ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL RETARDATION
AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
AND THE
ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: Establishing Statewide Goals and Objectives; Statewide Comprehensive Plans of Services for the Mentally Disabled
PURPOSE: To Ascertain Compliance with Section 5.07 of the Mental Hygiene Law
ALBANY, NEW YORK
Thursday
October 18, 2001
10:00 AM
Roosevelt Hearing Room C
Legislative Office Building
State Street, Second Floor
Albany, New York
BUFFALO, NEW YORK
Friday
October 26, 2001
10:00 AM
Buffalo & Erie County Library Auditorium
1 Lafayette Square (auditorium entrance is on Clinton Street
at the NW Corner of the Clinton & Ellicott Street intersection)
Buffalo, New York
Section 5.07 of the Mental Hygiene Law was established by Chapter 978 of the
Laws of 1977 to ensure that there would be an annual planning process which
would reflect a partnership between State and local government units, emphasize
how gaps in services for the mentally disabled would be filled and ensure that
services are provided to the multiply disabled. Section 5.05 of the Mental
Hygiene Law established an Inter-Office Coordinating Council to ensure that State
policy is planned, developed and implemented comprehensively; that gaps in services
to the multiply disabled are eliminated and that no one is denied services because
of suffering from more than one disability. The Legislature enacted this planning
process to enable it to establish policies and funding priorities consistent with
the needs identified by local governments and other stakeholders.
It is apparent that, for at least the last three years, the Offices within the Department of Mental Hygiene have not met the requirements of Section 5.07 of the Mental Hygiene Law. Needs of the multiply disabled are not being given appropriate attention in the annual planning process since the planning process being implemented does not conform with the requirements of the law.
Please see the reverse side for a list of subjects to which witnesses may direct their testimony.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committees at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.
Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes' duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.
Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.
In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.
