Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – February 7, 2020

What’s Inside

  • Governor Signs Limousine Safety Bills
  • Membership of Medicaid Redesign Team II Announced
  • Senate Passes Package of Opioid Abuse Bills
  • Governor Announces $3 Million to Expand Mobile Treatment and Telepractice Services for Addiction in Underserved Communities
  • Governor Appoints New Monroe County Clerk
  • Assemblyman D’Urso Announces Retirement
  • Assemblyman Finch Announces Retirement
  • Political Updates
  • Updates, Reminders, and Links
  • Coming Up

Governor Signs Limousine Safety Bills

Governor Cuomo signed a package of legislation reforming safety standards for the limousine industry. The 10-point package includes the following:

S.6191C/A.9057 Seatbelt Requirements – Provides that motor vehicles converted into stretch limousines on or after January 1, 2021 have at least 2 safety belts for the front seat and at least one safety belt in the rear for each passenger the vehicle was designed to hold, as well as requiring all stretch limousines to be retrofitted to include seatbelts by January 1, 2023. 

S.6192A/A.8474A License Requirements for Limousine Drivers – Requires individuals operating limousines carrying 9 or more passengers, including the driver, to have a passenger endorsed commercial driver’s license.  

S.6193C/A.9056 Immobilization of Defective Limousines – Allows the Commissioner of Transportation to impound or immobilize stretch limousines in certain situations and provides that an impounded motor vehicle will not be released unless the Commissioner provides written notice that the vehicle has passed re-inspection. Any release of a vehicle without approval by the Commissioner will be punishable by a fine of up to $10,000. 

S.6188B/A.8172B Increased Penalties for Illegal U-Turns – Violations will be subject to a $250 to $400 fine and/or up to 15 days imprisonment. Second violations in eighteen months will be subject to a $600 to $750 fine and/or up to 45 days imprisonment. Violations involving a stretch limousine making an illegal U-turn while carrying at least one passenger would be subject to a $750 to $1,000 fine and/or up to 180 days imprisonment.  

S.6187C/A.9058 GPS Requirements – Requires stretch limousines to use GPS technology designed specifically for commercial vehicles upon the creation of federal standards.  

S.6185B/A.8214B Customer Service Resources – Requires the creation of a telephone hotline, operated and maintained by DMV, used to report safety issues with stretch limousines and a safe limo website maintained by the Department of Transportation.

S.6604B/A.9059 License Validation – Requires every motor carrier furnish the DMV a list of each altered motor vehicle designed to carry 9 or more passengers and requires the Commissioner to annually review the files of each driver employed by a motor vehicle carrier who operates a stretch limousine, along with publishing various safety metrics. 

S.6189C/A.1316C Passenger Task Force – Establishes the stretch limousine passenger safety task force to conduct a comprehensive review of safety, adequacy, efficiency and reliability of stretch limousine transportation.

S.6186B/A.712A Drug and Alcohol Testing – Require large for-hire vehicle drivers and motor carriers be subject to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing.

S.7134/A.8990 Seatbelt Use in Taxi and Livery Vehicles – Expands seatbelt use requirements in for-hire vehicles. 

Membership of Medicaid Redesign Team II Announced

This week, Governor Cuomo announced the members of the Medicaid Redesign Team II (MRT II). MRT II will commence work immediately and hold its first public meeting on Tuesday, February 11th. The Team will submit its report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature in March for consideration in the Fiscal Year 2021 Enacted Budget. MRT II will create an advisory Work Group to focus on issues associated with long-term care. Recommendations and proposals may be submitted online beginning February 11th. The voting members include:

  • Co-chair: Michael Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health
  • Co-chair: Dennis Rivera, Former Chair of SEIU Healthcare
  • Steven Corwin, President and CEO, New York Presbyterian
  • Thomas Quatroche, PhD, President and CEO, Erie County Medical Center
  • LaRay Brown, CEO of One Brooklyn Health
  • Mario Cilento, President of New York State AFL-CIO
  • Christopher Del Vecchio, President and CEO of MVP Health Care
  • Pat Wang, President and CEO of Healthfirst
  • Emma DeVito, President and CEO of VillageCare
  • Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health
  • Steven Bellone, County Executive, Suffolk County
  • K. Small, Director of Policy at Concepts of Independence
  • Donna Colonna, CEO, Services for the UnderServed (S:US) 
  • Todd Scheuermann, Secretary of Finance, NYS Senate
  • Blake Washington, Secretary of Ways and Means, NYS Assembly
  • Paul Francis, Deputy Secretary for Health and Human Services, Governor’s Office
  • Howard Zucker, Commissioner of Health
  • Ann Sullivan, Commissioner for the Office of Mental Health
  • Arlene González-Sánchez, Commissioner of the Office of Addiction Services and Supports
  • Theodore Kastner, Commissioner of the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
  • Robert Megna, Senior Vice Chancellor and COO, SUNY

New York State Medicaid Director Donna Frescatore will serve as the Team’s Executive Director and the Division of Budget Director Robert Mujica will serve as a non-voting member. 

