N.Y. Mental Hyg. Law § 19.45*2

* § 19.45 The council for treatment equity.\n 1. Definitions. As used in this section:\n (a) "Council" shall mean the council for treatment equity created\npursuant to this section which shall consist of a full time director and\nany additional full or part-time staff the commissioner deems necessary\nto effectuate the provisions of this section.\n (b) "Treatment equity advisory board" shall mean the advisory board to\nthe council, created pursuant to subdivision three of this section.\n (c) "Vulnerable populations" shall mean those who have experienced\ninjustices and disadvantages as a result of their race, ethnicity,\nsexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, age,\nsocioeconomic status and/or any other status which has caused a person\nto experience injustices and disadvantages.\n (d) "Racially and ethnically diverse areas" shall mean counties where\nthe non-white population is forty percent or more or the service area of\nan agency, corporation, facility or individual providing substance use\ndisorder services where the non-white population of said area is forty\npercent or more.\n (e) "Provider of services" shall mean any agency, corporation,\nfacility or individual providing substance use disorder services to\nvulnerable populations.\n (f) "Treatment disparities" shall mean measurable differences in\naccess to and quality of substance use disorder services as determined\nby race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability\nstatus, age and socioeconomic status.\n (g) "Treatment equity" shall mean achieving the highest level of\nsubstance use disorder services for all people and shall entail focused\nefforts to address avoidable inequalities by equalizing those conditions\nfor substance use disorder services for those that have experienced\ninjustices and socioeconomic disadvantages.\n 2. The council for treatment equity. There is hereby created a council\nfor treatment equity. The council, in conjunction with the treatment\nequity advisory board, shall have the following powers and duties:\n (a) Work collaboratively with the office, other relevant state\nagencies, the local governmental unit as defined in article forty-one of\nthis chapter and other affected stakeholders, including, but not limited\nto, providers to and representatives of vulnerable populations, in order\nto set priorities to achieve treatment equity in both racial and\nethnically diverse areas and for vulnerable populations throughout the\nstate;\n (b) Analyze collected data to determine the causes of treatment\ndisparities in both racially and ethnically diverse areas and for\nvulnerable populations throughout the state, including any economic,\nphysical, social or cultural barriers;\n (c) Develop and implement strategies aimed at achieving treatment\nequity in racially and ethnically diverse areas and among vulnerable\npopulations;\n (d) Promote community involvement by conducting promotional and\neducational outreach programs regarding substance use disorders and\navailable services; and\n (e) Review the impact of current laws, rules, regulations, policies\nand programs that may be affecting the ability to achieve treatment\nequity.\n 3. The treatment equity advisory board. (a) The treatment equity\nadvisory board shall consist of thirteen members. Six members shall be\nappointed by the governor, three members appointed by the temporary\npresident of the senate, three members appointed by the speaker of the\nassembly and the final member shall be the chairperson of the conference\nof local mental hygiene directors, or his or her designee. The\nchairperson of the board shall be the commissioner or their designee.\n (b) The members of the board shall be from the community with\nexpertise in conducting substance use disorder services. In making such\nappointments, due consideration shall be given to ensuring adequate\ngeographic representation.\n (c) The term of office for each member of the treatment equity\nadvisory board shall be two years. Vacancies in the treatment equity\nadvisory board, other than by expiration of a term, shall be filled for\nthe remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as original\nappointments.\n (d) The members of the treatment equity advisory board shall receive\nno compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed for all\nexpenses actually and necessarily incurred by them in the performance of\ntheir duties under this section within the amount made available by\nappropriation therefor.\n 4. Report. The council shall submit a written report to the governor,\nthe temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no\nlater than one year succeeding the effective date of this section and\nannually thereafter, setting forth the findings, recommendations and\nactivities of the council on matters within the scope of its powers and\nduties as set forth in this section.\n * NB There are 2 § 19.45's\n * NB Effective June 20, 2022\n