NY State Senate Bill 2019-S4014

Senate Bill S4014

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Relates to housing navigation services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance 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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Actions

View Actions

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 04, 2020	reported and committed to finance
Jan 08, 2020	referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
Apr 30, 2019	reported and committed to finance
Feb 25, 2019	referred to mental health and developmental disabilities

Votes

- Feb 4, 2020 - Committee Vote
  S4014
  
  7
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Committee Vote: Feb 4, 2020
      
      aye (7)
      
      Amedore
      
      Brooks
      
      Carlucci
      
      Kaplan
      
      Rivera
      
      Sepúlveda
      
      Serino
  Apr 30, 2019 - Committee Vote
  S4014
  
  7
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Committee Vote: Apr 30, 2019
      
      aye (7)
      
      Amedore
      
      Brooks
      
      Carlucci
      
      Kaplan
      
      Ortt
      
      Rivera
      
      Sepúlveda

2019-S4014 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2164
Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene Law
Laws Affected:: Add §13.44, amd §5.07, Ment Hyg L; amd §366, Soc Serv L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: A10732
2021-2022: S4469, A3635
2023-2024: S3196, A3856

2019-S4014 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes a curriculum and task force to provide housing navigation services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

2019-S4014 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4014

SPONSOR: CARLUCCI
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law and the social services law, in
relation to housing navigation services for those with intellectual and
developmental disabilities

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To assist individuals in finding appropriate housing that meets their
specific housing goals and develop individualized housing action plans.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

The bill would establish housing navigation as a service in New York's
developmental disabilities sector and require the Commissioner of the
New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OWPDD)
to develop a housing navigation training curriculum, oversee the imple-
mentation of such curriculum, and provide statewide training to individ-

uals for the provision of housing navigation services. This bill would
also require the Commissioner of the New York State Department of
Health( DOH) in consultation with the Commissioner of OPWDD, to submit
the appropriate waivers, including but not limited to, those authorized
pursuant to section eleven hundred fifteen of the federal social securi-
ty act, in order to achieve the purposes of high-quality housing coun-
seling a population of persons with developmental disabilities.

Further, this bill would require the Commissioner of OPWDD to establish
a housing navigation task force to perform tasks that will help to
ensure the successful implementation of housing navigation services
established by this section. The taskforce shall be co-chaired by the:
the Commissioner of OPWDD or his or her designee, the Commissioner of
the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) or his or her
designee, and a representative of the New York State Homes and Community
Renewal. Ensuring adequate geographic representation, an additional ten
individuals shall be selected for the taskforce. Such individuals shall
have professional experience in the fields of affordable housing devel-
opment, banking, financial planning, and non-profit providers with expe-
rience in delivering housing services for individuals with a develop-
mental or intellectual disability.

Lastly, the bill requires OPWDD to include housing counseling services
in the statewide comprehensive plan required by § 5.07 of Mental Hygiene
Law. The statewide comprehensive plan will include information related
to progress implementing and the effectiveness of housing counseling
services, and any other information deemed appropriate by the commis-
sioner.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Appropriate housing is necessary for people to live stable, healthy
lives. For people with disabilities, the right housing opportunity can
lead to the overall well-being and success of a person and allows that
individual to become an active part of their community. New York's Medi-
caid Redesign Team has found that stable, sustainable housing leads to
improved health outcomes.

Unfortunately, there are obstacles to finding appropriate housing for
people with disabilities. Identifying the right housing can oftentimes
be complex. Finding affordable and appropriate housing for a person with
a disability in a state that is as diverse as New York can oftentimes be
a challenge.

In 2015, the New York State Association of Community and Residential
Agencies organized a Housing Task Force to study impediments to housing
for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Funded
through a Balancing Incentive Program (SIP) grant, the task force was
comprised of state and county officials, affordable housing developers,
educators, bankers, attorneys and service providers. One key finding of
the task force is that housing plays a critical role in a person's
development. The task force also determined that stability is key to
improving an individual's outcomes. New York is a state that is
geographically diverse and comprised of vast rural areas, large urban
centers and sprawling suburbs. I/DD providers are located in all regions
of the diverse state and deliver supports and services to the over
130,000 people with I/DD in many communities.

