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Health: Jun 7, 2011

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Active List: Jun 23, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 13, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 14, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 15, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 16, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 17, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 21, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 22, 2011 , Floor Calendar: Jun 23, 2011

Votes

Memo

BILL NUMBER:S5556

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public health law, in relation to health-related legal services programs

PURPOSE: To promote collaborations between health care service providers and legal aid programs to resolve practical needs that have an impact on patient health.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Adds a new section 22 to the Public Health law, to establish a program within the Health Department to establish standards for health related legal services programs that serve low-income individuals and families.

JUSTIFICATION: Medical professionals in New York State are finding that their low income patients often require legal services to assist them in accessing healthcare and in resolving the non-medical issues that impact their health. The Health Related Legal Services Program responds to this need.

Through these programs, also known as medical-legal aid partnerships, lawyers in collaboration with healthcare professionals address basic needs including food, housing, healthcare access, education and safety, so to remove barriers that may impede recovery or endanger health.

Typically, a low-income patient referred to legal a.id by a health care provider has multiple unmet socio-economic problems that legal assistance can resolve.

This bill will promote collaboration between healthcare professionals and lawyers, usually in healthcare settings, drawing on the strength of the two professions in order to leverage community resources to benefit low-income children and adults.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2010: A.11030 - Reported to Ways and Means

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal staffing expense would be experience by the department.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

5556

2011-2012 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

June 1, 2011
___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Health

AN ACT to amend the public health law,  in  relation  to  health-related
  legal services programs

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1.  The public health law is amended by adding a  new  section
22 to read as follows:
  S  22.  HEALTH-RELATED  LEGAL  SERVICES  PROGRAM.  1.  AS USED IN THIS
SECTION, "HEALTH-RELATED LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM" MEANS A PROGRAM THAT IS
A COLLABORATION BETWEEN HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND LEGAL SERVICES
PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ON SITE LEGAL SERVICES WITHOUT CHARGE TO ASSIST,  ON
A  VOLUNTARY  BASIS,  INCOME  ELIGIBLE  PATIENTS  AND  THEIR FAMILIES TO
RESOLVE LEGAL MATTERS OR NEEDS THAT HAVE AN IMPACT ON PATIENT HEALTH  OR
ARE CREATED OR AGGRAVATED BY A PATIENT'S HEALTH. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS
SECTION, LEGAL MATTERS MAY INCLUDE, BUT SHALL NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  (A) HOUSING, INCLUDING UTILITIES;
  (B) PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE;
  (C) EMPLOYMENT AND ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS;
  (D) GOVERNMENT BENEFITS;
  (E) IMMIGRATION;
  (F)  FAMILY  LAW,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT LIMITED TO, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
GUARDIANSHIP, CUSTODY, AND CHILD SUPPORT;
  (G) ADVANCE PLANNING, INCLUDING, BUT NOT  LIMITED  TO,  WILLS,  HEALTH
CARE PROXIES, POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND PERMANENCY PLANNING;
  (H) SPECIAL EDUCATION; AND
  (I) DEBTOR AND CREDITOR ISSUES.
  2. THE DEPARTMENT MAY DESIGNATE HEALTH-RELATED LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS
THAT COMPLY WITH STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED FOR SUCH PROGRAMS.
THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL WORK WITH LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY
HEALTH  ADVOCACY  ORGANIZATIONS,  HOSPITALS,  DIAGNOSTIC  AND  TREATMENT

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02416-03-1
S. 5556                             2

CENTERS AND OTHER PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, TO ESTAB-
LISH STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR HEALTH-RELATED LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAMS
THAT ARE DESIGNATED UNDER THIS SECTION.
  3.  A  HEALTH-RELATED  LEGAL  SERVICES  PROGRAM  DESIGNATED UNDER THIS
SECTION SHALL BE A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ENTITY OPERATED BY OR AFFILIATED  WITH
ONE  OR  MORE LEGAL SERVICES ORGANIZATIONS, LAW SCHOOLS, SOCIAL SERVICES
ORGANIZATIONS, OR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AND IT SHALL  COMPLY  WITH  THE
STANDARDS,  GUIDELINES  AND  REGULATIONS  UNDER  THIS  SECTION, AND HAVE
DEMONSTRATED ABILITY AND EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE HIGH  QUALITY  HEALTH-RE-
LATED LEGAL SERVICES MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE POPULATION TO BE SERVED.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.