BILL NUMBER: S3057
SPONSOR: FERNANDEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to setting standards
for addiction professionals
 
PURPOSE:
Relates to setting standards for addiction professionals.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 19.07 of the mental hygiene law. Subdivision
(a) is amended to modify who would be provided services as a person who
have or are at risk of an addictive disorder. The term addictive disor-
der is expanded to include gambling disorder education, prevention and
treatment consistent with section 41.57 of this chapter.
Additionally, this section provides that the office of OASAS shall
establish minimum qualifications for counselors and a definition of the
practice of the profession of an addiction professional in all phases of
delivery of services to persons and their families who are suffering
from alcohol and/or substance abuse and/or chemical dependence and/or
compulsive gambling or are at risk of an addictive disorder including,
but not be limited to, completion of approved courses of study or equiv-
alent on-the-job experience in alcoholism and substance abuse counseling
and/or counseling of compulsive gambling addiction disorder services.
The commissioner shall establish fees for the education, training,
licensing, credentialing, certification or authorization of addiction
professionals.
This section also requires that OASAS, in consultation with the state
education department, develops or utilizes existing educational materi-
als to be provided to school districts and boards or cooperative educa-
tional services for use in addiction to or in conjunction with any drug
and alcohol related curriculum regarding the misuse and abuse or alco-
hol, tobacco, prescription medication and other drugs with an increased
focus on substances that are most prevalent among school aged youth.
Finally, this section requires OASA to report on the status and outcomes
of initiatives created in response to the heroin and opioid epidemic.
Such a report shall be provided quarterly, beginning no later than July
first, two thousand nineteen.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) is the
only New York State credential to require the specialized addiction
training needed to fully understand and treat the complexities of
addiction. There are currently approximately 6,467 CASACs in NY with a
variety of education levels ranging from a High school diploma or GED to
Bachelor's degree and higher. Currently, 81% of CASAC's have an academic
degree and 28% of CASAC's also hold a Medical, Nursing, Social Work or
Mental Health Counselor License from the NYS Education Department. This
bill would help create a career advancement pathway for addiction
professionals by requiring that OASAS establish clear requirements for
each professional title and education to advance. This would encourage
professionals to stay in the field long term and continue their educa-
tion resulting in a more secure workforce.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24 A3848/S3528
2021-22 A8074
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.