July 15, 2022

Following Up:

Earlier this week, a state Supreme Court justice in western New York ruled that the state’s latest isolation and quarantine procedures were produced by an unconstitutional process. The regulations state: “Whenever appropriate to control the spread of a highly contagious communicable disease, the State Commissioner of Health may issue and/or may direct the local health authority to issue isolation and/or quarantine orders, consistent with due process of law, to all such persons as the State Commissioner of Health shall determine appropriate.”  

On Wednesday, NYS Attorney General Letitia James formally appealed the state Supreme Court ruling.  

Note:  I have repeatedly tried to get a response from OASAS and OMH to our question about whether or not this Policy, and the recent court ruling have immediate implications for MH and SUD programs and services. I’ve gotten nothing from either state agency as yet.  I will keep at it.