work of the task force; with two such members appointed by the governor,
    11  one  such member appointed by the temporary president of the senate, and
    12  one such member appointed by the speaker of the assembly, no later  than
    13  the thirtieth day after the effective date of this section.

    14    Vacancies  in  the membership of the task force shall be filled in the
    15  same manner provided for by the original appointments.
    16    (c) The commissioner or the commissioner's  designee  shall  serve  as
    17  chairperson  of the task force. The task force shall organize as soon as
    18  practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select  a
    19  vice-chairperson from among the members. The chairperson shall appoint a
    20  secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
    21    (d)  The  members  of the task force shall receive no compensation for
    22  their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
    23  incurred in the performance of their duties.
    24    (e) To the maximum extent feasible, the task force shall  be  entitled

    25  to  request  and  receive,  and  shall utilize and be provided with such
    26  facilities, resources and  data  of  any  court,  department,  division,
    27  board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any political subdi-
    28  vision  thereof  as  it may reasonably request to properly carry out its
    29  powers and duties.
    30    (f) The task force shall report its findings  and  recommendations  to
    31  the  governor,  the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of
    32  the assembly on or before January first, two thousand sixteen.
    33    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall  expire  and  be
    34  deemed repealed two years after such effective date.