Relates to including outpatient care provided by creative arts therapists in certain insurance policies covering care for other mental health services.
Enacts the "Lieutenant Joseph Banish mental health act" which establishes a law enforcement peer support program to provide confidentiality for communications arising out of law enforcement peer support counseling; defines terms; provides exceptions for when a peer support communication may be disclosed.
This bill extends a temporary rule allowing staff in state-regulated programs to perform applied behavioral analysis duties without full licensure, affecting employees of offices overseeing developmental disabilities, children's services, and mental health. It specifically permits these staff to carry out such work under their current roles but prohibits using licensed titles from Article 167 of the Education Law. The extension expires on July 1, 2030, after which the current exemption will no longer apply. The bill does not create new requirements but temporarily maintains existing workforce flexibility in these state programs.
Directs the commissioner of mental health to conduct a study of child- and youth-targeted mobile crisis outreach teams in New York state, and deliver a report including the findings and recommendations of such study to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly.
Requires the department of health to establish a registry for the collection of information on the incidence and prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and motor neuron disease (MND) in the state; requires that every physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant and general hospital that diagnoses or treats a patient diagnosed with ALS or MND give notice to the department of cases of ALS or MND coming under their care; requires that patients diagnosed with ALS or MND be provided with written and verbal notice regarding the collection of information and patient data on ALS and MND and provides a method for patients to opt out of the collection of data; provides for duties of the department and the commissioner of health in relation thereto.
S 1804 requires health insurance plans in New York to cover one rescue inhaler and one maintenance inhaler for asthma treatment at no cost to the patient, eliminating deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. This applies to all comprehensive health insurance policies (including major medical, group, and health service corporation plans) that cover prescription drugs. The law specifically mandates coverage for inhalers prescribed by a physician or licensed provider, with a limited exception for high-deductible plans that would otherwise disqualify enrollees from health savings accounts. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, for all new or renewed policies after that date. It directly affects New Yorkers with asthma who rely on insurance for inhaler access.
Extends authorization for certain health care professionals licensed to practice in other jurisdictions to practice in this state in connection with an event sanctioned by the New York Road Runners.
This bill extends the expiration date for disability benefits under New York's volunteer firefighters' benefit law for heart-related conditions. It specifically updates the effective period of provisions covering firefighters disabled by heart disease or coronary artery issues, moving the end date from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2030. The change directly affects volunteer firefighters who qualify for these disability benefits due to qualifying heart conditions. The bill does not alter eligibility criteria or benefit amounts - it only prolongs the current law's validity.
This bill extends existing income and resource exemptions for public assistance programs under the 1997 welfare reform law. It changes the expiration date of these exemptions from August 22, 2025, to August 22, 2027. The extension ensures that individuals and families receiving benefits like SNAP or Medicaid will continue to qualify without losing eligibility due to income changes during this period. The bill also includes a retroactive provision to cover the period starting August 22, 2025, if enacted after that date. This change directly affects low-income households enrolled in state public assistance programs.
This bill (S 7451) prohibits judges from banning parents from undergoing gender-affirming care during child custody decisions. It directly affects parents involved in custody cases by requiring courts to disregard a parent's sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression when determining a child's best interests. The law adds a specific provision to domestic relations law stating courts "shall not prohibit a party from undergoing gender reassignment" and must not consider gender identity factors. If passed, it would prevent courts from restricting a parent's access to medical care related to their gender identity as part of custody rulings. The bill is currently in the Assembly Judiciary committee after passing the Senate.