Senate Passes Package of Opioid Abuse Bills

The Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction, and Overdose Prevention released its report this week making recommendations to the Senate on legislation to battle the opioid crisis in the state. The Senate passed a number of bills in concert with the release of the report, among them include the following:

Medical Education

  • 2507 Expands SBIRT Program – requires OASAS to develop new training materials for use by qualified health professionals to encourage the screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) program beyond hospital emergency rooms.
  • 7102-A Training for Controlled Substance Prescribers – requires DOH to update the mandatory three-hour training for prescribers of controlled substances to include the most up-to-date guidance and evidence-based best practices.
  • 7132 Pain Management and Substance Use Disorder Education – requires medical and mental health providers to receive training in pain management and substance use disorders (SUD).

Opioid Prescribing

  • 5653-A “Pill Mill” Surveillance – ensures that DOH’s periodic analysis of data from the prescription drug monitoring program include an examination of potential inappropriate or illegal prescribing, frequently referred to as “Pill mills.”
  • 6397 Access to Abuse Deterrent Formulations– requires insurance plan formularies to include at least one abuse-deterrent opioid analgesics drug product per opioid analgesics active ingredient offered. The bill does not allow cost sharing to be higher for abuse-deterrent opioid products and does not allow for prior approval or utilization review.
  • 7115 Partial Fill Prescription – allows patients to request a partially filled prescription without limiting future access to the rest of the prescription. 
  • 5150-B Opioid Antagonist Prescription – requires prescribers to co-prescribe an opioid antagonist with the first opioid prescription of the year to combat accidental overdoses.

Access to Overdose Reversal Medications

  • 6650 Take-Home Opioid Antagonist – requires individuals diagnosed with an opioid use disorder who are discharged from treatment facilities, state prisons, and hospitals to be provided with an overdose reversal drug (such as naloxone) prior to discharge.
  • 3159-A Access to Life Insurance Coverage – prohibits insurers from denying life insurance to, or otherwise discriminating against, individuals who are prescribed an overdose reversal drug (such as naloxone), as many nurses and health care providers carry this lifesaving drug without a specific patient prescription.
  • 5457 Use of Opioid Antagonist by Public Accommodations – expands the list of entities authorized to possess, distribute, and administer an overdose reversal drug (such as naloxone) to include public accommodations, such as restaurants and bars.

Ensuring Access to Treatment

  • 1063-A Substance Abuse Sensitivity Training – requires SUD counselors to receive sensitivity training and up-to-date training on how to provide the best care to individuals suffering from an SUD and their families.
  • 4599 Chemical Dependence Treatment Bill of Rights – creates an explicit list of rights for patients receiving treatment in a SUD program that must be clearly placed throughout treatment facilities and given to every patient upon intake.
  • 4741-B “Stephen’s Law” – requires treatment programs to notify patients of their right to identify emergency contacts and require OASAS to develop guidelines for protocols to be used by treatment programs in communicating with these contacts.

Insurance

  • 6694 Behavioral Health Insurance Rate Working Group – establishes a workgroup to conduct an analysis on rates for behavioral health services to ensure service providers have fiscally viable programs.

Recovery

  • 4496-A Recovery Living Task Force – establishes the recovery living task force to develop best practice guidelines for recovery housing and offer recommendations for legislation to put these recommendations into practice.

 Criminal Justice

  • 6288-A SUD Treatment in Correctional Facilities – requires the Office of Addiction Services and Supports to provide the Legislature with annual reports on the extent and nature of SUD and treatment access within New York State correctional facilities.

Child Welfare

  • S.5480 Infant Recovery Centers – requires that DOH and OASAS establish a pilot program with at least four infant recovery centers in areas of need in the state.

Governor Announces $3 Million to Expand Mobile Treatment and Telepractice Services for Addiction in Underserved Communities

Governor Cuomo announced the availability of more than $3 million in funding to expand mobile treatment and telepractice services for addiction across New York State. This funding will help expand the Center of Treatment Innovation – or COTI – initiative launched in 2017 as part of the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grant. Funding is set aside for providers to operate mobile treatment vehicles designed to expand access to addiction services in underserved communities. A total of $2.25 million for up to ten awards of $225,000 each are available for mobile treatment. An additional $930,000 is set aside to support the expansion of telepractice capacity and equipment. At least 62 awards of $15,000 each will be issued for this initiative with a provider in each county receiving at least one award. RFAs for each are available here.

