Community Connections, Spring 2002
Legislative
Conference
Tuesday,
March 19, brought dozens of people from MHAs across the state to MHANYS
annual legislative conference. Speakers, ranging from Senate Mental Health
Committee Chair Tom Libous to OMH Commissioner Jim Stone, delivered up
to the minute information on the state of budget negotiations and the
status of the issues most pertinent to us.
MHA advocacy leaders Martha Steuding of Ulster County and Jacki Brownstein
of Dutchess County walked those in attendance through the art of advocacy
on children's and adult issues.
Assembly Mental Health Committee Chair Martin "Marty" Luster,
a long-time close friend of MHANYS and the MHAs in his district, joined
us in announcing the unanimous passage of his mental health and chemical
dependency parity bill, A.4506 through the state Assembly the day before.
Mr. Luster, who recently announced his retirement at the end of this year,
has joined MHANYS and the members of the "Fair Insurance Today"
coalition at a press conference where advocates began to turn their focus
to Senate passage this year.
posted
4/9/02
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