N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law § 19.15: Programs of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services

§ 19.15 Programs of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse

services.

(a) With the advice of the advisory council on alcoholism and

substance abuse services, and with the assistance of any

interdepartmental council or committee heretofore or hereafter

established that shall be charged with the responsibility for

interdepartmental cooperation and program development in alcoholism,

substance abuse, and chemical dependency, the commissioner shall

promote, establish, coordinate, and conduct programs for prevention,

diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, rehabilitation, and control in the

fields of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, substance

dependence, and chemical dependence in cooperation with such other

federal, state, local, and private agencies as are necessary and, within

the amount made available by appropriation therefor, implement and

administer such programs.

(b) The commissioner shall cooperate with, guide, and assist political

subdivisions, local agencies, local governmental units, community

service boards, and/or providers of services in the development and

periodic review of local comprehensive plans and programs for alcoholic,

alcohol abusing, substance abusing, substance dependent and chemically

dependent persons and their families and approve such plans and

programs.

(c) The activities described in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this

section may be undertaken in cooperation and agreement with other

offices of the department and with other departments or agencies of the

state, local or federal government, or with other organizations and

individuals, including, but not limited to, the research institute on

addictions as established in article one hundred five of the education

law.

(d) The commissioner shall provide for the development of systems and

programs through which individuals in the state's public and private

work force who abuse or are dependent on alcohol and/or substances, and

their families or significant others are identified and referred for

assistance, ensuring that these systems and programs shall provide

emphasis upon the special needs of working women.

(e) The commissioner shall implement a program of alcoholism,

substance abuse, and chemical dependence prevention and treatment

services adapted to the needs and interests of young people, including

the children of alcoholic and/or substance abusing persons.

(f) Reports. (1) The commissioner shall make an annual report to the

governor and the legislature by March first of each year assessing the

progress in implementing the programs and policies contained in this

title and including an accounting of the amounts, sources and uses of

funds expended for alcoholism and substance abuse services and for

prevention and education.

(2) The office shall on or before the first day of April in each year

file a written report with the governor, the temporary president of the

senate and the speaker of the assembly summarizing the results of any

special system or program directed at the special needs of women and

children affected by alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse,

substance dependence, or chemical dependence. Such report shall include

but not be limited to a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of

such programs initiated by the office together with suggested

legislation deemed necessary or proper for the implementation of new

programs or future success and development of existing programs.

(g) The office shall study, investigate, and recommend to the governor

and the legislature methods of increasing third party payments for

programs treating persons who abuse or are dependent on alcohol and/or

substances, and their families.

(h) The office shall administer community and school based alcoholism,

substance abuse, and chemical dependence prevention and education

programs.

(i) The commissioner shall develop plans, and cause to be promoted,

programs and services related to compulsive gambling education,

prevention and treatment consistent with section 41.57 of this chapter.

He or she shall take all actions that are necessary, desirable, or

proper to implement the purposes of this chapter and to carry out the

purposes and objectives of the department within the amounts made

available therefor by appropriation, grant, gift, devise, bequest or

allocation from the problem and compulsive gambling education,

prevention and treatment fund established under section ninety-nine-i of

the state finance law, as amended by section one of part Y of chapter

sixty-three of the laws of two thousand three.