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A Critical Examination of State Agency Investigations into ...

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AppendixJonathan’s LawAN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to incident notifications andreports, release <strong>of</strong> records pertaining to allegations and investigations <strong>of</strong> abuse andmistreatment, directing the state commission on quality <strong>of</strong> care and advocacy for personswith disabilities to serve as a clearinghouse on the right <strong>of</strong> access to records and reportsrelating to patient care, incident reporting, child abuse and mistreatment in residentialca re, and fines for violations by holders <strong>of</strong> operating certificates; and to establish a taskforce on mental hygiene recordsThe People <strong>of</strong> the <strong>State</strong> <strong>of</strong> New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, doenact as follows:§ 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as "Jonathan's law".§ 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding two new sections 33.23 and 33.25 toread as follows:§ 33.23 Incident notifications and reports.(a) The director <strong>of</strong> a facility, as defined in subdivision six <strong>of</strong> section 1.03 <strong>of</strong> thischapter, shall provide telephone notice <strong>of</strong> an incident involving a patient receivingcare and treatment at such facility to a qualified person, as defined in paragraph six<strong>of</strong> subdivision (a) <strong>of</strong> section 33.16 <strong>of</strong> this article. Such notice shall be provided withintwenty-four hours <strong>of</strong> the initial report <strong>of</strong> such incident. For the purposes <strong>of</strong> thissection, "incident" shall mean an accident or injury that affects the health or safety<strong>of</strong> a patient. Upon the request <strong>of</strong> a qualified person, the director shall promptlyprovide to him or her a copy <strong>of</strong> the written incident report, provided that the namesand other personally identifying information <strong>of</strong> patients and employees shall not beincluded unless such patients and employees authorize disclosure. The director <strong>of</strong>the facility shall also <strong>of</strong>fer to hold a meeting with such qualified person to furtherdiscuss the incident. In addition, within ten days, the director <strong>of</strong> the facility shallprovide such qualified person with a written report on the actions taken to addressthe incident.(b) Whenever federal law or applicable federal regulations restrict, or as acondition for the receipt <strong>of</strong> federal aid require, that the release <strong>of</strong> records orinformation pursuant to this section be more restrictive than is provided under thissection, the provisions <strong>of</strong> federal law or regulations shall be controlling.§ 33.25 Release <strong>of</strong> records pertaining to allegations and investigations <strong>of</strong> abuse andmistreatment.Bold type indicates new language.Strike out type indicates deleted language. 233

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