S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5969
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 4, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  PARKER,  HOYLMAN-SIGAL  -- read twice and ordered
   printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Alcohol-
   ism and Substance Use Disorders
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental  hygiene  law,  in  relation  to  creating  a
   substance use disorder treatment bill of rights

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision (c) of section 22.03 of the mental hygiene law,
 as added by chapter 558 of the laws of 1999, is amended and a new subdi-
 vision (d) is added to read as follows:
   (c) The director of every [chemical dependence] SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
 program, service, or treatment facility shall post copies of [a  notice]
 THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT BILL OF RIGHTS in a form and manner
 to  be determined by the commissioner, at places throughout the facility
 or program where such [notice] BILL OF RIGHTS shall be  conspicuous  and
 visible to all patients[, stating]. THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT
 BILL OF RIGHTS SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NEED NOT BE LIMITED TO, the following:
   1.  [a  general  statement of the rights of patients under the various
 admission or retention provisions of this article; and
   2. the right of the patient to  communicate  with  the  director,  the
 board  of  visitors, if any, and the commissioner] EVERY PATIENT HAS THE
 RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEVELOPING AN INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN  OF  TREATMENT
 AND  TO  REQUEST  A  REVIEW  OF  THE PATIENT'S TREATMENT PLAN BY ANOTHER
 CLINICIAN;
   2. EVERY PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO RECEIVE AN EXPLANATION  OF  SERVICES
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PATIENT'S TREATMENT PLAN;
   3.  EVERY  PATIENT  SHALL  HAVE  THE RIGHT TO BE FULLY INFORMED OF THE
 PATIENT'S PROPOSED TREATMENT, INCLUDING POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECTS;
   4. EVERY PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO OBJECT  TO  OR  TERMINATE  TREATMENT
 UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED PURSUANT TO COURT ORDER;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00903-01-5
 S. 5969                             2
              

 
   5.  EVERY  PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN TREATMENT AND IN CARING
 FOR PERSONAL NEEDS, TO HAVE CONFIDENTIALITY IN THE TREATMENT OF PERSONAL
 AND MEDICAL RECORDS, AND TO HAVE SECURITY IN STORING POSSESSIONS;
   6.  EVERY PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PATIENT'S TREAT-
 MENT RECORDS;
   7. EVERY PATIENT  HAS  THE  RIGHT  TO  RECEIVE  COURTEOUS,  FAIR,  AND
 RESPECTFUL  TREATMENT  THAT  IS  APPROPRIATE TO THE PATIENT'S INDIVIDUAL
 NEEDS;
   8. EVERY PATIENT SHALL BE TREATED IN A MANNER THAT IS FREE FROM ABUSE,
 DISCRIMINATION, MISTREATMENT, AND EXPLOITATION;
   9. EVERY PATIENT'S CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES, INCLUDING THE  RIGHT
 TO  INDEPENDENT  PERSONAL  DECISIONS AND KNOWLEDGE OF AVAILABLE CHOICES,
 SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED AND FACILITY OR PROGRAM STAFF SHALL ENCOURAGE AND
 ASSIST IN THE FULLEST EXERCISE OF THESE RIGHTS; AND
   10. EVERY  PATIENT  SHALL  BE  FREE  TO  REPORT  GRIEVANCES  REGARDING
 SERVICES  OR  STAFF TO A SUPERVISOR, DIRECTOR, THE BOARD OF VISITORS, OR
 THE COMMISSIONER.
   (D) EVERY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROGRAM, SERVICE, OR  FACILITY  SHALL
 GIVE  A  COPY  OF THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATMENT BILL OF RIGHTS TO
 EACH PATIENT AT OR PRIOR TO THE TIME OF ADMISSION, OR TO  THE  APPOINTED
 REPRESENTATIVE  AT  THE  TIME  OF  APPOINTMENT AND TO EACH MEMBER OF THE
 STAFF AT THE PROGRAM, SERVICE, OR FACILITY.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,  amend-
 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
 tation  of  this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
 completed on or before such effective date.