Establishes a pilot program to improve equity and efficiency in housing for people with developmental disabilities

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          10327

                                    I N  S E N A T E

                                      May 14, 2026
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  FAHY  --  read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Disabilities

        AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to creating a  pilot
          program  to  improve  equity and efficiency in housing for people with
          developmental disabilities

          THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
        BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

     1    Section  1.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
     2  13.44 to read as follows:
     3  §  13.44 SHARED HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM.
     4    1. THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SHALL  ESTAB-
     5  LISH  A  PILOT PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT
     6  HAS EXPERIENCE PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS
     7  WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. SUCH PILOT PROGRAM SHALL EXPLORE ALTERNA-
     8  TIVE HOUSING MODELS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND  DEVELOPMENTAL
     9  DISABILITIES.    SPECIFICALLY,  SUCH  PILOT  SHALL WORK WITH THE PARTNER
    10  NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE SHARED RESIDENTIAL HOUSING FOR  UP  TO
    11  FOUR INDIVIDUALS PER UNIT, SUPPORTED BY DEDICATED STAFF.
    12    2.  UNDER THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE FUNDING ALLOTTED PER INDIVIDUAL SHALL
    13  NOT BE DECREASED BY A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT DUE TO THE  SHARED  RESIDENTIAL
    14  UNIT.    THE PILOT PROGRAM SHALL SERVE TO BALANCE EQUITABLE FUNDING WITH
    15  INCENTIVIZING SHARED SPACES IN ORDER TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY FOR  RESIDENTS
    16  AND TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY BY REDUCING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS FUNDED.
    17    3.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY THIS SECTION,
    18  THE OFFICE MAY WAIVE OR ALTER CERTAIN HOUSING  REQUIREMENTS,  AS  NECES-
    19  SARY,  TO  ACHIEVE  THE  GOALS  OF  THE PILOT PROGRAM, INCLUDING BUT NOT
    20  LIMITED TO FUNDING ALLOTMENTS BASED ON RESIDENTS PER  UNIT  PURSUANT  TO
    21  SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
    22    4.  WHILE  THE  PARTNER  NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION MAY CONDUCT DAY-TO-DAY
    23  OPERATIONS OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS, THE OFFICE SHALL  OVERSEE  AND  MONITOR
    24  RESIDENTIAL  UNITS  ESTABLISHED  THROUGH  THE  PILOT PROGRAM IN ORDER TO
    25  ENSURE THE WELFARE OF ITS RESIDENTS AND TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
    26  THIS MODEL, INCLUDING THE IMPACT ON RESIDENT WELL-BEING, COST-EFFECTIVE-
    27  NESS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11656-01-5
        S. 10327                            2

     1    5. THE OFFICE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY
     2  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY  THREE  YEARS
     3  AFTER  THE  ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PILOT PROGRAM. THE OFFICE MAY RECOMMEND
     4  REGULATORY CHANGES BASED ON THE OUTCOMES OF THE PILOT PROGRAM.
     5    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.