NY State Senate Bill 2025-S4908

Senate Bill S4908

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to the creation of an innovative supportive housing program for persons with a developmental disability who wish and are able to safely live independently; creates an exemption from certain filings

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee 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
Feb 14, 2025	referred to disabilities

2025-S4908 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Disabilities
Law Section:: Mental Hygiene Law
Laws Affected:: Add §16.38, Ment Hyg L; amd §352-g, Gen Bus L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2021-2022: S8521
2023-2024: S5028

2025-S4908 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to the creation of an innovative housing initiative for persons with a developmental disability who wish and are able to safely live independently; directs the division of housing and community renewal to establish guidelines for the dissemination of disclosure materials for the offer and sale of interests in residential environments formed under the innovative housing initiative; creates an exemption from certain filing requirements for residential environments that are formed as cooperative interests in realty for persons receiving services under the innovative housing initiative.

2025-S4908 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4908

SPONSOR: FAHY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the creation of
an innovative housing initiative for persons with a developmental disa-
bility who wish and are able to safely live independently; to direct the
division of housing and community renewal to establish guidelines for
the dissemination of disclosure materials for the offer and sale of
interests in residential environments formed under the innovative hous-
ing initiative; and to amend the general business law, in relation to
creating an exemption from certain filing requirements for residential
environments that are formed as cooperative interests in realty for
persons receiving services under the innovative housing initiative

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to provide innovative housing opportunities
for persons with a developmental disability and enable them to reside
together and live more independently.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of this bill would amend the Mental Hygiene Law by adding a
new section 16.38 titled Innovative Housing Initiative to provide that:

*the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) shall
assist persons with a developmental disability to live independently,
with support services, including staffing support, shared staffing
support and opportunities for social engagement and recreation, in a
residential environment; and,

*such residential environment may be comprised of a single housing unit
or multiple units of housing, in one or more buildings, including leased
residential housing, housing that qualifies as a cooperative interest in
realty and condominium units.

Section 2 of this bill would require that OPWDD conduct public hearings
on residential environments that include the innovative housing initi-
ative.

Section 3 of this bill would provide that the division of housing and
community renewal shall establish guidelines for the dissemination of
disclosure materials for the offer and sale of interests in residential
environments formed under the innovative housing initiative, to ensure
material information is disclosed to a prospective purchaser.

Section 4 of this bill would amend section 352-g of the General Business
Law, to provide that residential environments that are formed as housing
development fund corporations and pursuant to section four hundred two
of the business corporation law where such residential environment is
formed for persons receiving services under the innovative housing
initiative established by section 16.38 of the mental hygiene law, shall
be exempt from any filing requirements of section three hundred fifty-
two-e of the general business law for the investment in any residential
environments and the conversion of any building, group of buildings or
development which are converted to a housing development fund corpo-
ration.
Section 5 of this bill would provide that the effective date shall take
effect one year after it shall have become a law; provided, however,
that section two of this act shall take effect immediately.  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.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 1999, in the seminal case Olmstead v. L.C. (hereinafter "Olmstead"),
the United States Supreme Court held that governments must provide
community-based services to persons with disabilities when (i) such
services are appropriate; (ii) the affected persons do not oppose commu-
nity-based treatment; and (iii) community-based services can be reason-
ably accommodated, taking into account the resources available to the
public entity and the needs of others who are receiving disability
services from the entity.

As a result of Olmstead, as well as subsequent actions brought by fami-
lies and advocates, state and local governments are required to ensure
that persons with disabilities, including developmental disabilities,
can live in the most integrated setting appropriate for their needs.
Today, many persons with developmental disabilities live with a parent
or parents, a family member, or other similar direct support personnel.
However, many such persons wish to live more independently, and would do
so if an option existed that included certain supports. For such
persons, living with a parent or other direct support personnel is not
the most integrated setting that is appropriate for their needs.

Further, although family caregiving is appropriate in many instances, a
system that relies primarily on parents and similar direct support
personnel to provide a non-institutional living setting is not sustaina-
ble. The parent or direct support personnel eventually becomes unable to
continue supporting the person who has a developmental disability, due
to the direct support personnel's infirmity, death, or other concerns.