Governor Cuomo said:

“We have made tremendous progress in combating addiction across New York and have seen the first reduction in opioid deaths in 10 years. This additional funding for mobile treatment and telepractice services will help ensure underserved communities have the resources they need to fight the opioid epidemic, and we will continue to do everything we can to expand access to critical care as we fight this deadly scourge and save lives.”

Governor Appoints New Monroe County Clerk

Governor Cuomo appointed Assembly member Jamie Romeo to the vacant Monroe County Clerk position this week. Romeo had previously announced her candidacy for the open position after its previous occupant, Adam Bello, vacated the seat in January after taking office as the Monroe County Executive. It is unclear if the Governor will call a special election to fill her now vacant Assembly seat.

Assembly Member Jamie Romeo said:

“I want to thank Governor Cuomo for this tremendous honor and vote of confidence. Serving Monroe County has been a passion of mine since before I could register to vote, and I am humbled at the opportunity to continue serving the residents of our great community. I have an ambitious vision for the County Clerk’s Office, and working with our partners in government like County Executive Adam Bello I am confident we will continue to pull back the veil that has hidden County Government from the residents it serves for far too long. County Government, including the Clerk’s Office, has tremendous opportunity to create tangible, positive change in our community and I look forward to being a part of this new era in Monroe County’s history.”

Assemblyman D’Urso Announces Retirement

Assemblyman Anthony D’Urso announced this week that he would not seek re-election to the seat he has held since 2016. D’Urso had previously served locally as councilman in the Town of North Hempstead.

Assemblyman D’Urso said:

“I have cherished representing the 16th Assembly District, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity. I have dedicated my life to giving back to my community, my state and the world to try and make it a better place. I truly hope that I have.”

Assemblyman Finch Announces Retirement

Assemblyman Gary Finch announced this week he would be retiring at the end of his term, choosing not to run again for the seat he has held since 1999.

Assemblyman Finch said:

“I want to thank my family for their love and support. My wife Marcia has always been my best and most trusted advisor, and without her partnership, none of this would’ve been possible.”

Political Updates

Assemblyman Garbarino gets Republican Party support for congressional run to replace retiring Rep. King.

Assemblyman Bronson will have a primary.

Republican Candidate for Seward’s Senate seat announces run.

East Syracuse Mayor plans run for Senate seat left vacant by Sen. Antonacci.

Warren County Supervisor announces Assembly run.

Dryden Town Supervisor joins race for Lifton Assembly seat.

Steve Murtagh announces run for Assemblymember Lifton seat.

Ken Bush III announces run for Assemblyman Finch seat.

UFT ready to go after pro-charter school legislators.

Endorsements

CWA endorses 10 Assembly members.

Updates, Reminders, and Links

City & State NY’s This week’s biggest Winners & Losers here.

Mujica discusses Medicaid gap on Brian Lehrer radio show here.

Robert Mujica Op-Ed: Our Medicaid fix makes sense here.

Department of State issues guidance on rent reforms prohibiting broker fees.

Coming Up

The Board of Regents will hold their next meeting on February 10th and 11th.

The 2020-21 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Local Government will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, February 10th in Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building.

The 2020-21 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Elementary Education will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Tuesday, February 11th in Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building.

The Senate Racing Committee will hold a public meeting on the economic impact of the three unused downstate casino licenses on February 12.

The 2020-21 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Public Protection will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Wednesday, February 12th in Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building.

The 2020-21 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Economic Development will be held at 9:30 A.M. on Thursday, February 13th in Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building.

The 2020-21 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing on Taxes will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 13th in Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building.

**CANCELLED** The Assembly will hold a public hearing on incentives for community solar on February 18.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on the idea of establishing a “civil service pipeline” statewide in which graduating students are trained for and recruited directly into public sector jobs on February 21.

**RESCHEDULED** The Legislative Commission on Rural Resources public hearing to examine the effectiveness of current flooding emergency and mitigation efforts, and to discuss the need for future assistance due to the increase in extreme weather events on February 25.

The Senate will hold a public hearing on issues related to homelessness, housing insecurity and affordable housing, and identify potential legislative remedies on February 28.

The Senate will hold a public hearing to solicit views of interested parties in the New York Voting Rights Act on March 3.