The Assembly Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse oversees OASAS, which provides oversight and distributes funding for programs that provide prevention, treatment, and recovery services for individuals and families in New York State. In the 2014-2015 Enacted Budget, funding was provided for initiatives to transform and improve the current system in New York. Some examples include funding to raise public awareness and combat the misuse and abuse of opioids and heroin, funding to reimburse intensive residential treatment programs for clinical and rehabilitative services, and funding to continue prevention and treatment services for problem gambling and chemical dependency prevention. Additionally, funding was included to facilitate the transformation of the behavioral health system to managed care.

The Committee is seeking testimony on programs and services currently receiving State funding for the treatment of substance abuse and problem gambling. This hearing will provide an opportunity for the Committee to better understand the State's capacity to meet the existing needs of New Yorkers suffering from an addiction and identify strategies that will enhance the State's treatment service models.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to 10 minutes. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible. In the absence of a request, witnesses will be scheduled in the order in which reply forms are postmarked.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz
Chairman
Assembly Standing Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the 2014-2015 State Budget funding provided to OASAS are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to: