19.15 Programs of the office of alcoholism and substance abuseservices.
(a) With the advice of the advisory council on alcoholism and substance abuse services, and with the assistance of any interdepartmental council or committee heretofore or hereafter established that shall be charged with the responsibility for interdepartmental cooperation and program development in alcoholism, substance abuse, and chemical dependency, the commissioner shall promote, establish, coordinate, and conduct programs for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, aftercare, rehabilitation, and control in the fields of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, substance dependence, and chemical dependence in cooperation with such other federal, state, local, and private agencies as are necessary and, within the amount made available by appropriation therefor, implement and administer such programs.
(b) The commissioner shall cooperate with, guide, and assist political subdivisions, local agencies, local governmental units, community service boards, and/or providers of services in the development and periodic review of local comprehensive plans and programs for alcoholic, alcohol abusing, substance abusing, substance dependent and chemically dependent persons and their families and approve such plans and programs.
(c) The activities described in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this section may be undertaken in cooperation and agreement with other offices of the department and with other departments or agencies of the state, local or federal government, or with other organizations and individuals, including, but not limited to, the research institute on addictions as established in article one hundred five of the education law.
(d) The commissioner shall provide for the development of systems and programs through which individuals in the state's public and private work force who abuse or are dependent on alcohol and/or substances, and their families or significant others are identified and referred for assistance, ensuring that these systems and programs shall provide emphasis upon the special needs of working women.
(e) The commissioner shall implement a program of alcoholism, substance abuse, and chemical dependence prevention and treatment services adapted to the needs and interests of young people, including the children of alcoholic and/or substance abusing persons.
(f) Reports. (1) The commissioner shall make an annual report to the governor and the legislature by March first of each year assessing the progress in implementing the programs and policies contained in this title and including an accounting of the amounts, sources and uses of funds expended for alcoholism and substance abuse services and for prevention and education.
(2) The office shall on or before the first day of April in each year file a written report with the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly summarizing the results of any special system or program directed at the special needs of women and children affected by alcoholism, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, substance dependence, or chemical dependence. Such report shall include but not be limited to a statistical analysis of the effectiveness of such programs initiated by the office together with suggested legislation deemed necessary or proper for the implementation of new programs or future success and development of existing programs.
(g) The office shall study, investigate, and recommend to the governor and the legislature methods of increasing third party payments for programs treating persons who abuse or are dependent on alcohol and/or substances, and their families.
(h) The office shall administer community and school based alcoholism, substance abuse, and chemical dependence prevention and education programs.
(i) The commissioner shall develop plans, and cause to be promoted, programs and services related to compulsive gambling education, prevention and treatment consistent with section 41.57 of this chapter. He or she shall take all actions that are necessary, desirable, or proper to implement the purposes of this chapter and to carry out the purposes and objectives of the department within the amounts made available therefor by appropriation, grant, gift, devise, bequest or allocation from the problem and compulsive gambling education, prevention and treatment fund established under section ninety-nine-i of the state finance law, as amended by section one of part Y of chapter sixty-three of the laws of two thousand three.
Last modified: February 3, 2019