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A09415 Summary:

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A09415 Floor Votes:

A09415 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          9415
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    February 29, 2012
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  MAGNARELLI  -- read once and referred to the
          Committee on Veterans' Affairs
 
        AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "Veterans
          Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Act"
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 

     1    Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature recognizes
     2  that  throughout  their service, many of the military personnel from New
     3  York state experienced trauma during active duty, especially in Iraq and
     4  Afghanistan, placing many of them in high risk categories for triggering
     5  substance abuse or mental health issues. More  often  than  not,  mental
     6  illness  and  substance  abuse present themselves simultaneously or as a
     7  co-occurring  disorder.  The  consequences  of  co-occurring  disorders,
     8  particularly  when untreated or poorly treated, are severe. These disor-
     9  ders increase the cost of healthcare due to the frequent  use  of  inpa-
    10  tient  treatment, the inability to adhere to such treatment, the risk of
    11  suicide, crime victimization, homelessness, and incarceration.
    12    The legislature further finds that the unemployment  rate  and  fierce

    13  competition  for  a  sparse  selection  of  jobs contribute to the tough
    14  obstacle that combat veterans face as they make the transition home from
    15  war.
    16    The legislature further finds that New York state has  recognized  its
    17  responsibility for care for our veterans and their families, offering an
    18  array of economic and health benefits.  Now we are called to ensure that
    19  the  returning  combat  veterans  can  obtain the benefits that they are
    20  entitled to from the various state agencies  which  offer  help  to  the
    21  returning  servicemen  and  women  to  make the transition from military
    22  personnel to veteran.
    23    § 2. Short title.  This act shall be known  as  the  "Veterans  Mental
    24  Health and Chemical Dependency Act".
    25    §  3.  Section  352  of the executive law is amended by adding two new
    26  subdivisions 6 and 7 to read as follows:

    27    6. The commission shall develop and update, in consultation  with  the
    28  office  of  mental  health, the office of alcoholism and substance abuse
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD03276-03-2
        A. 9415                             2
 
     1  services, department of health and department of labor, a New York state
     2  interagency plan to improve outreach, assessment, and care for  veterans
     3  and  their families who are experiencing mental health, major depression
     4  and/or  substance  abuse problems. The plan would address the need for a
     5  range of additional services, including, but not limited to:

     6    a. the need for housing that is accessible to veterans  with  physical
     7  and/or mental disabilities;
     8    b. suicide prevention;
     9    c.  services  that address the special needs of female service members
    10  or veterans;
    11    d. services that address the  special  needs  of  physically  disabled
    12  veterans;
    13    e. peer outreach and support programs;
    14    f.  services  to  meet the emotional needs of children, spouse, and/or
    15  domestic partner of service members or veterans;
    16    g. services and consultation for veterans in search of employment; and
    17    h. accessibility and coordination of information.
    18    7. The commission shall submit a report  to  the  director  each  year

    19  after  the  effective  date  of  this  subdivision.    Such report shall
    20  include, but not be limited to, a description of the commission's activ-
    21  ities concerning the New York state interagency plan. The director shall
    22  submit such report or a synopsis of  such  report  to  the  governor  as
    23  provided in section three hundred fifty-three of this article.
    24    §  4.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
    25  have become a law, however, the first New York state interagency plan as
    26  described in subdivision 6 of section 352 of the executive law, as added
    27  by section three of this act, shall be completed not later than one year
    28  after such effective date.