Not-for-profit provider agencies actively seek housing options for the
people they provide supports to. Unfortunately, the degree to which
agencies explore non-OPWDD funding sources varies. Seeking such housing
outside of the system is a specialty service and one that's not current-
ly funded. The task force also found that funding for housing is limited
and typically available for the more traditional housing opportunities
some of which are not always the best fit for a person seeking individ-
ualized opportunities. Non-OPWDD housing resources are available but
such funding sources are not easily identifiable, the various systems
are not easy to navigate, and knowing how to put the pieces of the hous-
ing puzzle together is complex and requires ample time, resources and
specialized experts to understand the nuances. Additionally, people with
disabilities, parents and family member are oftentimes unfamiliar with
the range of housing options and require assistance to identify appro-
priate settings.

Therefore, a growing need exists for housing counseling services to
assist people with disabilities the opportunity to assess their housing
needs and options, provide assistance to secure housing, and foster the
establishment of procedures and contacts to create and retain housing.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-18: A10732 referred to Ways & Means

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the April 1, 2020 provided that, effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu-
lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.

2019-S4014 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4014
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 25, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. CARLUCCI -- 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 and the social services  law,  in
   relation  to  housing  navigation services for those with intellectual
   and developmental disabilities

   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
 13.44 to read as follows:
 § 13.44 HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES.
   (A) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLISH AND PROVIDE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES
 FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH  A  DEVELOPMENTAL  OR  INTELLECTUAL  DISABILITY  AS
 DEFINED  IN  SECTION  1.03 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW. HOUSING NAVIGATION
 SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (1) COLLABORATING WITH INDIVIDUALS TO DEVELOP AN INDIVIDUALIZED  HOUS-
 ING  ACTION PLAN, THAT AT A MINIMUM, SHALL ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN FINDING
 APPROPRIATE HOUSING THAT MEETS THEIR SPECIFIC HOUSING GOALS;
   (2) SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS THAT APPLY FOR STATE AND FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
 PROGRAMS;
   (3) COORDINATING AND ASSISTING HOUSING  TRANSITIONS  FOR  INDIVIDUALS,
 TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS; AND
   (4)  COLLABORATING  WITH INDIVIDUALS TO CRAFT A HOUSING SUSTAINABILITY
 PLAN TO ENSURE THAT SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE  TO  SECURE  AND  MAINTAIN
 STABLE HOUSING, AND HAVE ACCESS TO AND ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE NECESSARY
 SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO ACHIEVE THEIR HOUSING GOALS.
   (B) (1) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A HOUSING NAVIGA-
 TION  CURRICULUM  STATEWIDE,  FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRAINING APPLICANTS IN
 DELIVERING HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION (A)  OF
 THIS  SECTION.  IN  DEVELOPING  AND  IMPLEMENTING  SUCH  CURRICULUM, THE
 COMMISSIONER MAY CONTRACT WITH AN ENTITY THAT HAS DEMONSTRATED APPROPRI-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD01777-01-9

