NY State Senate Bill 2015-S1894

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2016	referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
Jan 15, 2015	referred to mental health and developmental disabilities

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8589
Current Committee:: Senate Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene Law
Laws Affected:: Add §31.34, Ment Hyg L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S5012
2011-2012: S3017
2013-2014: S890
2017-2018: S3256, A1109
2019-2020: S4381, A2267
2021-2022: S4657, A9982
2023-2024: S5274, A2110

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes peer crisis diversion homes.

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S1894

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing
peer crisis diversion homes

PURPOSE:

To create peer crisis diversion homes which would provide short term
peer support to individuals in psychiatric crisis who can be served
outside of a hospital with the goal of helping them stabilize and
re-enter into independent living.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill adds a new section 31.34 of the mental hygiene
law directing the Commission of OMH to establish no less than 6 Peer
Crisis diversion homes within one year of enactment, of which 3 shall
be in rural areas and 3 in urban areas. The homes are designed to
provide short term peer support to individuals in crisis who can be
served outside of a hospital with the goal of helping them stabilize
and re-enter into independent living. The services would be voluntary
and provided by peer support specialists who have previously
experienced urgent behavioral health needs and recovered and who have
completed training approved by the Commissioner. Similarly, the

governing body of such homes would consist of individuals who have
previously experienced urgent behavioral health needs and recovered.

Section 2 of the bill provides for an immediate effective date.

EXISTING LAW:

Since the late 1980's NYS has had the Comprehensive psychiatric
emergency programs CPEP (Section 31.27 of the mental hygiene law)
which were designed to manage psychiatric crisis and envisioned to
include crisis residence services.

JUSTIFICATION:

Our nation's psychiatric emergency system is in crisis Community
mental health resources across the nation have become progressively
more scarce in the Past several decades and people with psychiatric
disabilities have increasingly turned towards emergency rooms (ERs) at
a great cost to society both fiscally and socially.

Emergency rooms are stretched to the breaking point. There is limited
physical space and limited staff and this has resulted in a dramatic
increase in wait time in the ERs. A 2008 study in Health Affairs, The
Policy Journal of The Health Sphere showed a 4.1% increase per year in
ER wait time between 1997 and 2004, with ethnic minorities, women and
patients in urban ERs waiting longer than other patients.

The tragic death of Ms. Esmin Green in 2008 at the Kings County
Emergency Room in Brooklyn New York is an example of the consequences
of such overcrowding.


To support the community integration of people with psychiatric
disabilities and solve the problems defined above, experts have
consistently called for innovative cost effective community based
alternatives to the crisis in our psychiatric emergency response
system. Through the use of peer crisis diversion homes, New York State
can become a national leader in the delivery of innovative crisis
services for people with psychiatric emergencies. These peer-operated
homes will be designed to assist people with psychiatric disabilities
in diverting from psychiatric distress which would otherwise have lead
to a hospitalization. Equipped with a variety of traditional self-help
and proactive tools to maintain wellness, clinical staff and trained
peer companions will assist residents in learning self-help tools with
the underlying goal of avoiding future emergency room and inpatient
hospitalizations.

For several years a not-for profit has run a hospital division program
called Rose House for residents of Orange and Ulster Counties which is
similar to the peer crisis diversion homes envisioned in this bill.
This bill expands upon the Rose House model thus filling a gap in the
mental health system and helping individuals break the cycle of often
chronic unnecessary, ineffective and expensive hospitalizations.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013-14: S.890 - Died in Mental Health
2011-12: S.3017 - Died in Mental Health
2009-2010 S.5012/A.8165 - Referred to Finance

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal with savings as expensive ER visits are averted.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

Immediately.

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1894

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 15, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Develop-
  mental Disabilities

AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing peer
  crisis diversion homes

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

  Section  1.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
31.34 to read as follows:
S 31.34 PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOMES.
  (A) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
  (1) "COMMISSIONER" SHALL MEAN THE COMMISSIONER OF MENTAL HEALTH;
  (2) "CRISIS  DIVERSION  SERVICES"  SHALL  MEAN  SERVICES  DESIGNED  TO
PROVIDE  A PERSON WHO HAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND WHO IS EXPERI-
ENCING SYMPTOMS, A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE AND AFFIRMING  HOME-LIKE,  TEMPORARY
RESIDENCE  WHERE  THE  PERSON MAY BEGIN THE RECOVERY PROCESS, UNDERSTAND
THE MEANING OF WHAT THE PERSON IS EXPERIENCING  AND  REGAIN  EQUILIBRIUM
AND  THE ABILITY TO RELATE EFFECTIVELY TO OTHER PEOPLE. CRISIS DIVERSION
SERVICES INCLUDE PEER SUPPORT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON  RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING
AND PERSONAL CHOICE;
  (3)  "PEER  SUPPORT SPECIALIST" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY
EXPERIENCED URGENT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS AND HAS RECOVERED AND WHO HAS
SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED TRAINING THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED  BY  THE  COMMIS-
SIONER, QUALIFYING THAT PERSON TO WORK WITH A RESIDENT;
  (4)  "RESIDENT"  SHALL MEAN AN ADULT WHO HAS EXPERIENCED URGENT BEHAV-
IORAL HEALTH NEEDS BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION AND  WHO  VOLUN-
TARILY RESIDES FOR A SHORT TERM STAY IN A PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOME;
  (5)  "PEER  CRISIS  DIVERSION HOME" SHALL MEAN A HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT
THAT OFFERS CRISIS DIVERSION SERVICES BY TEMPORARILY  HOUSING  VOLUNTARY
RESIDENTS  WHO  ENGAGE  IN  ROUTINE ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING AND LEARN
ABOUT TOOLS FOR  RECOVERY  THROUGH  EXPERIENCE  AND  PEER  SUPPORT.  THE

