Enacts the "Veterans Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Act"; directs the veterans affairs commission to develop and update a New York state interagency plan to improve outreach, assessment and care for veterans and their families who are experiencing mental health, major depression and/or substance abuse problems; requires a report be issued each year after the effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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6640
IN SENATE
March 7, 2012
___________
Introduced by Sens. DeFRANCISCO, CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Veter-
ans, Homeland Security and Military 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:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03276-03-2
S. 6640 2
1 6. The commission shall develop and update, in consultation with the
2 office of mental health, the office of alcoholism and substance abuse
3 services, department of health and department of labor, a New York state
4 interagency plan to improve outreach, assessment, and care for veterans
5 and their families who are experiencing mental health, major depression
6 and/or substance abuse problems. The plan would address the need for a
7 range of additional services, including, but not limited to:
8 a. the need for housing that is accessible to veterans with physical
9 and/or mental disabilities;
10 b. suicide prevention;
11 c. services that address the special needs of female service members
12 or veterans;
13 d. services that address the special needs of physically disabled
14 veterans;
15 e. peer outreach and support programs;
16 f. services to meet the emotional needs of children, spouse, and/or
17 domestic partner of service members or veterans;
18 g. services and consultation for veterans in search of employment; and
19 h. accessibility and coordination of information.
20 7. The commission shall submit a report to the director each year
21 after the effective date of this subdivision. Such report shall
22 include, but not be limited to, a description of the commission's activ-
23 ities concerning the New York state interagency plan. The director shall
24 submit such report or a synopsis of such report to the governor as
25 provided in section three hundred fifty-three of this article.
26 § 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
27 have become a law, however, the first New York state interagency plan as
28 described in subdivision 6 of section 352 of the executive law, as added
29 by section three of this act, shall be completed not later than one year
30 after such effective date.
