BILL NUMBER: S5969
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating a
substance use disorder treatment bill of rights
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To ensure that patients of substance use disorder treatment facilities
are accorded appropriate rights.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Subdivision (c) of section 22.03 if the mental hygiene law,
as added by chapter 558 of the laws of 1999, is amended and a new subdi-
vision (d) is added.
Section 2: This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day
after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition,
amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be
made and completed on or before such an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
It is essential that people suffering from substance use disorders be
entitled to the same type of rights and protections that are afforded to
persons seeking other forms of medical care. Clearly enumerating the
rights that persons in treatment are entitled to will help to provide
essential protections for a vulnerable population.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S6009A - Passed Senate
2021-22: S.5054 - Passed Senate
2019-20: S.4599 - Passed Senate
2017-18: S.3408 - Referred to Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
2015-16: S.1543/A.5869 - Referred to Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
2013-14: S.913/A.1777 - Referred to Alcohol and Drug Abuse
2011-12: S.4447/A.48 - Passed the Assembly/ Died in Finance
2009-10: A.8075 - Referred to Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
2007-06: A.10699 - Referred to Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
2005-06: A.9766A - Passed Assembly
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date arc authorized to be made and
completed. On or before such an effective date.

Statutes affected:
S5969: 22.03 mental hygiene law