New York S 5969: Creates the substance use disorder treatment bill of rights to be posted in a conspicuous place in all treatment facilities

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S05969 Summary:

BILL NOS05969A

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SAME ASSAME AS A02300-A

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSRHOYLMAN-SIGAL

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §22.03, Ment Hyg L

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Creates the substance use disorder treatment bill of rights to be posted in a conspicuous place in all treatment facilities.

Go to top S05969 Actions:

BILL NOS05969A

&nbsp

03/04/2025REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

05/22/20251ST REPORT CAL.1282

05/27/20252ND REPORT CAL.

05/28/2025ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

06/13/2025COMMITTED TO RULES

01/07/2026REFERRED TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

03/11/2026AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO ALCOHOLISM AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

03/11/2026PRINT NUMBER 5969A

04/29/20261ST REPORT CAL.873

05/04/20262ND REPORT CAL.

05/05/2026ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

06/05/2026COMMITTED TO RULES

Go to topS05969 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS05969 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS05969 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 5969--A

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 March 4, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Alcoholism and Substance
 Use Disorders -- recommitted to the Committee on Alcoholism and
 Substance Use Disorders in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
 committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and
 recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating a
 substance use disorder treatment bill of rights

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

 1 Section 1. Subdivision (c) of section 22.03 of the mental hygiene law,
 2 as added by chapter 558 of the laws of 1999, is amended and a new subdi-
 3 vision (d) is added to read as follows:
 4 (c) The director of every [chemical dependence] substance use disorder
 5 program, service, or treatment facility shall post copies of [a notice]
 6 the substance use disorder treatment bill of rights in a form and manner
 7 to be determined by the commissioner, at places throughout the facility
 8 or program where such [notice] bill of rights shall be conspicuous and
 9 visible to all patients[, stating]. The substance use disorder treatment
 10 bill of rights shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
 11 1. [a general statement of the rights of patients under the various
 12 admission or retention provisions of this article; and
 13 2. the right of the patient to communicate with the director, the
 14 board of visitors, if any, and the commissioner] Every patient has the
 15 right to participate in developing an individualized plan of treatment
 16 and to request a review of the patient's treatment plan by another
 17 clinician;
 18 2. Every patient has the right to receive an explanation of services
 19 in accordance with the patient's treatment plan;
 20 3. Every patient shall have the right to be fully informed of the
 21 patient's proposed treatment, including possible adverse effects;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00903-05-6

 S. 5969--A 2

 1 4. Every patient has the right to object to or terminate treatment
 2 unless otherwise directed pursuant to court order, and cannot be coerced
 3 into treatment;
 4 5. Every patient has the right to privacy in treatment and in caring
 5 for personal needs, to have confidentiality in the treatment of personal
 6 and medical records, and to have security in storing possessions;
 7 6. Every patient has the right to have access to the patient's treat-
 8 ment records;
 9 7. Every patient and provider shall treat each other in a mutually
 10 courteous and fair way that is appropriate to the patient's individual
 11 needs;
 12 8. Every patient shall be treated in a manner that is free from abuse,
 13 discrimination, mistreatment, and exploitation;
 14 9. Every patient's civil and religious liberties, including the right
 15 to independent personal decisions and knowledge of available choices,
 16 shall not be infringed and facility or program staff shall encourage and
 17 assist in the fullest exercise of these righ