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06767-01-5

S. 1894                             2

GOVERNING  BODY  OF SUCH HOME SHALL CONSIST OF CURRENT OR FORMER RECIPI-
ENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND SHALL  CONTROL  THE  DECISION  MAKING
PROCESSES  OF  THE  ORGANIZATION,  INCLUDING  CONTROL  OF ALL BUDGET AND
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT RELATED TO THE PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOME.
  (B)  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROVIDE FORMAL GUIDELINES FOR TRAINING AND
CREDENTIALING OF A PEER SUPPORT  SPECIALIST,  PROVIDED  THAT  EACH  PEER
SUPPORT  SPECIALIST  SHALL PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED URGENT BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH NEEDS AND SHALL BE CERTIFIED AS COMPLETING TRAINING IN DE-ESCALA-
TION TECHNIQUES, CULTURAL COMPETENCY, RACE RELATIONS, THE RECOVERY PROC-
ESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND AVOIDANCE OF AGGRESSIVE CONFRONTATION PRIOR TO
WORKING AT A PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOME.
  (C) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL, WITHIN ONE YEAR OF ENACTMENT, ESTABLISH OR
CONTRACT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF NO LESS THAN SIX PEER CRISIS DIVERSION
HOMES, THREE OF WHICH SHALL BE IN URBAN  SETTINGS  AND  THREE  OF  WHICH
SHALL  BE  IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. SUCH HOMES SHALL BE RECIPIENT-RUN HOMES
AND MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY  PROGRAMS
ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 31.27 OF THIS ARTICLE.
  (D) A PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOME, AS AUTHORIZED BY THIS SECTION, SHALL
OFFER CRISIS DIVERSION SERVICES THAT:
  (1) SERVE RESIDENTS REGARDLESS OF INCOME;
  (2)  ARE  STAFFED  TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY BY TWO OR MORE PEER SUPPORT
SPECIALISTS;
  (3) EMPLOY A LICENSED CLINICIAN FULL TIME AND A PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTANT
AT LEAST PART TIME;
  (4) INCLUDE PEER SUPPORT IN HELPING  RESIDENTS  PERFORM  DAILY  PUBLIC
LIVING SKILLS AND REENTRY INTO INDEPENDENT LIVING;
  (5)  OFFER  A  MIX  OF  THERAPEUTIC SERVICES, INCLUDING NONTRADITIONAL
TOOLS FOR WELLNESS AND TRADITIONAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES;
  (6) ACCEPT A RESIDENT ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS FOR A TEMPO-
RARY STAY PROVIDED THEY HAVE ALTERNATE LONG TERM HOUSING OPTIONS  AVAIL-
ABLE;
  (7)  USE INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND CONNECTION TO THE COMMUNITY AS
PRIMARY MODALITIES OF CARE;
  (8) BASE LENGTH OF STAY  ON  THE  PSYCHOLOGICAL  STATE  OF  RESIDENTS,
PROVIDED  THAT SUCH STAY SHALL BE SHORT TERM WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THEY
ARE ABLE AND WILLING TO LIVE IN MORE INDEPENDENT SETTINGS AND TO  RESUME
THEIR DESIRED ROLES IN THE COMMUNITY; AND
  (9)  ARE  A  PART  OF  A SYSTEM OF CARE CONTINUUM IN THE COMMUNITY AND
STATE AIMED AT  DIVERTING  INDIVIDUALS  EXPERIENCING  BEHAVIORAL  HEALTH
CRISIS  FROM MORE INTENSIVE HOSPITAL BASED CARE AND TREATMENT BY PROVID-
ING PEER SUPPORT SERVICES IN A HOME-LIKE SETTING FOR SHORT TERM,  TEMPO-
RARY STAYS.
  (E)  AS  EARLY  AS  POSSIBLE, A PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST SHALL ASSIST A
RESIDENT OF A PEER CRISIS HOME WITH ACCESSING A SERVICE PROVIDER WHO MAY
COORDINATE CARE AND OTHERWISE PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR SUCH RESIDENT UPON THE
COMPLETION OF SUCH RESIDENT'S STAY AT A PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOME.
  (F) PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOMES SHALL CONSULT  WITH  COMMUNITY  STAKE-
HOLDERS,  INCLUDING THOSE WHO USE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM AND THEIR
FAMILY MEMBERS, PROVIDERS OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, WHETHER  TRADI-
TIONAL  OR ALTERNATIVE, ADVOCATES, AND OTHERS WITH SUBJECT MATTER EXPER-
TISE, AS PART OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF PEER  CRISIS  DIVERSION
HOMES.
  (G) PEER CRISIS DIVERSION HOMES SHALL PARTICIPATE IN COUNTY AND COMMU-
NITY  PLANNING  ACTIVITIES  ANNUALLY, AND AS NEEDED, IN ORDER TO PARTIC-
IPATE IN LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE PLANNING PROCESSES TO ENSURE, MAINTAIN,
IMPROVE  OR  DEVELOP  COMMUNITY  SERVICES  THAT   DEMONSTRATE   RECOVERY

S. 1894                             3

OUTCOMES.  THESE  OUTCOMES  INCLUDE,  BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, QUALITY OF
LIFE, SOCIO-ECONOMIC  STATUS,  ENTITLEMENT  STATUS,  SOCIAL  NETWORKING,
COPING SKILLS AND REDUCTION IN USE OF CRISIS SERVICES.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S1894

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities Committee

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S1894

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Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health And Developmental Disabilities Committee

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Details

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2015-S1894 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments