Priority Bills for End of Session: Update

June 1, 2021

The NYS Council continues to work on some high priority bills in the final days of the legislative session. Below is an update on those bills I originally mentioned last week. Note recent changes, as of June 1, in red ink, fyi.

There are a number of bills that we view as high priority as we approach the final weeks of the legislative session.  Note:  The session is scheduled to end on June 10 but there are many who doubt lawmakers will be done by then although the Governor has publicly stated that any of the policy initiatives he wanted to see happen this year were achieved via the budget making process.  We feel this is largely just positioning by the Executive for the negotiations to come on critical legislation.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of bills and bill numbers we are working on and/or following closely, fyi:

  • Telehealth Rate Parity:  A6256 (Woerner) / S5505 (Rivera)    NOTE:  Assembly bill appears to be dead; On Senate floor awaiting calendar placement for full house vote.   NO CHANGES
  • Clinical Practice Workforce Exemption Extension:  S6431 (Brouk) / A7405 A (Bronson)  NOTE:  On Cmte agendas in both houses tomorrow (5/25).  Would extend workforce exemption for one year.   UPDATE:  Assembly Rules Committee moved it forward ON 6/1 and bill is reported.  Senate bill = no change but Senate continues to state they intend to move their bill which is ‘same as’ Assembly version.
  • Clinical Practice Art 163 Diagnosis Bill  S5301A (Brouk) / A 6008A  (Bronson)   NOTE: As indicated directly above, the bill that seems to be moving is a straight extender bill for our workforce. UPDATE:  S5301A/A6008A  NO MOVEMENT.
  • OMIG Reform Bill  (Gottfried) – NOTE:  S4486A (Harckham) / A7889 (Gottfried)  Senate bill is in Health Committee as of 5/25; Assembly bill with Health Cmte. as of 5/28.  These are ‘same as’.
  • Prohibits insurers from requiring Fail First/Step Therapy for access to medications:  A3276 (Gunther) /S5909 (Kaminsky)  Bill appears to be stalled in the Assembly whereas Senate has it ready for a vote in full house. Needs a calendar date for full house vote.
  • MAT in Corrections Settings:  A533 (L. Rosenthal) /S1795 (Bailey)  NOTE:  Both bills appear ready to get on a calendar for full house votes   PASSED IN BOTH HOUSES.  Moves to Governor’s Desk for final action. 
  • Ban Prior Authorization for MAT in Medicaid Program:  A02030 (L. Rosenthal) /S00649A (Harckham)  NOTE: Bill is further along in Assembly than in Senate   Assembly bill is in Rules Committee; Senate bill on calendar for full house vote. 
  • Protect Opioid Settlement Funds:  S6683 (Rivera) / A2466 (Reyes)  Note: In Senate, Rivera bill is set up for a full house vote, but needs a calendar date; In Assembly Reyes ‘same as’ bill still appears to be w/ Alcoholism/SA Committee  There is a second Assembly bill, A6395-A (Woerner) that currently has no same as in Senate.  This bill is now in Assembly Codes and has advanced beyond the other Assembly (Reyes) bill.  
  • Stop Re-incarcerating NYers on Parole who have SUDs:  A5576 (Forest) / S1114 (Benjamin)  Both bills appear to be stuck in committees; Neither have moved in months.  
  • Repeals requirement that nonprofits must file certain financial information with Department of State  – A1141A (Paulin) / S4817 (Krueger)   NOTE:  SENATE bill back with Finance Cmte; Assembly bill with Codes.   
  • Requires CFTSS services to be covered in Child Health Plus Program (thereby instituting APG government rates)  – A303A (Gottfried) /S2539 (Rivera)    NOTE: Has not moved in either house since week of 5/3/21.  No movement.
  • Establishing 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline  S6194 (Brouk) /A7177A (Gunther)   NOTE:  Senate bill in MH Cmte;  Assembly bill on agenda for MH Cmte mtg. on 5/25  In Senate Print S6194A.   No Same As.  Gunther bill is in Ways & Means.