New York A 5545: Provides for qualified mental health associates

Bill Text

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A05545 Summary:

BILL NOA05545A

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORSimon

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COSPNSRSantabarbara, De Los Santos

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §§7.07 & 7.03, Ment Hyg L

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Directs the office of mental health to establish programs for the training and development of persons capable of providing coaching and support to individuals under treatment plans developed by licensed mental health practitioners, including but not limited to a process of issuing, either directly or through contract, credentials for qualified mental health associates.

Go to top A05545 Actions:

BILL NOA05545A

&nbsp

02/14/2025referred to mental health

05/16/2025amend and recommit to mental health

05/16/2025print number 5545a

05/20/2025reported referred to codes

01/07/2026referred to codes

Go to topA05545 Committee&nbspVotes:

Committee:MENTAL HEALTH Chair:Simon 
DATE:05/20/2025AYE/NAY:13/0 Action: Favorable refer to committee Codes SimonAyeSempolinskiAye

SantabarbaraAyeMaherAye

JacksonAyeBrownAye

GibbsAyeBaileyAye

De Los SantosAye

EachusAye

BergerAye

Chandler-WatermAye

TapiaAye

Go to topA05545 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA05545 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5545--A

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 14, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, SANTABARBARA, DE LOS SANTOS -- read once
 and referred to the Committee on Mental Health -- committee
 discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
 to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to qualified mental
 health associates

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

 1 Section 1. Section 7.07 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding
 2 a new subdivision (i) to read as follows:
 3 (i) The office either directly or through contract, shall develop
 4 training, approved educational courses, and a process for issuing the
 5 title for a qualified mental health associate once it has been deter-
 6 mined that an individual has met the minimum qualifications for such
 7 title.
 8 (1) A qualified mental health associate must meet the following mini-
 9 mum qualifications:
 10 (i) A high school diploma;
 11 (ii)(A) An Associate or Bachelor's degree in a behavioral sciences
 12 field; or
 13 (B) A combination of at least three years relevant work, education,
 14 training or experience; and
 15 (iii) (A) Demonstrate the competency necessary to work in facility
 16 settings or other supervised settings approved by the office under
 17 supervision in accordance with regulations established under this
 18 subdivision;
 19 (B) promote recovery and communicate effectively to service recipients
 20 and professionals to effectively create, develop or implement a service
 21 plan or recovery plan that is not a behavioral health diagnosis or
 22 treatment plan; and

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD08419-04-5

 A. 5545--A 2

 1 (C) understand terminology for mental health assessment and treatment
 2 and perform such assessments and assist with the development of or
 3 implementation of treatment plans as a member of a multi-disciplinary
 4 team, in accordance with section eighty-four hundred ten of the educa-
 5 tion law.
 6 (2) The office in consultation with the department of education shall
 7 establish procedures for the establishment of appropriate fees, and when
 8 appropriate make a referral to the department of education for the
 9 purpose of issuing penalties, or suspend, revoke, or annul an individ-
 10 ual's title of a qualified mental health associate for cause any miscon-
 11 duct, other prohibited acts, or for the unauthorized use of the title
 12 qualified mental health associate. The commissioner shall also develop
 13 procedures for remedial action which may be used at the discretion of
 14 the commissioner.
 15 (3) The commissioner shall establish a board which shall provide
 16 advice concerning the process under this subdivision. The commissioner
 17 appointments shall be representative of the diverse mental health field,
 18 including but not limited to:
 19 (