When that happens, the person with a developmental disability may need
to move to a certified housing setting, commonly referred to as a group
home, which is a more restrictive environment than an innovative housing
program could provide. Often, available group homes are located far from
the communities in which people have lived their entire lives. Although
group homes may be appropriate for some persons with developmental disa-
bilities, they are not appropriate for those persons with disabilities
who wish and are able to live more independently. Currently, group
homes, even for those who choose to live in that setting, do not number
nearly enough to meet the need.

A system that creates unnecessary pressure to place persons with devel-
opmental disabilities in group homes directly contravenes the spirit of
Olmstead. Perhaps more importantly, it works a double trauma upon the
person with a developmental disability, who has no option but to move
from their long-time home while, at the same time, grieving the loss of
a parent or direct support personnel.  Accordingly, there is a need to
create new and innovative housing initiatives that maximize independence
for persons with developmental disabilities. This bill would provide
more opportunities to provide independent housing options to persons

with developmental disabilities, where such persons wish and are able
with support services to take advantage of such opportunities.

Indeed, in a recent letter, the Acting Deputy Administrator and Director
of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") stated
that there is no cap or percentage used to determine whether housing for
people with developmental disabilities satisfies the federal home and
community-based setting rule, which is designed to ensure that Medicaid
funded housing programs comply with Olmstead principles. CMS clarified
that every state must assess each setting and "focus ... on the experi-
ence of the individual in the setting."  Persons with developmental
disabilities can in fact live in close proximity in a safe, healthy and
integrated residential environment, especially when that environment is
chosen by the person and augmented with supports that maximize the
person's independence and that are less intensive than the services
provided in an institutional setting.

Thus, to maximize the availability of innovative housing settings, this
legislation sets forth the criteria for the Office for People with
Developmental Disabilities ("OPWDD") to maximize the opportunity for
innovative housing initiatives that enable persons with developmental
disabilities to live more independently, with certain supports provided
through OPWDD, such as shared direct support personnel. In this way,
these housing initiatives will ensure that persons with developmental
disabilities are afforded settings that are the most integrated and
appropriate for their needs and honors their right to choose where they
may live and with whom.

The bill would also exempt residential environments that are formed as
housing development fund corporations from the filing requirements of
the Martin Act, and vests sole jurisdiction with the Division of Housing
and Community Renewal as the supervising agency of any residential envi-
ronment to determine disclosure requirements for investors and purchas-
ers of shares. This exemption will ensure that residential environments
that are formed under the private housing finance law are not impeded by
the strict filing requirements of the Martin Act given the roles of the
division of housing and community renewal as supervising agency of resi-
dential environments formed under the private housing finance law devel-
opment fund corporation.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24: S.5028-A

2021-22: S.8521-C

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law;provided, however, that section two of this act shall take effect
immediately. 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 an effective date.

2025-S4908 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4908
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 14, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  FAHY  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to the  creation  of
   an  innovative  housing  initiative  for  persons with a developmental
   disability who wish and are able  to  safely  live  independently;  to
   direct  the  division  of  housing  and community renewal to establish
   guidelines for the dissemination of disclosure materials for the offer
   and sale of interests in residential  environments  formed  under  the
   innovative  housing initiative; and to amend the general business law,
   in relation to creating an exemption from certain filing  requirements
   for  residential environments that are formed as cooperative interests
   in realty for persons receiving services under the innovative  housing
   initiative
 
   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
 16.38 to read as follows:
 § 16.38 INNOVATIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE.
   (A)  THE  OFFICE SHALL ASSIST A PERSON WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY
 TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, WHERE APPROPRIATE, IN A NON-CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL
 ENVIRONMENT, WITH SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO  STAFF-
 ING  SUPPORT,  SHARED  STAFFING  SUPPORT,  AND  OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL
 ENGAGEMENT AND RECREATION, WHEN DETERMINED BY THE OFFICE TO BE AN APPRO-
 PRIATE NON-CERTIFIED RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT FOR SUCH PERSON.
   (B) SUCH RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT MAY BE COMPRISED OF A SINGLE  HOUSING
 UNIT  OR  MULTIPLE UNITS OF HOUSING, IN ONE OR MORE BUILDINGS, INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO: (I) LEASED RESIDENTIAL HOUSING UNITS;  (II)  HOUSING
 THAT  QUALIFIES  AS A COOPERATIVE INTEREST IN REALTY UNDER SECTION THREE
 HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO-E OF THE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW; AND  (III)  CONDOMINIUM
 UNITS  UNDER  ARTICLE  NINE-B OF THE REAL PROPERTY LAW.  THE INTEREST IN
 SUCH RESIDENTIAL UNIT MAY BE LEASED OR OWNED BY A PERSON WITH A DEVELOP-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD01017-02-5

