Bill > A683

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services, in but not of the Department of the Treasury, to support individuals with mental illness and addiction. Under the bill, the Governor is to appoint an Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services, who is to be qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The ombudsman is to be a person of recognized judgment, integrity, and objectivity, and is to be skilled in communication, conflict resolution, and professionalism. The duties of the Ombudsman Mental Health and Addiction Services are to include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) helping individuals with mental illness and addiction find effective treatment facilities and programs, including substance use disorder recovery services, health care services, mental health services, medication-assisted drug treatment services, and other substance use disorder treatment services; (2) ensuring that individuals with mental illness and addiction, including patients and residents within mental health facilities and programs, are receiving proper care and treatment; (3) providing educational programs; confidential drug counseling; and vocational guidance and job placement for individuals with mental illness and addiction; (4) educating individuals about the harm caused by substance use disorder with respect to individuals, families, and society; and (5) creating public information programs to educate individuals with mental illness and addiction of the duties of and resources provided by the ombudsman. The bill provides that the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services is to annually issue a written report to the Commissioner of Human Services, the Governor, and the Legislature. The report is to include a summary of the services the ombudsman provided during the year, and any specific recommendations the ombudsman deems appropriate and necessary concerning the State's provision of services and support to individuals with mental illness and addiction.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Chris DePhillips (R)*,  Yvonne Lopez (D)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*,  Daniel Benson (D),  Aura Dunn (R),  Raj Mukherji (D), 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Human Services Committee (on 01/14/2020)