S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1765--A
Cal. No. 196
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 15, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. MANNION, AKSHAR, BIAGGI, BROUK, GALLIVAN, GAUGHRAN,
HELMING, HINCHEY, JORDAN, MARTUCCI, REICHLIN-MELNICK, SERINO, SKOUFIS
-- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to
the Committee on Disabilities -- reported favorably from said commit-
tee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading,
passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote recon-
sidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted,
retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law and the executive law, in
relation to the closure or suspension of services of certain office of
mental health, office for people with developmental disabilities or
office of children and family services facilities and institutions
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
13.18 to read as follows:
§ 13.18 CLOSURE OR SUSPENSION OF SERVICES OF FACILITIES.
THE COMMISSIONER SHALL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE AT
LEAST THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE THE OFFICE IS
SEEKING CLOSURE OR SUSPENSION OF SERVICES OF ANY FACILITY OR INSTITU-
TION. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: (1) JUSTIFICA-
TION FOR THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OR SUSPENSION OF SERVICES; (2) INFORMATION
ON THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGETED STAFFING LEVELS; (3) INFORMATION ON THE
CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS BY POSITION OR TITLE; (4) INFORMATION BOTH
STATEWIDE AND ON A REGIONAL BASIS REGARDING: (A) HOW MANY FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT POSITIONS HAVE BEEN BUDGETED FOR; (B) HOW MANY FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED; (C) HOW MANY FULL TIME EQUIVALENT
VACANCIES EXIST; AND (D) WAITING LISTS FOR INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO
RECEIVE CARE IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING; AND (5) STEPS TAKEN BY THE AGENCY
TO RECRUIT STAFF FOR NEW AND VACANT POSITIONS. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE
SUBMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02802-11-1
S. 1765--A 2
THE SENATE AND SHALL BE PUBLISHED ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE ON A QUARTERLY
BASIS. THE LEGISLATURE MAY REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR DATA
THAT IT DEEMS NECESSARY IN SUCH REPORT.
§ 2. Subdivision (e) of section 7.17 of the mental hygiene law, as
amended by chapter 723 of the laws of 1993, paragraph 1 as amended by
chapter 170 of the laws of 1994, paragraph 3 as amended by chapter 83 of
the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
(e) In the event that the plan for state and local mental health
services, developed in accordance with subdivision (b) of this section,
determines that significant service reductions are anticipated for a
particular state-operated hospital or its catchment area, or a state-op-
erated research institute, the commissioner shall take the following
actions[, provided nothing in this subdivision shall create a basis for
enjoining any otherwise lawful service reductions]:
1. SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE AT LEAST THREE HUNDRED
SIXTY-FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE THE OFFICE IS SEEKING CLOSURE OR
SUSPENSION OF SERVICES OF ANY FACILITY OR INSTITUTION. SUCH REPORT SHALL
INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: (1) JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROPOSED
CLOSURE OR SUSPENSION OF SERVICES; (2) INFORMATION ON THE FISCAL YEAR
BUDGETED STAFFING LEVELS; (3) INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS
BY POSITION OR TITLE; (4) INFORMATION BOTH STATEWIDE AND ON A REGIONAL
BASIS REGARDING: (A) HOW MANY FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS HAVE BEEN
BUDGETED FOR; (B) HOW MANY FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS HAVE BEEN
FILLED; (C) HOW MANY FULL TIME EQUIVALENT VACANCIES EXIST; AND (D) WAIT-
ING LISTS FOR INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE CARE IN A RESIDENTIAL
SETTING; AND (5) STEPS TAKEN BY THE AGENCY TO RECRUIT STAFF FOR NEW AND
VACANT POSITIONS. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND SHALL BE
PUBLISHED ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THE LEGISLA-
TURE MAY REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR DATA THAT IT DEEMS NECES-
SARY IN SUCH REPORT.