 S. 4908                             2
 
 MENTAL DISABILITY, OR AN ENTITY ON BEHALF OF SUCH PERSON, INCLUDING  BUT
 NOT LIMITED TO A TRUST ESTABLISHED FOR SUCH PERSON'S BENEFIT.  EACH UNIT
 OF  RESIDENTIAL  HOUSING  MAY  BE OCCUPIED BY NO MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF
 UNRELATED  PERSONS PERMITTED BY LOCAL LAW, OR OTHER APPLICABLE LAW, RULE
 OR REGULATION.
   (C) THE OFFICE SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE A PERSON'S ELIGI-
 BILITY FOR THE  INNOVATIVE  HOUSING  INITIATIVE  AS  DESCRIBED  IN  THIS
 SECTION, INCLUDING:
   (1)  WHERE A PERSON WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY MAY PREFER TO LIVE
 AND WITH WHOM THEY MAY PREFER TO LIVE WITH, WHERE APPROPRIATE;
   (2) MAXIMIZING THE TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH A PERSON
 WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL  DISABILITY  MAY  LIVE  WHILE  BEING  ELIGIBLE  FOR
 SERVICES  AUTHORIZED AND FUNDED THROUGH A HOME AND COMMUNITY BASED WAIV-
 ER, OR OTHER PAYMENT MECHANISM, AS APPROPRIATE,  AS  DETERMINED  BY  THE
 OFFICE, TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMITTED; AND
   (3)  PERMITTING A NUMBER OF PERSONS WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY TO
 LIVE IN A RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT, WHERE APPROPRIATE AND TO  THE  EXTENT
 PERMITTED.
   (D)  THIS  SECTION  SHALL  NOT  LIMIT OR OTHERWISE AFFECT REQUIREMENTS
 APPLYING TO:
   (1) AN INTEGRATED  SUPPORTIVE  HOUSING  PROGRAM  ADMINISTERED  BY  THE
 OFFICE  IN  COORDINATION  WITH  THE  DIVISION  OF  HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
 RENEWAL (COMMONLY REFERRED TO  AS  THE  INTEGRATIVE  SUPPORTIVE  HOUSING
 PROGRAM OR "ISH"); OR
   (2)  PROJECTS  DEVELOPED AS PART OF AN EMPIRE STATE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
 INITIATIVE (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS "ESSHI").
   (E) THE OFFICE SHALL COORDINATE  WITH  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  HEALTH  TO
 DETERMINE  WHETHER  AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE PLAN AUTHORIZED BY SECTION
 THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE-A OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW OR  A  WAIVER  IS
 REQUIRED  FROM  THE  FEDERAL  CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES
 ("CMS") TO MAXIMIZE FEDERAL FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION FOR  THE  INITIATIVE
 DESCRIBED  IN THIS SECTION NO MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS FROM THE
 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. IF THE OFFICE DETERMINES THAT AN  AMEND-
 MENT TO THE STATE PLAN OR A WAIVER IS REQUIRED OR DESIRABLE, THE DEPART-
 MENT  OF  HEALTH  SHALL  SUBMIT  SUCH AMENDMENT OR APPLY TO CMS FOR SUCH
 WAIVER.
   (F) THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PERMIT THE OPERATION  WITH-
 OUT  AN  OPERATING CERTIFICATE OF A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE, COMMUNITY RESI-
 DENTIAL FACILITY FOR THE DISABLED, SUPERVISED LIVING FACILITY,  SUPPORT-
 IVE  LIVING  FACILITY,  OR  ANY  OTHER  PROVIDER OF SERVICE REQUIRING AN
 OPERATING CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 16.03 OF THIS  ARTICLE.  NOTHING  IN
 THIS  SECTION  SHALL  BE  INTERPRETED  AS AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN THE
 NUMBER OF BEDS APPROVED FOR A COMMUNITY RESIDENCE, COMMUNITY RESIDENTIAL
 FACILITY FOR THE DISABLED, SUPERVISED LIVING FACILITY, SUPPORTIVE LIVING
 FACILITY, OR ANY  OTHER  PROVIDER  OF  SERVICE  REQUIRING  AN  OPERATING
 CERTIFICATE UNDER SECTION 16.03 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (G)  RESIDENTIAL  ENVIRONMENTS  IN  WHICH PERSONS WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL
 DISABILITY RECEIVE SERVICES PURSUANT TO THE  INNOVATIVE  HOUSING  INITI-
 ATIVE DESCRIBED BY THIS SECTION SHALL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY RESI-
 DENT OR POTENTIAL RESIDENT BASED ON RACE, CREED, AGE OTHER THAN BEING AT
 LEAST  EIGHTEEN  YEARS  OF AGE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, DISABILITY,
 MARITAL STATUS, MILITARY  STATUS,  FAMILY  STATUS,  SEXUAL  ORIENTATION,
 GENDER  IDENTITY  OR  EXPRESSION,  OR ANY OTHER PROTECTED CHARACTERISTIC
 UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.
   § 2. The office  for  people  with  developmental  disabilities  shall
 conduct  public  hearings  on  residential environments that include the
 S. 4908                             3
 
