Bill Text: NY A07951 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the division for mental health treatment equity and the advisory council on mental health treatment equity.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to ways and means [A07951 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A07951-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7951 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY May 29, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. DE LA ROSA, GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental Health AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the division for mental health treatment equity The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 2 7.49 to read as follows: 3 § 7.49 The division for mental health treatment equity. 4 (a) Definitions. As used in this section: 5 (1) "division" shall mean the division for mental health treatment 6 equity created pursuant to this section which shall consist of a full 7 time director and any additional full or part time staff the commission- 8 er deems necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section. 9 (2) "council" shall mean the advisory council to the division, created 10 pursuant to subdivision (c) of this section. 11 (3) "vulnerable populations" shall mean those who have experienced 12 injustices and disadvantages as a result of their race, ethnicity, sexu- 13 al orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, military 14 status, socioeconomic status and/or any other status which has caused a 15 person to experience injustices and disadvantages. 16 (4) "racially and ethnically diverse areas" shall mean counties where 17 the non-white population is forty percent or more or the service area of 18 a mental health provider of services where the non-white population of 19 said area is forty percent or more. 20 (5) "provider of services" shall have the same meaning as defined 21 pursuant to subdivision five of section 1.03 of this chapter and 22 provides mental health services to vulnerable populations. 23 (6) "treatment disparities" shall mean measurable differences in 24 access to and quality of mental health services as determined by race, EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD13001-01-9A. 7951 2 1 ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age, 2 military status, and socioeconomic status. 3 (7) "treatment equity" shall mean achieving the highest level of 4 mental health services for all people and shall entail focused efforts 5 to address avoidable inequalities by equalizing those conditions for 6 mental health services for those that have experienced injustices and 7 socioeconomic disadvantages. 8 (b) The division for mental health treatment equity. There is hereby 9 created a division for mental health treatment equity. The division, in 10 conjunction with the council, shall have the following powers and 11 duties: 12 (1) to work collaboratively with the office, other relevant state 13 agencies and affected stakeholders, including, but not limited to, 14 providers and representatives of vulnerable populations, in order to set 15 priorities to achieve treatment equity in both racial and ethnically 16 diverse areas and for vulnerable populations throughout the state; 17 (2) to analyze collected data to determine the causes of treatment 18 disparities in both racially and ethnically diverse areas and for 19 vulnerable populations throughout the state, including any economic, 20 physical, social or cultural barriers; 21 (3) to develop and implement strategies aimed at achieving treatment 22 equity in racially and ethnically diverse areas and among vulnerable 23 populations; 24 (4) to promote community involvement by conducting promotional and 25 educational outreach programs regarding mental illness and available 26 services; 27 (5) to review the impact of current laws, rules, regulations, policies 28 and programs that may be affecting the ability to achieve treatment 29 equity; and 30 (6) to assist the office, where appropriate, in meeting its responsi- 31 bilities pursuant to subdivision (g) of section 7.07 of this article. 32 (c) The advisory council on mental health treatment equity. (1) The 33 council shall consist of twelve members. All members shall be appointed 34 by the governor, with three members appointed upon recommendation from 35 the temporary president of the senate and three members appointed upon 36 recommendation from the speaker of the assembly. The chairperson of the 37 council shall be the commissioner or his or her designee. 38 (2) The members of the council shall be from the community with exper- 39 tise in conducting mental health services. In making such appointments, 40 due consideration shall be given to ensuring adequate statewide 41 geographic representation, including rural communities. 42 (3) The term of office for each member of the council shall be six 43 years. Vacancies on the council, other than by expiration of a term, 44 shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same 45 manner as original appointments. 46 (4) The members of the council shall receive no compensation for their 47 services, but shall be reimbursed for all expenses actually and neces- 48 sarily incurred in the performance of their duties under this section 49 within the amount made available by appropriation therefor. 50 (d) Comprehensive plan. The division in collaboration with the council 51 shall provide recommendations on matters within the scope of its powers 52 and duties as set forth in this section to the office for the purpose of 53 formulating its statewide comprehensive plan pursuant to section 5.07 of 54 this chapter. 55 § 2. This act shall take effect on April 1, 2020.
