New York Senate Bill S07484

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/17/25
• Refer: 4/17/25
• Engrossed: 6/5/25
• Refer: 6/5/25
• Refer: 1/7/26
• Engrossed: 5/28/26
• Refer: 5/28/26

Caption

Establishes a statewide residential families committee within the developmental disabilities advisory council.

Summary

S07484-A would amend the Mental Hygiene Law to create a new statewide residential families committee within the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council. The committee would be made up of people with developmental disabilities living in community residences, intermediate care facilities, or other residential facilities, as well as family members or guardians of such residents. The bill directs the commissioner to establish an application process for selecting members and bars owners, operators, board members, and employees of residential providers from serving on the committee. The committee would be required to meet quarterly and would serve as an advisory body to the commissioner. Its duties include informing and advising the commissioner on issues affecting residents and their families, recommending statewide and regional priorities and goals, advising on other relevant matters related to residential care, and holding regional public meetings to gather input from residents, families, and guardians about facility operations and care provided. The bill takes effect 60 days after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would add a new subdivision to section 13.05 of the Mental Hygiene Law and formally embed a statewide residential families committee into the state’s developmental disabilities advisory structure. It would not directly change eligibility for services or facility regulation, but it would create a new advisory mechanism intended to influence state policy and oversight for community residences, intermediate care facilities, and other residential settings serving people with developmental disabilities. The affected parties are residents with developmental disabilities, their families and guardians, the commissioner, and residential providers, who are excluded from committee membership.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received positively and without recorded opposition. It passed the Senate Disabilities Committee unanimously, 6-0, and then passed the Senate floor unanimously, 59-0. The voting history suggests broad bipartisan support for creating a formal channel for resident and family input on developmental disability residential services.

Contention

No committee transcript is available, and the recorded votes show no opposition. The main structural point reflected in the bill itself is the exclusion of owners, operators, board members, and employees of residential facilities from serving on the committee, which appears designed to preserve independence and avoid conflicts of interest. Aside from that safeguard, there is no visible controversy in the available record.