Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc.
(Publication Archives)

Friday Fax from Albany

Legislature Comes, and Goes, and is Expected to Come Again: In what many are calling the most productive two days in recent memory, members of the Senate and Assembly arrived in Albany on Monday ready to find resolution on issues. When they packed their bags for their home districts on Tuesday night, resolution on two long overdue measures that will dramatically impact the lives of New York’s citizens had occurred.

First, with the Senate’s override of the Governor’s veto of an incremental minimum wage increase, individuals who are the backbone of our state’s economy will receive the compensation they so truly deserve.

Second, with reform of the Rockefeller-era drugs laws, individuals found guilty of crimes involving possession of illegal drugs will no longer languish in our state’s prisons and jails at taxpayer expense. Instead, sentences will be shortened and, hopefully, with the proper treatment, these individuals will be able to turn their lives around to become productive members of society. Unfortunately, no changes were made to a judge’s ability to exercise discretion during sentencing, mandatory minimum sentences remain in place, and additional treatment programs where individuals with chemical dependency needs could receive treatment rather than jail time were left out. Nonetheless, this is seen as a significant step toward reform of the draconian laws.

Both of these issues affect individuals with mental illness as well. With the increase in the minimum wage, individuals with psychiatric disabilities who hold jobs that pay minimum wage will better be able to provide for themselves and their families. With regard to drug law reform, individuals with mental illness, who have co-occurring chemical dependency disorders, will no longer be incarcerated for decades where their mental conditions can often deteriorate and force undue strain on both themselves and a correctional system that is ill-equipped to deal with their needs.

Though it remains unclear as to when the legislature will return again, they are expected back in Albany by the end of the year. With these two issues having received significant attention, mental health advocates are urging members of the legislature to turn their attention to other issues, such as Timothy’s Law, before the year draws to a close.

$7.7 Million Budget Cut: We also took advantage of the legislature being in town for two days this week to advocate for overriding the veto of the $7.7 million cut to funding for mental health. Though the Senate did not override the cuts, rumor has it that the legislature will likely be back in town before the end of the year. According to what we have heard, there may still be interest in overriding the vetoes. We will continue to push on this issue. As we recently said in an e-mail to all of the MHA executive directors, please continue to call your Senator and Assembly member and urge them to restore these cuts.

Our other strategy has involved discussion with leadership in the Executive as well. We have pointed out to them the consequence of cuts to the Aid to Localities budget which directly impact MHAs and the services that we provide to recipients. We are appreciative to all the MHAs who have shared with us the impact of the budget cuts. This is the kind of information we need to make a strong case that these cuts impact real lives.

We are working closely with NYS Council of Community Behavioral Health Care, NYAPRS, Coalition of Voluntary Mental Health Agencies, Association for Community Living, NAMI-NYS, Families Together and the NYS Rehabilitation Association to show the impact these cuts have to all our agencies.

DHMH and OMH Hold Consumer Forum on PROS:

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
in collaboration with
The New York State Office of Mental Health New York City Field Office
Present

Consumer Educational Forum on PROS
(Personalized Recovery Oriented Services)

PROS is an OMH initiative to provide comprehensive recovery oriented services for adults with severe and persistent mental illness. The goal is to provide treatment, support, and rehabilitation in a manner that facilitates the individual's recovery. At this forums you will learn more about this new initiative including:

o What is PROS?
o What services will a PROS program offer?
o How does a PROS program differ from other mental health programs?
o What is the Individual Recovery Plan?
o Can you attend a PROS program and other mental health programs at the same time?
o How will the PROS initiative affect the services you currently receive?
o How you can comment on draft regulations.

Target Audience: Consumers/recipients of mental health services. Providers are welcome to attend; however, the presentation will be geared to the specific concerns of consumers.

Date: Dec. 14 ,1:30-3:30 pm

Location of Forum: Institute for Community Living
Stepping Stone Residence
50 Nevins St Bklyn., NY 11217

Registration is preferred. Seating is limited. Please provide the following information below by December 9th. If you need interpretation, please check box and indicate language:

We will do our best to accommodate all requests. Refreshments will be served.

Name:_______________________________________________________________________

Phone:______________________________________________________________________

Program/Affiliation:_____________________________________________________________

Send to:
Fax: 212.219.5192 Email to: ( Roberta Davis) rdavis1@health.nyc.gov
Tel: 212-219.5181
Mail: DOHMH, 93 Worth St. Room 611, N.Y. N.Y. 10013

In the News:

Disabled-child protect bill vetoed. By Joe Mahoney
New York Daily News, December 10, 2004

ALBANY - Gov. Pataki vetoed a measure yesterday that would have beefed up Albany's monitoring of out-of-state treatment centers that house hundreds of mentally disabled New Yorkers.

The move angered Brooklyn father Vito Albanese, who complained Pataki chose bureaucratic concerns over the welfare of vulnerable youngsters by spurning "Billy's Law," named for Albanese's son. The measure was embraced by both houses of the Legislature this year.

The educational centers cost an average of $45,000 per child per year, some of which is paid by the state.

"It's an outrage that the people of New York are going to have to support abuse and neglect with our tax dollars," Albanese told the Daily News.

The 66-year-old retired chauffeur launched his crusade to enact Billy's Law after his son, now 32, was physically abused in a New Jersey treatment facility in 1996.

The law would have required the state Education Department to inspect out-of-state facilities for disabled students at least once every three years and take those where abuse was documented off the "approved" list.

Although he called Billy's Law "laudable," Pataki said there are limits to New York's ability to regulate what takes place outside its borders. The best remedy, he suggested, is to bring the children back to New York for schooling - and he directed a task force to find new ways to do that by June.

The state Education Department had criticized the legislation, saying it came with no money to carry out the requirements.

Until next time, we remain,
Working to ensure available and accessible
mental health services for all New Yorkers