Authorizes certain groups to adopt a plan for self-insurance as a group to be known as a public group self-insurer; establishes procedures for insolvency of a public group self-insurer and for offering deductibles.
Waives the residency requirement for the Herkimer county commissioner of social services, provided that such person remains a resident of an adjoining county.
Enacts the "minority mental health act" to establish the division of minority mental health within the office of mental health; provides that such division shall be responsible for assuring that mental health programs and services are culturally and linguistically appropriate to meet the needs of racial and ethnic minorities.
Enacts the "parental involvement leave act" requiring employers to grant employees up to 24 hours leave during any school year to attend school conferences or classroom activities related to the employee's child if the conference or activity cannot be scheduled during non-work hours; defines "employer" as any person or entity employing any individual in any occupation, industry, trade or business or service including any of the following: a state agency, office or department, a unit of local government, a school district, an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, or a nonprofit organization; makes related provisions.
Relates to regulation of the billing by general hospitals and the distribution of funds from the general hospital indigent care pool; requires use of a uniform application form and policy.
Requires periodic reviews of pending applications for material change in the coverage status of certain matters relative to new health technology assessment or medical evidence.
Enacts "Melanie's law"; relates to orders of protection; allows courts to issue orders of protection for immediate family members or household members of the named victims, regardless of age.
Eases certain restrictions on the conducting of games of chance for charitable purposes; authorizes the payment, out of the net proceeds of games of chance, of reimbursement for reasonable expenses of volunteers working at the games; expands the frequency upon which games of chance may be held; authorizes auxiliary members of authorized organizations to operate games of chance; authorizes persons convicted of crimes to operate games of chance when participating in a rehabilitation program; authorizes conducting of games of chance on Sundays; expands advertising of games of chance.
Requires the office of addiction services and supports to encourage, aid, and facilitate clinical research into the use of ibogaine in drug treatment for heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine addiction.
Relates to the time to commence certain medical malpractice actions; provides that actions related to acts or omissions of hospitals where an incident report is required to be filed may be filed within one year of the required filing.
Includes masking products including but not limited to synthetic urine, human urine, a substance used or designed to be added to human urine or a substance used or designed to be added to a chemical test, within the definition of drug-related paraphernalia.