Requires the developmental disabilities advisory council to evaluate and produce a report on the state's response to the COVID-19 state disaster emergency as it relates to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities with assistance from OPWDD and the department of health.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6294--A
Cal. No. 1025
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 20, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. MANNION -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities -- reported
favorably from said committee and committed to the Committee on
Finance -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first
and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered
reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to requiring the
developmental disabilities advisory council to produce a report evalu-
ating the state's response to the COVID-19 state disaster emergency as
it relates to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabili-
ties; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expira-
tion thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 13.05 of the mental hygiene law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision (g) to read as follows:
3 (g) The developmental disabilities advisory council shall produce a
4 report to review the impact and the state's response to the COVID-19
5 state disaster emergency, as declared by executive order two hundred two
6 of two thousand twenty, as it relates to individuals with intellectual
7 or developmental disabilities. The office and the department of health
8 shall provide technical assistance and access to data as is required for
9 the council to effectuate such review and produce such report. The
10 report shall include, but not be limited to:
11 (i) a timeline and inventory of any and all relevant executive orders,
12 guidance and regulations put forth by the department of health, the
13 office, the executive or any other agency between March first, two thou-
14 sand twenty and April first, two thousand twenty-one in response to the
15 COVID-19 outbreak;
16 (ii) a timeline of any outreach conducted by the office with stake-
17 holders, including self-advocates, family advocates and voluntary
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10522-06-1
S. 6294--A 2
1 providers and what, if any, changes to guidance were made as a result of
2 such communication with stakeholders;
3 (iii) any actions or guidance the office, the department of health
4 and/or any other agency took to minimize exposure of COVID-19 between
5 residents and staff;
6 (iv) an inventory of actions the office, the department of health
7 and/or any other agency took to assist in the procurement or provision-
8 ing of personal protective equipment for residents and staff in state
9 operated facilities, and facilities operated by voluntary providers. For
10 purposes of this section, "personal protective equipment" shall mean all
11 equipment worn or used to minimize exposure to a communicable disease,
12 including but not limited to gloves, masks and face shields;
13 (v) an inventory of costs incurred by the office related to respond-
14 ing to COVID-19;
15 (vi) an inventory of actions the office, the department of health
16 and/or any other agency took to assist underserved communities including
17 but not limited to racial and ethnic minority communities; and
18 (vii) specific challenges that were faced with regards to individuals
19 with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
20 (2) The developmental disabilities advisory council shall also evalu-
21 ate policies, procedures, and programs that were implemented during the
22 course of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the efficacy on safety.
23 (3) The developmental disabilities advisory council shall provide
24 recommendations of changes to any laws or regulations that impeded
25 response to COVID-19 to the legislature.
26 (4) Such report shall be submitted to the governor, the temporary
27 president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than
28 nine months from the effective date of this subdivision and shall be
29 made publicly available online.
30 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
31 deemed repealed ten days after transmission of the report of the find-
32 ings by the developmental disabilities advisory council to the governor,
33 the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly,
34 as provided in section one of this act. Provided, however, that the
35 commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities
36 shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the trans-
37 mission of the report of the findings of the office for people with
38 developmental disabilities, as provided in section one of this act, in
39 order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective
40 data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in
41 furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legisla-
42 tive law and section 70-b of the public officers law.