S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7357--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                May 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on People with Disabilities -- committee discharged, bill amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
   pilot program to create an assistance  hotline  for  individuals  with
   intellectual  and  developmental  disabilities  and complex behavioral
   needs
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  13.17  of  the  mental hygiene law is amended by
 adding a new subdivision (e) to read as follows:
   (E) 1. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ESTABLISH AND  ADMINISTER  A  THREE-YEAR
 PILOT  PROGRAM  TO  CREATE  AN  ASSISTANCE  HOTLINE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH
 INTELLECTUAL  AND  DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITIES  AND  COMPLEX  BEHAVIORAL
 NEEDS.
   2.  THE  ASSISTANCE  HOTLINE SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE VIA A TOLL-FREE TELE-
 PHONE NUMBER AND VIDEO RELAY SERVICE OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY  ACCESSIBLE  TO
 INDIVIDUALS  WHO  ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING OR HAVE SPEECH DISABILITIES,
 THAT OPERATES TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
   3. THE OFFICE SHALL RECRUIT AND TRAIN EMPLOYEES TO ASSIST  INDIVIDUALS
 WITH  INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND COMPLEX BEHAVIORAL
 HEALTH NEEDS WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES OFFERED BY THE OFFICE.  INDIVIDUALS
 WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND COMPLEX  BEHAVIORAL
 HEALTH  NEEDS,  OR  THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF SUCH INDIVIDUALS, MAY CALL
 THE HOTLINE TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE WITH ACCESS TO SERVICES,  REFERRAL  TO
 SERVICES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION ON SERVICES OFFERED BY THE OFFICE.
   4.  THE HOTLINE SHALL BE ACCESSIBLE IN ENGLISH AND THE SIX MOST COMMON
 NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED-ENGLISH  PROFI-
 CIENCY  IN  NEW  YORK STATE BASED ON THE MOST RECENT CENSUS AND TO THOSE
 WHO ARE DEAF, HARD OF HEARING, OR HAVE SPEECH DISABILITIES.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10797-04-1
              

 A. 7357--A                          2
 
   5. ON OR BEFORE THE CONCLUSION OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE  COMMISSIONER
 SHALL  SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND
 THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE EVALUATING  THE  EFFECTIVENESS  OF
 THE PILOT PROGRAM.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.    Effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment
 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.