 innovative housing initiative as described pursuant to section 16.38  of
 the mental hygiene law.
   §  3.  The  division  of housing and community renewal shall establish
 guidelines for the dissemination of disclosure materials for  the  offer
 and sale of interests in residential environments formed under the inno-
 vative  housing  initiative  established  by section 16.38 of the mental
 hygiene law, including (a)  housing  that  qualifies  as  a  cooperative
 interest  in realty under section 352-e of the general business law; (b)
 condominium units under article 9-B of  the real property law;  and  (c)
 shares  in  a  housing  development fund corporation which are otherwise
 exempt from the filing requirements of  section  352-e  of  the  general
 business  law,  to  ensure  material  information  is  disclosed  to any
 prospective shareholder  that:  (i)  fully  describes  the  risks  to  a
 prospective  shareholder's  investment; and (ii) encourages the prospec-
 tive shareholder to consult with legal counsel prior to  purchasing  any
 shares.    The  division of housing and community renewal shall make the
 disclosure guidelines publicly available on its  website  in  compliance
 with section 102(14) of the state administrative procedure act.
   §  4.  Section  352-g of the general business law, as added by chapter
 987 of the laws of 1960, is amended to read as follows:
   § 352-g. Exemptions. (A) The attorney general, upon  application,  may
 exempt  from the provisions of sections three hundred fifty-two-e, three
 hundred fifty-two-f and three hundred fifty-two-h OF  THIS  ARTICLE  any
 offerings  of  securities  (1)  made  to  persons not exceeding forty in
 number or (2) which securities have been fully registered with the secu-
 rities and exchange commission of the United States of America  or  have
 received  an exemption therefrom for reasons other than said offering is
 an intrastate offering to residents of the state of New York only.
   (B) RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE FORMED  AS  HOUSING  DEVELOPMENT
 FUND  CORPORATIONS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE XI OF THE PRIVATE HOUSING FINANCE
 LAW AND SECTION FOUR HUNDRED TWO OF THE BUSINESS CORPORATION  LAW  WHERE
 SUCH  RESIDENTIAL  ENVIRONMENT  IS FORMED FOR PERSONS RECEIVING SERVICES
 UNDER THE INNOVATIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 16.38  OF
 THE  MENTAL  HYGIENE LAW AND WHERE THE DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
 RENEWAL IS THE SUPERVISING AGENCY AS DEFINED  BY  SECTION  FIVE  HUNDRED
 SEVENTY-TWO  OF  THE PRIVATE HOUSING FINANCE LAW, AND WHERE THE DIVISION
 OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL REQUIRES THE HOUSING  DEVELOPMENT  FUND
 CORPORATION  TO  ENTER INTO A MONITORING AGREEMENT WITH A QUALIFIED NOT-
 FOR-PROFIT WITH EXPERIENCE IN THE OVERSIGHT, SUPPORT AND  MANAGEMENT  OF
 HOUSING  DEVELOPMENT  FUND  CORPORATIONS SHALL BE EXEMPT FROM ANY FILING
 REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-TWO-E OF  THIS  ARTICLE  FOR
 THE INVESTMENT IN ANY RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTS AND THE CONVERSION OF ANY
 BUILDING,  GROUP  OF  BUILDINGS  OR DEVELOPMENT WHICH ARE CONVERTED TO A
 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION.
   § 5. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become  a
 law;  provided,  however, that section two of this act shall take effect
 immediately. 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.

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