 S. 4014                             2
 
 ATE KNOWLEDGE, EXPERTISE, AND EXPERIENCE IN HOUSING  NAVIGATOR  SERVICES
 AND TRAINING CURRICULUMS.
   (2)  THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE REGIONAL OFFICES UNDER
 HIS OR HER JURISDICTION SHALL PERFORM A STATEWIDE ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED
 FOR HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES, AND SHALL PROVIDE  ADDITIONAL  OUTREACH
 REGARDING  THE AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING NAVIGATION TRAINING IN REGIONS OF
 THE STATE WHERE THERE IS THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATED NEED.
   (C) (1) THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH  A  HOUSING  NAVIGATION  TASK
 FORCE TO PERFORM TASKS THAT WILL HELP TO ENSURE THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMEN-
 TATION  OF  THE HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION.
 THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE CO-CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER  OR  HIS  OR  HER
 DESIGNEE,  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  THE OFFICE OF TEMPORARY AND DISABILITY
 ASSISTANCE OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, AND  A  REPRESENTATIVE  OF  NEW  YORK
 STATE  HOMES  AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL. ENSURING ADEQUATE GEOGRAPHIC REPRE-
 SENTATION, AN ADDITIONAL TEN INDIVIDUALS SHALL BE SELECTED FOR THE  TASK
 FORCE. SUCH INDIVIDUALS SHALL HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELDS
 OF  AFFORDABLE  HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, BANKING, FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND IN
 DELIVERING HOUSING SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR INTEL-
 LECTUAL DISABILITIES AS A NON-PROFIT PROVIDER.   THE  MEMBERS  SHALL  BE
 SELECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OTHER STATE AGENCY
 REPRESENTATIVES ON THE TASK FORCE.
   (2)  THE  TASK  FORCE SHALL MEET AS OFTEN AS IS NECESSARY, BUT NO LESS
 THAN THREE TIMES PER YEAR, AND UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES AS ARE APPROPRIATE TO
 FULFILLING ITS DUTIES AS REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION.
   (3) MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL SERVE  WITHOUT  COMPENSATION,  BUT
 MAY  BE  REIMBURSED  FOR ACTUAL COSTS INCURRED FOR PARTICIPATION ON SUCH
 TASK FORCE.
   (4) THE TASK FORCE SHALL:
   (I) COORDINATE WITH THE COMMISSIONER AND THE REGIONAL OFFICES TO  HELP
 ENSURE ACCESS TO HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICES IN THE REGIONS OF THE STATE
 WITH THE GREATEST DEMONSTRATED NEED;
   (II)  CREATE  OR  UTILIZE  WRITTEN  INFORMATION  THAT MAY BE USED AS A
 RESOURCE FOR INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HOUSING NAVIGATION RESOURCES
 AS WELL AS EDUCATING PARENTS, INDIVIDUALS, PROVIDER AGENCIES  AND  OTHER
 STAKEHOLDERS  ABOUT  THE  OPPORTUNITIES FOR NON-CERTIFIED HOUSING IN ALL
 FIVE REGIONS OF THE OFFICE;
   (III) PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE APPROPRIATENESS OF  AND  WAYS  TO
 IMPLEMENT  A HOUSING NAVIGATOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM USING THE HOUS-
 ING NAVIGATOR TRAINING CURRICULUM;
   (IV) ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH METHODS WHICH  MEASURE  THE
 CORRELATION  BETWEEN THE HOUSING NAVIGATOR MODEL AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
 OF HEALTH;
   (V) EVALUATE HOUSING NAVIGATION AS A REIMBURSABLE SERVICE AND  MEASUR-
 ING  OUTCOMES  BASED  ON  VALUE-BASED PAYMENT METHODOLOGIES AND ARRANGE-
 MENTS; AND
   (VI) EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXPANDING HOUSING NAVIGATION  SERVICES
 TO  OTHER  SYSTEMS  OF CARE THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE DELIVERY OF HOUSING
 SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO HIGH UTILIZATION MEDICAID SERVICE
 ENROLLEES WHO RESIDE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
   § 2. Section 366 of the social services law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 7-d to read as follows:
   7-D. THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH IN CONSULTATION WITH THE  COMMISSIONER
 OF  THE  OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IS AUTHORIZED
 TO SUBMIT THE APPROPRIATE WAIVERS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED  TO,  THOSE
 AUTHORIZED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  ELEVEN HUNDRED FIFTEEN OF THE FEDERAL
 SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE  THE  PURPOSE  OF  HIGH-QUALITY

 S. 4014                             3
 
 HOUSING  NAVIGATION  SERVICES  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION 13.44 OF THE MENTAL
 HYGIENE LAW FOR A POPULATION OF PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR  INTELLEC-
 TUAL  DISABILITIES,  AS  SUCH  TERMS  ARE DEFINED IN SECTION 1.03 OF THE
 MENTAL HYGIENE LAW.
   §  3.  Subdivision  (b)  of  section 5.07 of the mental hygiene law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph 5 to read as follows:
   (5) THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISA-
 BILITIES SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING IN THE  PORTION  OF  THE  STATEWIDE
 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION FOR SERVICES PROVIDED TO
 PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES: (I) INFORMATION
 RELATED  TO PROGRESS IMPLEMENTING AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOUSING NAVI-
 GATION SERVICES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 13.44 OF THE MENTAL  HYGIENE  LAW,
 AND (II) ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY SUCH COMMISSIONER.
   §  4. This act shall take effect April 1, 2020. Effective immediately,
 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regulation  neces-
 sary  for  the  implementation  of  this  act  on its effective date are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

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