S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 5899--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              March 6, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. BARRON, ORTIZ, PICHARDO, WALKER, MILLER, COOK,
  GOTTFRIED, DAVILA, JAFFEE -- Multi-Sponsored by --  M.  of  A.  BLAKE,
  MOSLEY,  PERRY  -- read once and referred to the Committee on Children
  and Families -- recommitted to the Committee on Children and  Families
  in  accordance  with  Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged,
  bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said
  committee

AN  ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the peer
  advocacy and mentoring program

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  The executive law is amended by adding a new section 522-a
to read as follows:
  S  522-A.  PEER  ADVOCACY  AND  MENTORING  PROGRAM. 1. THERE IS HEREBY
CREATED WITHIN THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, A PEER  ADVO-
CACY AND MENTORING PROGRAM.
  2.  THE  OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SHALL, IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH, CONTRACT WITH A MENTORING PROGRAM THAT
HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER SECTION THREE  HUNDRED  NINETY-E  OF  THE
SOCIAL SERVICES LAW, SPECIALIZING IN PROVIDING PEER SUPPORT AND ADVOCACY
TO  YOUTH AND THE NEEDS OF YOUTH, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO EMOTIONAL
AND BEHAVIORAL  NEEDS,  TO  ESTABLISH  A  PEER  ADVOCACY  AND  MENTORING
PROGRAM. SUCH PROGRAM SHALL BE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT, ADVOCA-
CY AND MENTORING FOR YOUTH RESIDING IN RESIDENTIAL CARE.
  3.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY,
PRIORITY FOR SERVICES UNDER THE  PEER  ADVOCACY  AND  MENTORING  PROGRAM
SHALL  BE GIVEN TO YOUTH WHO WERE PLACED IN RESIDENTIAL CARE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 353.3 OF THE FAMILY COURT ACT,  AND  WHO  RESIDE  IN  FACILITIES
DESCRIBED IN SECTION FIVE HUNDRED FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE.
  4.  PEER ADVOCATES ACTING AS EMPLOYEES OR VOLUNTEERS IN THE PEER ADVO-
CACY AND MENTORING PROGRAM SHALL: (A) BE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06460-03-6
              

A. 5899--A                          2

  (I) EXPERIENCE WITH ISSUES FACING YOUTH AT RISK OF INVOLVEMENT IN  THE
JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM; AND
  (II)  SUCCESSFULLY  COMPLETED  ANY  ADDITIONAL  TRAINING THAT HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE OFFICE OF  MENTAL  HEALTH  AND  THE
OFFICE  OF  CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, QUALIFYING SUCH INDIVIDUALS TO
WORK IN THE PEER ADVOCACY AND MENTORING PROGRAM;
  (B) HAVE REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE ACCESS  TO  YOUTH  IN  RESIDENTIAL
FACILITIES  AS  DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES
AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO  MEET  WITH  YOUTH  IN  A  PRIVATE,  CONFIDENTIAL
SETTING SO LONG AS THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES DETERMINES
THAT SUCH MEETING DOES NOT POSE A SAFETY RISK; AND
  (C)  NOT IDENTIFY, IN ANY WAY, OUTSIDE OF THEIR SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT OR
DUTIES AS A PEER ADVOCATE, THE NAME OR  IDENTITY  OF  ANY  YOUTH  SERVED
WITHIN THE PEER ADVOCACY AND MENTORING PROGRAM.
  S  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.