New York S 8618: Relates to civil actions for deprivation of constitutional rights

Bill Text

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S08618 Summary:

BILL NOS08618 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORCANZONERI-FITZPATRICK

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §§7.49 & 19.46, Ment Hyg L

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Enacts the "behavioral health transportation access act", in relation to establishing a transportation assistance voucher demonstration program for certain outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services.

Go to top S08618 Actions:

BILL NOS08618 

&nbsp

12/15/2025REFERRED TO RULES

01/07/2026REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH

Go to topS08618 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS08618 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS08618 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 8618

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 December 15, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. CANZONERI-FITZPATRICK -- read twice and ordered
 printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing a
 transportation assistance voucher demonstration program for certain
 outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "behavioral health transportation access act".
 3 § 2. Legislative findings and purpose. The legislature finds that many
 4 New Yorkers receiving outpatient mental health and substance use disor-
 5 der services lack access to reliable and affordable transportation and
 6 are ineligible for Medicaid-funded non-emergency medical transportation.
 7 Individuals with incomes modestly above Medicaid thresholds often incur
 8 significant transportation costs to attend therapy, counseling, medica-
 9 tion management, and recovery services, resulting in missed appointments
 10 and early dropout from care. Such disruptions increase the likelihood of
 11 psychiatric crisis, overdose, relapse, hospitalization, and involvement
 12 with law enforcement, imposing substantial costs on the state and local
 13 communities.
 14 The purpose of this act is to authorize the office of mental health,
 15 in consultation with the office of addiction services and supports, to
 16 establish a demonstration program providing transportation assistance
 17 vouchers to eligible individuals attending outpatient behavioral health
 18 appointments, in order to promote continuity of care, reduce avoidable
 19 crises, and improve behavioral health outcomes.
 20 § 3. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 7.49 to
 21 read as follows:
 22 § 7.49 Transportation assistance voucher demonstration program.
 23 (a) Definitions. As used in this section:
 24 (1) "Eligible individual" means a resident of the state who:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD14212-01-5

 S. 8618 2

 1 (i) has a scheduled appointment at an outpatient mental health program
 2 licensed, operated, or funded by the office, or at an outpatient
 3 substance use disorder program certified, operated, or funded by the
 4 office of addiction services and supports;
 5 (ii) has household income at or below two hundred fifty percent of the
 6 federal poverty level;
 7 (iii) is not enrolled in the medical assistance program under title
 8 eleven of article five of the social services law and is not receiving
 9 non-emergency medical transportation benefits for such appointment; and
 10 (iv) lacks access, as determined by the commissioner, to safe, reli-
 11 able, no-cost transportation to and from such appointment.
 12 (2) "Outpatient behavioral health program" means an outpatient program
 13 providing mental health or substance use disorder services that is
 14 licensed, operated, or funded by the office or by the office of
 15 addiction services and supports.
 16 (3) "Transportation voucher" means a digital code, prepaid card, paper
 17 voucher, transit pass, or reimbursement mechanism redeemable only for
 18 transportation services authorized under this section.
 19 (4) "Transportation services" means public transportation, including
 20 bus, subway, light rail, paratransit, or commuter rail; for-hire tr