2. confer with the department of civil service, the governor's office
of employee relations and any other state agency to develop strategies
which attempt to minimize the impact on the state workforce by providing
assistance in obtaining state employment in state-operated community-
based services or other employment opportunities, and to develop strate-
gies for the development of necessary retraining and redeployment
programs. In planning such strategies, the commissioner shall provide
for the participation of the representatives of the employee labor
organizations and for the participation of managerial and confidential
employees to ensure continuity of employment;
[2.] 3. consult with the department of economic development and any
other appropriate state agencies to develop strategies which attempt to
minimize the impact of such significant service reductions on the local
and regional economies;
[3.] 4. provide for a mechanism which may reasonably be expected to
provide notice to local governments, community organizations, employee
labor organizations, managerial and confidential employees, consumer and
advocacy groups of the potential for significant service reductions at
such state-operated hospitals and state-operated research institutes at
least twelve months prior to commencing such service reduction,
provided, however, that this requirement shall be deemed satisfied with
respect to reductions at Central Islip Psychiatric Center, Gowanda
Psychiatric Center, Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, Kings Park Psychi-
atric Center, Willard Psychiatric Center and Manhattan Children's
Psychiatric Center; and
S. 1765--A 3
[4.] 5. consult with the office of general services and any other
appropriate state agency in developing a mechanism for determining
alternative uses for land and buildings to be vacated by the office of
mental health. Such a mechanism should include a review of other
programs or state agencies that could feasibly expand their operations
onto a state-operated hospital campus and are compatible with health,
safety and programmatic needs of patients served in such facilities.
§ 3. Subdivision 15 of section 501 of the executive law, as amended by
section 1 of part H of chapter 58 of the laws of 2006, is amended to
read as follows:
15. In the event that the office of children and family services
determines that significant service reductions, public employee staffing
reductions and/or the transfer of operations to a private or not-for-
profit entity are anticipated in the office of children and family
services long term planning process or for a particular facility in a
future year, to take the following actions:
(a) SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE AT LEAST THREE HUNDRED
SIXTY-FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES IS SEEKING CLOSURE OR SUSPENSION OF SERVICES OF ANY SECURE OR
LIMITED SECURE FACILITY. SUCH REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED
TO: (1) JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OR SUSPENSION OF
SERVICES; (2) INFORMATION ON THE FISCAL YEAR BUDGETED STAFFING LEVELS;
(3) INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT STAFFING LEVELS BY POSITION OR TITLE; (4)
INFORMATION BOTH STATEWIDE AND ON A REGIONAL BASIS REGARDING: (A) HOW
MANY FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS HAVE BEEN BUDGETED FOR; (B) HOW MANY
FULL TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS HAVE BEEN FILLED; (C) HOW MANY FULL TIME
EQUIVALENT VACANCIES EXIST; AND (D) WAITING LISTS FOR INDIVIDUALS ELIGI-
BLE TO RECEIVE CARE IN A RESIDENTIAL SETTING; AND (5) STEPS TAKEN BY THE
AGENCY TO RECRUIT STAFF FOR NEW AND VACANT POSITIONS. SUCH REPORT SHALL
BE SUBMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
OF THE SENATE AND SHALL BE PUBLISHED ON THE OFFICE'S WEBSITE ON A QUAR-
TERLY BASIS. THE LEGISLATURE MAY REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR
DATA THAT IT DEEMS NECESSARY IN SUCH REPORT.
(B) confer with the department of civil service, the governor's office
of employee relations and any other state agency to develop strategies
which attempt to minimize the impact on the state workforce by providing
assistance in obtaining state employment in state-operated community-
based services or other employment opportunities, and to develop strate-
gies for the development of necessary retraining and redeployment
programs. In planning such strategies, the commissioner of the office of
children and family services shall provide for the participation of the
representatives of the employee labor organizations and for the partic-
ipation of managerial and confidential employees to ensure continuity of
employment;
[(b)] (C) consult with the department of economic development and any
other appropriate state agencies to develop strategies which attempt to
minimize the impact of such significant service reductions, public
employee staffing reductions and/or the transfer of operations to a
private or not-for-profit entity on the local and regional economies;
[(c)] (D) provide for a mechanism which may reasonably be expected to
provide notice to local governments, community organizations, employee
labor organizations, managerial and confidential employees, consumer and
advocacy groups of the potential for significant service reductions,
public employee staffing reductions and/or the transfer of operations to
a private or not-for-profit entity at such state-operated facilities, at
least twelve months prior to commencing such service reduction; and
S. 1765--A 4
[(d)] (E) consult with the office of general services and any other
appropriate state agency in developing a mechanism for determining
alternative uses for land and buildings to be vacated by the office of
children and family services. Such a mechanism should include a review
of other programs or state agencies that could feasibly expand their
operations onto a state-operated campus and are compatible with health,
safety and programmatic needs of persons served in such facilities.
§ 4. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part
of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the
remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause,
sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the
controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 5. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth 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.