NY State Senate Bill 2021-S4657

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health 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 05, 2022	referred to mental health
Feb 08, 2021	referred to mental health

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9982
Current Committee:: Senate Mental Health
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
2015-2016: S1894, A8589
2017-2018: S3256, A1109
2019-2020: S4381, A2267
2023-2024: S5274, A2110

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes peer crisis diversion homes; requires the commissioner to establish or contract for no less than six peer crisis diversion homes within one year.

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S4657

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
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-en-
ter 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-en-
ter 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.

 
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. Hospital officials then reorganized
parts of the emergency department to speed up patient flow, to incorpo-
rate ExpressCare clinic to provide faster urgent care.

To support the community integration of people with psychiatric disabil-
ities 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 psychiat-
ric 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 resi-
dents 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, inef-
fective and expensive hospitalizations.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20:S.4381 - Passed Senate

2017-18:S.3256 - REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILI-
TIES

2015-16:S.1894 - Referred to Mental Health and Developmental Disabili-
ties

2013-14:S.890 - Died in Mental Health

2011-12:S.3017 - Died in Mental Health

2009-10:S.5012 - Referred to Finance

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal with savings as expensive ER visits are averted.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4657
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 8, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health
 
 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:
 § 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
 GOVERNING  BODY  OF SUCH HOME SHALL CONSIST OF CURRENT OR FORMER RECIPI-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD09200-01-1

 S. 4657                             2
 
 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 THE EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF
 THIS  SECTION,  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. 4657                             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.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S4657

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health Committee

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S4657

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Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Mental Health Committee

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S4657 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments